Metal Shavings & Oil Issues: Infiniti M's Engine Crisis

Hey there! I've got some experience with cars and had a similar issue with my 2004 Infiniti Q45 last year. The symptoms you're describing sound very familiar. In my case, someone had put the wrong oil type in during a quick oil change at a sketchy shop. It caused metal shavings and low pressure warnings too. Took it to my trusted mechanic who flushed the system, replaced the oil with the correct type (cost me about 175€), and ran some tests to make sure there wasn't any permanent damage. What's your current mileage and when was your last oil change? Also, have you noticed any unusual engine sounds? This info would help me give you more specific advice based on my experience. BTW, if you're still driving it with these symptoms, I'd strongly suggest getting it checked ASAP to avoid potential engine damage.

Thanks for sharing your experience! My mileage is at 242024 KM, and I just had a service done last month. Haven't noticed any weird sounds except for a slight ticking when idling. I was thinking about getting it checked at my local Infiniti dealer, but wanted to get some community feedback first to avoid getting ripped off. The metal shavings thing really got me worried, especially since mine's been running fine until now. Did your mechanic mention anything about possible bearing wear when you had yours fixed?

Hey again! Yeah, I totally remember when this happened to my Q45. Actually, about the bearing wear my mechanic did mention it was a concern, especially with metal shavings present. When I took mine in with similar symptoms, he did a thorough inspection and found that the main bearings were starting to wear. That ticking sound you mentioned? Had that too turned out it was related to the bearing issue in my case. With your mileage being pretty close to what mine was (mine was around 230,000 KM when this happened), I'd definitely recommend getting it checked out at a reputable shop. The dealer might be expensive, but at least they know these cars inside out. In my case, I ended up having to replace the bearings which set me back about 800€, but it was way better than risking total engine failure. Just a heads up if your experience is anything like mine, don't wait too long. I drove mine for about a week with those symptoms before getting it fixed, and my mechanic later told me I was pretty lucky not to have caused more damage. The oil pressure issue combined with metal shavings is usually a red flag for bearing problems in these Infinitis. Let me know what you find out I'm curious if it's the same issue I had. These cars are generally solid, but they do have their weak points at higher mileages.

Thanks so much for the detailed response! You've actually made me feel a bit better about the whole situation, even though it sounds like it might be costly. The bearing wear situation makes a lot of sense given the symptoms. I'll definitely take your advice and get it to the dealer first thing tomorrow morning not worth risking the engine over this. The fact that your symptoms were so similar, and at around the same mileage too, really helps put things in perspective. Better to spend money on repairs now than end up with a completely dead engine! I'll update the thread once I find out what's actually wrong with it. Really appreciate you sharing your experience it's exactly the kind of real-world feedback I was hoping to get. Fingers crossed it won't be too serious, but at least now I know what I might be dealing with!