Just picked up a 2013 G37x Sedan with about 35K on the clock. Beautiful car, runs strong, but now I have 2 issues that I didn't pick up on the test drive. The first is that at highway speeds there is a noise in the front end that i assume is a wheel bearing

Not a big deal, car is under warranty and I live in PA, the land of potholes.

The more concerning issue occurred yesterday. I took a spirited drive to work in my new car, parked it for 8 hours and when i started it up it blew a cloud of smoke. This doesn't happen every time i drive and usually after the car is parked for a while. Do these cars commonly have problems with valve seals or something or did a buy a lease car that was flogged on and never had the oil changed until it ended up for sale?

This pretty much qualifies as my first big boy car so my stomach is in knots. Happy I still have plenty of factory warranty, but the last thing i want is major engine repairs on a car so young.

 

Take it into Infiniti and tell them to do a full inspection and be sure to tell them about these specific issues.

 

No, absolutely not. Get it checked out.

 

Took it in today, the maintenance manager was very good about putting me at ease, but my stomach is in knots regardless. Hate to think i got taken. Shouldn't have had my guard down just because i was buying a newer car.

 

Well good news is that is it still under factory warranty, at least for the powertrain. Wheel bearings are not too difficult to replace.

 

Let us know what the dealership finds.

 

Absolutely will report back. I'm having them do a complete multipoint inspection just so i can sleep easy. Keeping my fingers crossed that it's along the lines of balancing a tire, swapping a cruddy a PCV valve and the car is good as new.

 

So, my suspicions about the wheel bearing were correct and that was replaced under warranty.

As far as the puff of smoke i witnessed, they weren't able to reproduce it but state that everything with the engine looks fine other than needing new air filters. The service managers exact words were "If this were my car i wouldn't be concerned." I'm not sure what to make of that and will speak with him further in the morning when i pick up the car. I want him to confirm and document that the engine was checked thoroughly and was unremarkable.

 

Alright, after a couple more puffs of smoke that according to the dealership they can't recreate, i think i figured it out.

Despite my background in medicine and sales, I'm still apparently better at diagnosing car problems than the most auto mechanics. Picked up oil to do a change (i never trust what was in the car when I buy it) and figured i'd take a look at the PCV valves that were allegedly "fine"

pull the hose off the drivers side valve and it dribbles a half teaspoon of cruddy looking oil down the side of the engine. Pulled and cleaned both PCVs, changed the oil and tossed in a bottle of Auto RX as I can guarantee if there was a little sludgy crap in the PCV there is more elsewhere

I am willing to bet this solves the problem

This is why i work on my own cars.

I'll keep you all updated.