MajorCommonFluid Leaks

Nissan Qashqai: MR20DE Front Oil Seal & Cam Cover Gasket Leak

MR20DE Front Oil Seal & Cam Cover Gasket Leak is a common fluid leaks fault on the Nissan Qashqai on the 2006–2013 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $450 to $1,400 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 28 documented faults on the Nissan Qashqai.

Vehicle: Nissan Qashqai
Engine: MR20-DE
Years: 2006–2013
Fuel: petrol
System: Fluid Leaks

This page covers the Nissan Qashqai 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 Qashqai faults28 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Rocker / valve cover yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

At high mileage, typically above 100,000 km, the MR20DE 2.0L engine in J10 models commonly develops oil leaks from two sources: the front crankshaft oil seal behind the harmonic balancer, and the camshaft cover gasket along the top of the engine. The oil seal lip hardens and loses its sealing ability while the rubber cam cover gasket degrades and shrinks. Both leaks allow engine oil to drip onto hot exhaust components, creating smoke and an oil-burning smell. If left unaddressed, oil contamination of the alternator, accessory drive belt, and ignition coils can cause secondary electrical faults and misfire codes.

What you would notice

Oil drips or puddle beneath the vehicle after parking
Burning oil smell from engine bay while driving or after stopping
Visible oil residue around the front of the engine block or cam cover edges
Blue-grey smoke rising from engine bay on a hot engine at idle

How to check it

Where to look. Front crankshaft pulley area and top of engine along the camshaft cover perimeter

Inspect the front of the engine behind the harmonic balancer for oil seeping from the crankshaft seal.
Check the top of the engine along all four cam cover edges for oil residue or wet gasket seams.
Look beneath the car for fresh oil drips after a warm idle of five minutes.

Parts involved: Rocker / valve cover.

What it costs to put right

$450 to $1,400 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 cover gasket or front crankshaft seal been replaced?”
“Is there any oil smell or smoke visible from the engine bay?”
“Does the oil level drop between scheduled services?”

Now check the Nissan Qashqai 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 Qashqai buyer questions

Is mr20de front oil seal & cam cover gasket leak serious on a Nissan Qashqai?

We rate it major and common on the Nissan Qashqai. At high mileage, typically above 100,000 km, the MR20DE 2.0L engine in J10 models commonly develops oil leaks from two sources: the front crankshaft oil seal behind the harmonic balancer, and the camshaft cover gasket along the top of the engine. The oil seal lip hardens and loses its sealing ability while the rubber cam cover gasket degrades and shrinks. Both leaks allow engine oil to drip onto hot exhaust components, creating smoke and an oil-burning smell. If left unaddressed, oil contamination of the alternator, accessory drive belt, and ignition coils can cause secondary electrical faults and misfire codes.

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

$450 to $1,400 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 Qashqai years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2006–2013 Nissan Qashqai. 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 front of the engine behind the harmonic balancer for oil seeping from the crankshaft seal. Check the top of the engine along all four cam cover edges for oil residue or wet gasket seams. Look beneath the car for fresh oil drips after a warm idle of five minutes. Look here: Front crankshaft pulley area and top of engine along the camshaft cover perimeter