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SE-R Oil Pressure

44482 Views 86 Replies 28 Participants Last post by  Bongoandsean
Hello, i own a 2005 altima se-r 6 speed. I'm a bit concerned about my oil pressure....

Sometimes at idle (650-700) the oil light will come on. So today i hook up a oil pressure gauge end here is the result:

idle: 4psi
1000 rpm: 6 psi
2000 rpm: 15 psi
3000 rpm: 25 psi

should i be concerned? Also is 650-700 rpm ok at idle?

Thanks!
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dflosrt4 said:
please relay the message. I work for a nissan dealership all the time. I have seen oil pressure switch problems but more than likely thats not what it is. It the rear timing cover gasket. We have seen it numerous times. remove the oil pan and there should be a peice of gasket in there. You have to replace the rear timing cover. They blow out and cause low oil pressure. I have seen it so many times. If people drive on low oil pressure it can damage the engine. Please relay this message on the boards. I cannot post for some reason. Thanks
Check this out!
^^ Wow thats good info to know there. Mine has been fine have really had no problems at all with it. Fully warm at idle gauge in car reads about 25psi, driving at like 65-70 it sits at about 55-60psi. never checked with an actual oil pressure gauge compared to the dash gauge.
I thought I was the only one with such oil pressure! But according to the several Nissan mechanics that I spoke with, that's what it supposed to be. I had a motor replaced once before and that was the problem with it. The oil pressure was so low as a result of the gasket on the inside blowing out. Eventually the motor started destroying itself, it started making whining noises. They(dealer) pull the oil pan and found metal shavings along with pieces of gasket material in the oil pan. Good thing for the warranty. I have babied this motor since the change and it's been good so far.
Great. I guess I'll pull my pan down soon and see what's inside.
Does anyone know what gasket he is referring to? I'm not seeing anything in the service manual that looks like it could cause this problem.. Is he referring to the liquid gasket that actually goes on the rear timing chain case?
jasuperdee's re-post of dflosrt4's diagnosis hit the nail on the head! This is exactly what happened to me. The gasket is actually part of the timing chain cover which means that the cover needs to be replaced. Major surgery!
please relay the message. I work for a nissan dealership all the time. I have seen oil pressure switch problems but more than likely thats not what it is. It the rear timing cover gasket. We have seen it numerous times. remove the oil pan and there should be a peice of gasket in there. You have to replace the rear timing cover. They blow out and cause low oil pressure. I have seen it so many times. If people drive on low oil pressure it can damage the engine. Please relay this message on the boards. I cannot post for some reason. Thanks
Could this happen to a 2.5 or is it just for SE-Rs?? I am suffering from low oil pressure as well.
2005 se-r

I recently bought my nissan altima se-r with 89, 000 miles on it. The oil pressure Is low around 5 to 7 psi, I have noticed that a lot of people have the same issue please let me know what you guys did and if it worked out.
I have the same problem with the oil pressure can you give me some advice.
I recently bought my nissan altima se-r with 89, 000 miles on it. The oil pressure Is low around 5 to 7 psi, I have noticed that a lot of people have the same issue please let me know what you guys did and if it worked out.
There are a few things that could be going on.

First would simply be low oil.

Second would be a bad pressure sensor. These are known to go bad. There are 2 different sensors for the altima. The se-r needs the more expensive one that reads pressure. The part is about $65. The $20 one you find for the Altima won't fit the se-r, don't waste your time.

If all that checks out, you should drop the oil pan and look for pieces of gasket. There is a gasket built into the back side of the timing chain cover that is know to fail. Typically, the tensioner also fails and you start getting a ticking\tapping noise at cold start ups. Unfortunately, the only way to fix this is to replace the rear timing chain cover. Basically, the front end of the engine has to come apart and you may as well replace the timing chain, tensioners, guides, water pump and rear cover.
se-r oil pressure

I heard about the the back timing chain going bad i am taking it to the nissan dealer today to find out what the problem is once in for all. But if it comes down to the replacing the back timing chain and the oil pan do you know approximately how much that would cost me? thank you for the information
My oil pressure switch failed the other day....oil light came on and gauge would sit at 0 and at times 120 haha I thought I was going to blow the oil pan right off. Luckly it was only the switch...and I got it installed for free at Nissan....since I work there....FTW! haha

Good Luck.
So I had the check engine light come on, and took it to Orielies and their scan tool said camshaft position sensor. I replaced both banks.. removed the battery cable to reset ecu, and the light went out. and my "shut down" problem went away..and since then, my oil pressure Cold starts at 110, then drops after warm to 60 at idle.... with 92,000 miles on it. Do you think the Oil pressure sensor (60 dollar part behind the oil pan) is the culpret? It scares me watching 120 psi when I lightly gas on it....when it used to be @ 80-100 psi. and [email protected] idle.
My oil pressure switch failed the other day....oil light came on and gauge would sit at 0 and at times 120 haha I thought I was going to blow the oil pan right off. Luckly it was only the switch...and I got it installed for free at Nissan....since I work there....FTW! haha

Good Luck.
Hey man I have just ran across this problem. Lately I have been getting what appears to be double oil pressure....numberwise....and then yesteredayj.....hen I started my alti....it shoots up to 120 on the guage....then about 5 seconds later it goes flat to zero....I can hear the car "catching oil pressure" right after it starts.....but that light scares the shit out of me, and I haven't driven it....but I did pull the oil filler cap and can see oil racing around the front cam bearing and draining down into the head. But I will not drive it until I have a solid solution. Is there any way you can call me so I can talk to you for a minute about this? 361-230-9025 Thanx in advance. Name is Thomas.
Just in case anyone was wondering the 0-120 oil p.s.i. problem was the sensor.... now 134 dollars at the dealership, (apparently the old $80 sensor is now $134 due to the part being changed or upgraded by nissan. oil pressure is back to normal. 20-30 @ idle, and @70-100 cold rather than 120+ cold and 60 idle. :shift:
1 bar = 100 kpa = 14.5 psi
The general rule of thumb is 1 bar to every 1000 rpm when warm
During idle maybe a bit lower but its ok cause the engine is not underload
Also different oil pressure for different folks depends where they live and type of oil they use
i live in the northwest (4 seasons) and been using 5w30 and never had the low oil light on
For those in the hot climate year round may want to try
min 10w/15w and even 20w/40 or 50
My general rule of thumb states that I go by what the FSM says...

14lbs at idle (600 +/-50 rpm) and 43lbs at 2000 rpm when warm.
Low oil pressure. Gasket in oil pan.

Hey guys I have a 05 altima se-r 102k miles. I have been experiencing low oil pressure. I checked the oil pressure manually and sure enough 1 psi. So obviously bad. Searched for a while and found this thread. I pulled the oil pan and found this.


So just wanted you guys to see what the gasket looks like. Looks like I have a lot of work ahead of me.
See less See more
Hey guys I have a 05 altima se-r 102k miles. I have been experiencing low oil pressure. I checked the oil pressure manually and sure enough 1 psi. So obviously bad. Searched for a while and found this thread. I pulled the oil pan and found this.


So just wanted you guys to see what the gasket looks like. Looks like I have a lot of work ahead of me.
No picture for me... Anyone else?
Can you see this one

Here are some more pictures of the gasket. If you guys are ever experiencing low oil pressure and find a cardboard gasket piece in your oil pan this is the problem. It's not the rear timing chain gasket. It's this.
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