ElgrandOC Wiki

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Here you will find a list of the most commonly asked questions.
These are the first things new owners tend to ask when they join either [[https://forum.elgrandoc.uk|the forum]] or the [[https://facebook.com/groups/elgrandoc|facebook group]].

You can use the table of contents on the right hand side to select the heading you want to view, or by all means please read through all of the below.

=====E50 Specific FAQ=====

=====E51 Specific FAQ=====
====Blocking of Catalytic Converters====
This issue has been the cause of much controversy over the years. Please note that we as a club can only recommend a course of action. It is up to you, the individual if you would like to take the advice or ignore it. 

The E51 has what is known as a Quad-Cat system. This means that there are 4 catalytic converters in total. Two for Bank 1 of the V6 engine, and then another two for Bank 2. This applies to both the VQ25 2.5L and VQ35 3.5L engines. 

The issue from this system is that over time the first catalytic converters from each bank can deteriorate over time and can break down. The debris from the broken ceramic material then create a blockage in the secondary catalytic converters further down the exhaust. Once a blockage has occurred, pressure builds up, exhausts gasses and debris can back flow into the engine and create terminal damage to the engine.

Some owners have luckily had warning signs which allowed them to react and fix the issue before the engine died. These symptoms can range from rattling sounds in the exhaust area (under the cockpit), drop in revs, low power etc.

Other owners have not been so lucky, and the blockage has happened quickly and destroyed the engine before they had time to stop. In this instance, the only options are engine rebuild/replacement or sell the car to a breaker/scrap yard.

The below diagram shows the flow of exhaust gas. From the engines exhaust manifolds, into the primary cats, through the secondary cats and into the centre box.

{{wiki:quad_cat_system.png}}

The best solution to this problem is to remove ALL FOUR catalytic converters and replace them with TWO high flow sports cats. Now this can be a very expensive procedure but gives 100% safety from this issue.

Other options are available, but must be done at the owners risk. 

You can remove the primary cats completely and replace with a straight pipe, leaving on the rear cats in place. Alternatively, they can be cut open and have the internals removed, welded back up and replaced on the vehicle. This will, as above, give 100% protection from this issue. Due to the location of the primary cats, this is a very labour intensive operation and will also be costly, although cheaper than the previous option.

The final option is to remove the secondary cats and replace the centre box of the exhaust. Removing the secondary cats allows for debris from the potentially failing primary cats to "pass through". The same theory applies to the centre box. The standard centre box in the E51 is another "debris trap" and must be replaced with a "straight through" type box.

Before any of the above options are performed, you MUST inspect the cats to see if they have already started to break down or not. If there is already signs of damage or degradation, you need to inspect the secondary cats and centre box for blockages.If any debris is found and blockage looks to have happened, even if it's minor, you need to be aware that there may be SOME damage already done, although it may not cause terminal failure of the engine.


=====E52 Specific FAQ=====

=====General FAQ======
====Underseal====
All Elgrand's are imported to from Japan. In Japan, they do not salt the roads in winter which means their vehicles do not require undersealing, although vehicles that were from regions of Japan close to the coast may already suffer from signs of rust (salty sea air).

Depending on where you live in the world, your country may salt roads in winter to help with ice. In the UK, for example, gritters are typically from around November through to February each year depending on weather conditions. If your roads are salted, and you do not underseal your JDM import, the salt from the road will spray up and will corrode any unprotected metal surfaces that it lands on. 

Undersealing is the process of adding a barrier to the underbody of your vehicle to protect the chassis, components and body work from salt damage. This will help to prevent rust appearing on your car and allow you more years of trouble free motoring. 

There are various types of undersealing systems. From cheap annual jobs, to more expensive long life applications. The method you choose is up to you. You can research the various methods and select the best that fits both you and your budget. But it is important that you do this. Do not leave your JDM vehicle unprotected from salty roads.


====E10 Fuel (UK)====
The standard of unleaded fuel in the UK is changing in 2020. E10 (10% ethanol) unleaded is being introduced as the standard unleaded fuel to help combat emissions. 

The problem is that ethanol is corrosive to certain types of rubber and can, over time, erode fuel lines and seals in the fuel system. At least two of the ElgrandOC members have contacted Nissan Japan to ask about the suitability of E10 in the Elgrand, and on both occasions Nissan stated that you should NOT use E10 in the Elgrand as it has not been tested.

Although the vehicle will drive perfectly fine if using E10, over time there MAY be degradation which can lead to substantial failures of the fuelling system, be it the pipework, the fuel pump, or anything in between.

Premium fuel in the UK (97+RON) is remaining at E5 (5% Ethanol). 

If you are concerned about the damage that E10 fuel may do to your car in the long term, you must switch to using premium unleaded if you do not already use it.

If you own a VQ35 Elgrand you should be using Premium unleaded regardless as is stated in the owner's manual, but we are aware that people choose to run them on standard unleaded. If you choose to continue to run your VQ35 on standard fuel, you could also be damaging the fuelling system with E10 fuel over time. 

Owners are of course free to use whichever fuel they so choose. But if you are looking to buy an Elgrand, you should check with the owner to see what type of fuel they have been using as damage a previous owner has done may come back to haunt you in your ownership.