Nissan X-Trail (2001 - 2007) - 04 2.2 Intercooler/diesel oil

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
View Threaded
Thu 21 Jan 2010 13:30
04 2.2 Intercooler/diesel oil - deepwith
I have a small oil leak in the Intercooler, which obviously will need replacing. Had a service and check done to find the leak on Monday, when they assured me that the turbo is a bit worn but fine.

I am still driving the car, as advised this was okay, but frequently checking the oil. Went to buy oil yesterday - usually have fully synthetic 5/40, but checked the garage receipt to discover they had refilled with 10/30 - semi synthetic.

Questions:
Will this oil damage the engine?
The Uniparts store I bought oil from said I could not top up with the normal oil - is this right?
Can I leave this oil in until the intercooler is changed?

Finally, the Intercooler is quite an expensive bit of kit. I feel it would be safer to buy new, despite the cost - or could I get away with second hand?

Thanks in advance. :-)
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 21 Jan 2010 13:43
04 2.2 Intercooler/diesel oil - WorkshopTech
The oil is not the best for your engine but it wont actually damage it, so leave until the I/C job is done. You can top up with 'normal' oil - whatever that is.
The intercooler is a static item, just a heat exchanger, so seconhdand is fine so long as it is in good shape.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 21 Jan 2010 13:48
04 2.2 Intercooler/diesel oil - deepwith
Thank you W.Tech. By 'normal' oil, I meant the diesel synthetic previously used :-)
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 21 Jan 2010 13:50
04 2.2 Intercooler/diesel oil - WorkshopTech
Should be fine. Nothing bad will happen by mixing fully and semii snth oils.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 21 Jan 2010 14:01
04 2.2 Intercooler/diesel oil - dieselnut
'I have a small oil leak in the Intercooler, which obviously will need replacing.'

The oil will be coming from the worn turbo bearings, so if you get a new intercooler it will just get oiled up like your present one.
If you want to change anything then get a new turbo & get the intercooler cleaned out.
This is normal with a turbo diesel that has done a few miles.
The turbo may go on for many thousands more miles without giving out, but if it blows on the inlet side you can have a runaway engine on your hands.
Using the correct oil will help the turbo last as long as possible.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 21 Jan 2010 14:47
04 2.2 Intercooler/diesel oil - xtrailman
I had a new intercooler fitted to my 2004, during the first year of ownership.

Point one.
Do not fit a second hand one, unless it is the modified version, that replaced the original, or it will leak again.
The first version was a "crimped" arrangement, oil leaked from between the crimp joint, put your hand under the front LHS of the cooler top, you should feel oil.

The later version is completely different and 5 years later has not leaked.

Point two.
The oil i was assured by a experienced nissan mechanic comes from the engine, as with ALL diesel engines, and is normal. I had doubts myself, but still on the original turbo at 35K. So NO the turbo is not guaranteed to have leaking bearing seals.

My son runs it now, his useless BMW stands on the drive at the first sign of snow.

I had semi oil put in on the last service when i had, and my son the same, with no problems, i understand that full synthetic is the correct oil.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 22 Jan 2010 11:43
04 2.2 Intercooler/diesel oil - dieselnut
'Point two.
The oil i was assured by a experienced nissan mechanic comes from the engine, as with ALL diesel engines, and is normal.'

Air is drawn through the air filter, through pipes into the turbo where it is compressed & blown through more pipework to the intercooler where it is cooled. The only place it can collect oil on its journey is at the turbo.
It is normal for turbos to pass some oil through the bearings & past the basic seals.
The air hasn't got to the engine yet.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 22 Jan 2010 21:34
04 2.2 Intercooler/diesel oil - xtrailman
dieselnut
your description re the air flow is correct, where the oil comes from is not. Seals can leak, but as i have already explained oil also can come from the engine.

It is confusing to find oil leaking from a device that only cools the intake air, but that's how it is.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 22 Jan 2010 23:16
04 2.2 Intercooler/diesel oil - CraigP
I can't get my head round this one. How does it get from the engine if not through the turbo seals? Where am i going wrong:

Air comes in through the path: Air filter -> turbo -> intercooler -> inlet manifold -> engine.

Oil could enter the intercooler from the turbo i follow that bit.

The inlet manifold might have an egr valve connection i think? I can't think where the EGR valve connects to right now, but i'm sure it's directly feeding into the inlet manifold? It could have fuel or oil vapour i guess. I don't think it'll be this though?

There's maybe an oil breather / PCV feeding into the inlet manifold? it could come from here? Maybe the oil vapour gets into the inlet manifold which is colder, causes the oil vapour to condense on the walls then dribble down into the intercooler?

I think there should be an oil separator valve there though so would that be faulty to cause this?

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 21 Jan 2010 14:48
04 2.2 Intercooler/diesel oil - WorkshopTech
'I have a small oil leak in the Intercooler which obviously will need replacing.'
The oil will be coming from the worn turbo bearings so if you get a
new intercooler it will just get oiled up like your present one.
If you want to change anything then get a new turbo & get the intercooler
cleaned out.


Hmm, this is a how long is a piece of string job. Most used diesels will have some oil in the intercooler, it goes with the territory. You or your mechanic need to make a judgement as to whether too much oil is being throw into the intake. Usually they pass a bit of oil and they settle to a steady rate for many miles.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 22 Jan 2010 09:32
04 2.2 Intercooler/diesel oil - deepwith
Thank you both for the information. Garage boss is in on Monday so I will go and have a chat with him, armed with your information.
Btw, X-trailman, mine has done around the 70,000 mark and apart from the heater fan motor, this is my first problem - fingers crossed!
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 23 Jan 2010 09:35
04 2.2 Intercooler/diesel oil - WorkshopTech
Guys, oil in the I/C comes via the turbo. Its normal to find some oil - how much is a matter of opinion and experience. If its stable it should be OK.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 23 Jan 2010 20:41
04 2.2 Intercooler/diesel oil - Manatee
I suppose it's accurate to say it comes from the engine.

Via the turbo.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 29 Jan 2010 12:59
04 2.2 Intercooler/diesel oil - Fletch
Intercooler failure is a known problem on the 2.2 DCi versions. Mine (2004) was replaced under warranty (which I believe Nissan ended up extending to 5 years for Turbo/Intercooler failures). As someone commented earlier, the original Intercoolers were "crimped" together leading to a regular leak at the front edge, left side as you look at it from the front. Later Intercoolers are brazed/welded and do not suffer from this problem. There is somewhere around Stafford that does guaranteed rebuilds with welded joints for about £700 if i remember rightly. No idea about the type of oil though. I think the local Nissan dealer uses Castrol Semi (Magnatec?) for X Trail oil changes.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 23 Jul 2010 17:20
04 2.2 Intercooler/diesel oil - FarmGirl

Same problem. Oil leaking from front and left side of intercooler, only had the vehicle just over a year. Its a 55 plate, with 71k miles. I have extra warranty but as usual this item is not covered. Local garage advised that this should not fail through wear and tear, so suggested I contact Nissan.

Nissan advised that the vehicle has been given extended warranty on the turbo, but they know of no problems with the intercooler?

So I am left with a bill of £500 plus.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 26 Jul 2010 12:17
04 2.2 Intercooler/diesel oil - dieselnut

FarmGirl, there shouldn't be much oil coming from the intercooler. But being oil, a little goes a long way & may look a mess.

Wipe away all the old oil & just keep an eye on how much leaks out.

If it's just a couple of drips each journey I wouldn't worry.

If its more then it may be that your turbo is on the way out, but the warranty will only cover a failed turbo & not one that is passing a bit of oil, which they all do.

All the turbo diesels that I have owned ( which have always had more than 100k miles on the clock) have had weeps of oil from either the intercooler or connecting pipes.

Keep a close check on your oil level.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 16 Dec 2011 15:09
04 2.2 Intercooler/diesel oil - serf

Bit late with this reply, but for future intercooler questions..

Oil may well be coming from the rocker cover breather ,not the turbo, it's then sucked into the turbo and pushed thro' the intercooler..

Clean and pressure test your intercooler before going shopping.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 25 Jan 2012 17:29
04 2.2 Intercooler/diesel oil - lincoln

My oil cooler just started leaking. Took it to a semi-retired, experienced mechanic who replaced the gaskets and seals for me. $30 in parts vs an new oil cooler ($650). Did the trick. Pays to hire someone that knows what they are doing.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Looking for a garage you can trust? Honest John's Good Garage Guide has thousands of reader recommended garages, plus how-to guides and tips on servicing.

The Good Garage Guide