hi guys. need some quick advice from you. i went to change my oil today like i reguarly do at 3500 miles. i have done all the oil changes my self with synthetic oil since day one. last oil change i used mobil 1 with a fram extra guard filter. my wifes truck only has about 12,000 or so miles on it (not an exact number). when i went to drop the the metal pan underguard to gain access to the oil filter i noticed that the pan was full of sludge. the oil filter was covered on the outside with 1/4 inch of this sludge also as well as the arms ect. i usually hand tighten the oil filter and then give it another 1/2 turn. so i know the oil filter wasnt loose. if anything it was overtightened can that be the problem?. something was obviously dripping. when i drained the oil from the drain valve the oil didnt seem that bad. dirty but defianetly not sludge. but i also noticed that my coolant levels were below the normal mark. i got to thinking i may have a gasket leak fouling my engine oil with coolant? im heading out on a trip to california on monday and we were going to take the armada... is it still ok? do you think its probally nothing? i cant have the armada checked before we leave because i think our service dept is closed on saturdays. will i be ok to put 2000 niles on it before i can get it checked out again?

hi guys. need some quick advice from you. i went to change my oil today like i reguarly do at 3500 miles. i have done all the oil changes my self with synthetic oil since day one. last oil change i used mobil 1 with a fram extra guard filter. my wifes truck only has about 12,000 or so miles on it (not an exact number). when i went to drop the the metal pan underguard to gain access to the oil filter i noticed that the pan was full of sludge. the oil filter was covered on the outside with 1/4 inch of this sludge also as well as the arms ect. i usually hand tighten the oil filter and then give it another 1/2 turn. so i know the oil filter wasnt loose. if anything it was overtightened can that be the problem?. something was obviously dripping. when i drained the oil from the drain valve the oil didnt seem that bad. dirty but defianetly not sludge. but i also noticed that my coolant levels were below the normal mark. i got to thinking i may have a gasket leak fouling my engine oil with coolant? im heading out on a trip to california on monday and we were going to take the armada... is it still ok? do you think its probally nothing? i cant have the armada checked before we leave because i think our service dept is closed on saturdays. will i be ok to put 2000 niles on it before i can get it checked out again?
I am a firm believer of using original oil filters. I once had a problem with a fram filter leaking. you have to be carefull with the aftermarket filters because a lot of times they don't sit well & leak no matter how much you tighten them. I would buy original Nissan filter & change the oil one more time. definately sound to me like your filter was leaking. I think you should be okay on your trip. good luck

Check the transmission cooler lines where they connect to the radiator. There have been lots of problems with the spring type clamps - they don't hold. I think you may have a leak there, which would cause a buildup of oil/dirt on the pan. You probably don't have a problem with the filter.