MajorVery commonFluid Leaks

Nissan Primera: SR20DE cam carrier oil leak

SR20DE cam carrier oil leak is a very common fluid leaks fault on the Nissan Primera on the 1991–2002 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $450 to $950 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 8 documented faults on the Nissan Primera.

Vehicle: Nissan Primera
Engine: SR20-DE
Years: 1991–2002
Fuel: petrol
System: Fluid Leaks

This page covers the Nissan Primera as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Nissan Primera faults8 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Exhaust manifold yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The SR20DE engine in P10 and P11 Primera uses a separate cam carrier casting that seals against the head via a cork/rubber gasket and RTV sealant at the cam carrier bolt flanges. Over time the sealant degrades and the bolts loosen, producing an oil leak that typically appears at the rear of the cam carrier and drips onto the exhaust manifold. This generates a burning oil smell and visible oil smoke from the engine bay. The leak is documented extensively on NZ Primera owner communities and workshop reports as a near-universal issue on high-mileage SR20DE engines.

What you would notice

Burning oil smell from the engine bay, especially after spirited driving or highway runs
Visible oil residue on or around the cam cover/carrier area and rear of the engine
Blue-tinged smoke from engine bay when parked after driving
Oil level dropping more rapidly than expected between changes

How to check it

Where to look. Top of engine, rear of the SR20DE cam carrier where it meets the cylinder head

Inspect the junction between the cam carrier and cylinder head at the rear of the engine — look for fresh or baked-on oil residue.
Check the cam carrier bolt torque (accessible without removal in some cases).
Look for oil dripping or staining on the exhaust manifold directly below.
If the oil level is low at inspection without other obvious external leaks, this is the likely source.

Parts involved: Exhaust manifold.

What it costs to put right

$450 to $950 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Has the cam carrier gasket or sealant ever been resealed?”
“Do you notice a burning oil smell after driving?”
“How quickly does the engine go through oil between services?”

Now check the Nissan Primera you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Nissan Primera buyer questions

Is sr20de cam carrier oil leak serious on a Nissan Primera?

We rate it major and very common on the Nissan Primera. The SR20DE engine in P10 and P11 Primera uses a separate cam carrier casting that seals against the head via a cork/rubber gasket and RTV sealant at the cam carrier bolt flanges. Over time the sealant degrades and the bolts loosen, producing an oil leak that typically appears at the rear of the cam carrier and drips onto the exhaust manifold. This generates a burning oil smell and visible oil smoke from the engine bay. The leak is documented extensively on NZ Primera owner communities and workshop reports as a near-universal issue on high-mileage SR20DE engines.

How much does it cost to fix on a Nissan Primera?

$450 to $950 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Nissan Primera years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 1991–2002 Nissan Primera. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Inspect the junction between the cam carrier and cylinder head at the rear of the engine — look for fresh or baked-on oil residue. Check the cam carrier bolt torque (accessible without removal in some cases). Look for oil dripping or staining on the exhaust manifold directly below. If the oil level is low at inspection without other obvious external leaks, this is the likely source. Look here: Top of engine, rear of the SR20DE cam carrier where it meets the cylinder head