kevm14

My 96 SE 5-speed has almost 95k, and I think it can live to see 200+k. Anybody have an engine puke on them? I was under the impression that the 4th gen engine is perhaps one of the most bulletproof (aside from all the performance, mileage, etc.) around.

I want to know how long this thing might live doing the performance driving that I do (you know, winding out every once in a while...I hardly touch 6 grand. On a daily basis, the highest I go is probably 5 or 5500).

BTW, I have Mobil 1 10W-30 in there, and I am hoping that will help.

AndyXXL

67K on my 97 max.

Bernie Lomax

with 73,500 I just had the auto tranny flush and fill at the dealer so i should be all set for a while I hope

bullseye

I've got a 1995 Maxima SE 5-spd with 163,000 miles. No sign of puke yet from the engine, per se, but I've replaced just about everything else under the hood: Battery, alternator, clutch, starter, and soon, the tranny. It still purrrrrs...

riggy

[QUOTE]Originally posted by bullseye
[I][QUOTE]Originally posted by kevm14
[I]My 96 SE 5-speed has almost 95k, and I think it can live to see 200+k. Anybody have an engine puke on them? I was under the impression that the 4th gen engine is perhaps one of the most bulletproof (aside from all the performance, mileage, etc.) around.

I want to know how long this thing might live doing the performance driving that I do (you know, winding out every once in a while...I hardly touch 6 grand. On a daily basis, the highest I go is probably 5 or 5500).

42K on my 95 gxe.

maxspeed79

50K on 96.. Nothing major work done yet..

The Sleeper

bernie- dig that HPI RS4. i have a tamaya (sp?) 4wd mustang cobra R. goes 250 scale MPH!

Slickismax

iTrader: (4)

64k on my 96. It sees redline at least once daily! Purrs like a kitten, and has been driven hard for the last 20k miles. I'll probably be the first to find out just how long a VQ will last when driven like a Porsche 911

Kenneth

iTrader: (8)

78k almost 79... a '95

NmexMAX

iTrader: (22)

113K and still going very strong! No sign of nausea from the engine either. VQ Power!

I30CeFiRo

38k on my '96

MGokool

iTrader: (1)

31,874 miles on my car and still runs as if I just drove out of the showroom!!!

98 Maxima GLS << the ones who know me, know what I mean...the rest can wonder >>
Viper alarm with remote start,
SuperFlo intake
Eibach pro kit
FSTB
2 Rockford Fosgate HX2 12's
MTX 700watt amp for bass
Premier 400watt amp for highs
pioneer 4-way 6x9 on rear deck
pioneer 6.5 3-way on door
custom tweeters in doors
Pioneer Radio and DSP EQ
Pioneer slim DVD-player << mounted in armrest >>
Mobile TV on dashboard

** Lots more to come

Maxima97GLE

I bought my car in May 2000 with 44,000 miles on it... Its January and I just hit 64,000. I drive a lot... ha ha.

VampireKitty

57,000 on my 96. Bought it 4 months ago it had 50,000 I drive a lot. No problems at all. She rocks.

My old 87' never had tranny problem. she had 211,000 on her when I finally traded her in. Oil change ever 3k. Tune up every year. Brakes every year, trans flush every 1-2 years.
I rode her hard. R.I.P.

VampireKitty

:vampire:
__________________________________________________ __________
1996 GXE Super Black
K&N Filter
Clear Corners

*Future Mods
*PR CAI
*Y-pipe

SLICNIC

I've got a 96 with 40,219 miles on it

kevm14

Anybody else? Particularly with over 100k?

rossington

I have an 97 with 116k. It seems to be doing alright. Nothing major. just the battery. i think i am going to change the starter because of that damn whirr. but that's wisconsin winters for you. other than that she is doing good. i am also thinking of a tranny flush and getting the timing checked in the near future. just to be on the safe side. other than that i am very happy with my maxima.

MacGyver

i have 102k on my 97 se 5spd. Runs well. Check engine light has been on 3 times, Twice for an O2 sensor. The other for evaperation canister or something like that.
I recently switched to sythetic oil...i don't drive it to hard...only in the winter because i can't ride my bike.

The guy at STS (where i get my oil changed) talks to me about how my car should do 200k easy and how he has some truck with 200k and he plans to drive it to 500k or something crazy.

SPARK

96GLE Just hit 112.000 I change the oil faithfully every 3,000miles Syntec never experienced any problems whatsoever, except battery changed last year

BrokenMotor

i got a 97se, i had 60k on the old motor, 2k on the old motor.

The_quorum

Have had it 1 1/2 years...No problems w/ the engine at all...religious oil changes...tranny just flushed a few months ago, but started to experience some weird transmission grinds the last week...(see my other post).
Power has been great and gas mileage is awesome.

ybelm620

I have a 97se 5-spd. It has 55,000 miles on it. Never had a problem, plan to do the 60k tuneup in about 5k miles, SHE ROCKS!!!!!!

maxz32

Just bought my Maxima with about 76K miles. Lets hope it goes strong for a good while to come! Nissans rule.

djmaxima

I bought my 97 se with every ooption 4 months ago,it had 42k on it,it now has over 55k.I dony have any mods,yet,but i have had only oil changes,but a belt just started squeking.Thats it.

GUTWORTH

MY '97 MAX SE JUST PASSED 133K; FORMERLY HAD A '92 SE THAT WAS SOLD WITH 165K. ONLY MAJOR WORK NEEDED WAS POWER STEERING PUMP ON THE '92 AT ABOUT 90K, AND AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR ON THE '97 AT ABOUT 105K.

NEVER A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINES, JUST KEEP CHANGING ALL FLUIDS RELIGIOUSLY AND THEY CAN PROBABLY RUN FOREVER.

redmaxpa007

iTrader: (21)

40K on my 99

emax02

iTrader: (1)

93K on my 95 max and the only problems was a broken Clutch at 91K and 2 o2 sensors around 70-75K

39K on my I30T no problems yet but then again I just picked it up last night,wish me luck!

JUDE

iTrader: (7)

36,500 on a 99

rp95se

1996 with 30,000

kevm14

Yes, holy thread revival. That's ok, I can revive my own thread.

I assume there is a totally different crowd in here 12 years later. But perhaps someone would find it amusing that this car is again in my possession after my brother finally bought a new car. He was daily driving this Maxima and it was really starting to need some serious TLC, and the check engine light was on (supposedly for O2 and evap), the exhaust was all gone, needed a front wheel bearing, etc.. There's also rust...

BUT!

It's rocking 229k and while I am not planning on sinking a ton of money into it, I have gotten it partially back up to snuff. Here's what I've done since I took possession of it in September 2012 @ 226k:

Front O2
Evap vacuum control solenoid (no more check engine light)
Right front wheel bearing + hub
Greased front brakes
Fuel filter
Cleaned TB and idle air system
Full seafoam (via idle air hose)
Hood struts
Cleaned MAF
Changed power steering fluid
AutoRX
Flushed brake fluid (all the bleeders opened up no problem!)
Greased rear brakes
Clutch fluid change (kinda)
Techron treatment
RMI-25 coolant additive
Back to running 93 octane
2 cans R134a (blew cold last fall, we'll see how that goes)
New exhaust (Kensei catback, eBay N1 304 stainless system, requiring some custom work at the mid-pipe to cat - sounds great, looks utterly stupid. Cheapest option by far)

Still needs some stuff like radiator core support, new tires, tach repair (it's probably been non-functional for 9 years now), new rotors (I'll wait until the pads are gone), coolant flush, maybe trans fluid change...then there's the rust in front of the front wheels (and a little in spots underneath). I should also point out that when I originally created this thread, I had just about zero car mechanic experience (oil changes and I installed a Stillen front STB, which is still on the car, but that's it). A lot can happen in 12 years (married, house, kid).

I didn't really need this car (I already have 4, counting my wife's car) but I drove it my senior year of HS back in 1999 and I always thought it was a great car. Plus, it's a loaded SE 5-speed (no Meridian, CD changer or ABS, but every other option), so that's cool, too. Also, I enjoy performing this kind of TLC to get something old and seemingly at the end of its life back in full service, instead of limping along as it was at the end of my brother's usage of it. And you know what? It's a GREAT daily driver/commuter. Fast enough, impressive passenger room for a 3000lb sedan, nice amenities and I get 25mpg on my commute.

I still have my 93 Caprice, and it is up to 280k. When I created this thread, I was still 2 months out from buying my Caprice, which had 113k. Added an 05 CTS-V and a 91 Ford Ranger. Had a 95 Camaro Z28 and 95 Cadillac Fleetwood along the way (they are gone now; I miss the Fleetwood).
Anyway, too many things on the Maxima still work, such as:

The bose still sounds great (using cassette adapter until I can figure out an aux-in solution). All 4 speakers work and this is the original factory system.
All windows work, as well as the sunroof.
Auto climate works fine
The shocks damp, but I need to go through my dad's service records to see if they are original. If they are, I am very impressed.
The steering has no play (but pulls to the right due to caster issues that I can't fix)
Keyless entry
Power seats
And so on

Anyway, this is already way too long and no one cares, but I had to post it for posterity. I can follow up with the service records on what it took to get to 229k. My family owned it since early 1999, at around 54k. It was an off lease car.

ShocknAwe

iTrader: (3)

damn lol 2001. I get steady about 22mpg and Im pretty heavy on the gas around town. I keep OD off around town too though

Aflion

iTrader: (1)

That's pretty cool. That's exactly like my Maxima SE 5sp, not having the ABS and CD changer, but mine is a 98 and is verging on 261K miles. Sunroof still works as well. Though I did have to clean out the drain hose on one side. Mine had Bose that still sounded great, but I sold all of it. Black power leather seats, Keyless entry as well. Sounds like our cars are about the exact same. Haha. But congrats on getting your car back. But to add on to the list, I've gotten 26-28 on my Max.

Max139617

iTrader: (9)

WOW this is awesome.

Who knows where this forum will be in 12 years. Everyone will probably have a 6th/7th gen then

kevm14

For fuel economy, this car has always been easily capable of besting 30mpg when driven on the highway. I think the record is 33 or 34, in fact. I always wondered how much better it could do with a 6th gear and lower cruise RPMs. Then again, the short 5th always guarantees a level of readiness for any number of traffic situations...

Also, I forgot to comment on general interior wear: the driver's seat has practically no wear on it! Quality leather, I guess. Overall, the interior has a minimum of squeaks and rattles.

Not that it matters, but this was never really my car. In fact, it still technically belongs to my parents. But I live in a different state and my brother and I have been out of the house for years (me since 2004), so they only need 2 cars. They were going to donate this car. The charity, in turn, would just have scrapped it. I couldn't let that happen. It has more to give.

As 4th gens and VQ engines go, I realize 229k isn't even really that high, though I'm not sure many people have had this experience, where I knew and drove the car from early 99 through the summer of 99, then occasionally during college, and again during summers. So I drove the car starting at 54k (I learned to drive stick on this car!!). It's fun to compare my memories of how it was to reality.

I remember thinking, for example, that it had a fairly crusty ride quality. At the time, I figured I was just used to my parents' previous car, a 1990 Lincoln Continental. That turned out to be half true. Getting back in the Maxima today, I think it still has a fairly firm, kind of crusty ride (over impacts). But I also enjoy the firmness and lack of float. I also find it to feel fairly nimble at only 3000lbs (look how heavy cars are today!!!).

Still, my 05 CTS-V with the optional FG2 "Nurburgring" shocks, which the forum claims are too stiff for daily driving, takes sharp impacts better than the Maxima. I just enjoy making these kinds of comparisons I guess.

Anyway, I guess I was feeling a big nostalgic. Glad a few folks enjoyed the post. I think I'll gather up the service records my dad gave me (if I can find them) and make a post to see what it took to get this car from 54k to ~226k. It definitely was more than just oil changes.

Skorpionznf

I have 192.5k on my 97, i've changed the alternator, and starter, but the starter was because i have electric start, and sometimes if I'm not paying attention ill still turn the key to "start" *grinndddd* But yeah they're great.

CallMeThatOneGuy

iTrader: (2)

301k on my 95.. new radiator, condensor, and bumper bar (wreck), injectors and coil packs, a/c compressor, replaced perfect clothseats with black leather i30, need to do a wheel bearing, inner tie rod, egr delete, and a LCA bushing.

Shortened shocks and lowering springs. Budget y-pipe (ready for wideband). Straight midpipe with a nice, unknown-brand muffler. plenty of front and back cosmetic upgrades. rain visors (great investment). i30 autodim. obx cai. other random mods...

I drive this car pretty hard, but it never fails me. Even with the DR mod is still shifts smooth under normal driving and idles perfectly. Being it was my first car, I brought it back from the dead a few years ago when i was 15 and started work on it. The only concern with it is a quiet knock that occurs when it's freezing-***** cold outside. BUT. I have a 3.5 ready to drop for when that time comes.

Aflion

iTrader: (1)

That's awesome. I bet the feeling is great. I would think it would be like seeing one of your good friends after all of this time. I love my car, even with all of the problems it's given me. I honestly haven't been in a car that rides better than my Max. It's a little too soft on the corners for my liking, but other than that, it's great. My interior isnt in the greatest condition. The people that had the car before me didn't take care of it. I tried reviving it as much as I could, but could only do so much. As for your first post of these engine's being bulletproof, I think you were right. Haha. Im on my second Max right now. I sold my first one to my mom's fiance, and i bought a nicer one before i go off to college. I plan on keeping this car forever. It's more than a car. It's like its family or something.

c_elliott

iTrader: (2)

Just bought a 97 gle saturday, its got 174k on it. All regular and required maintenance has been performed since day one. (Came with just about every paper to prove it, dealer maintained) Im the 3rd owner of the car, with the 1st and 2nd owner being father and then son.

My last max was a 95 se which had 329k when i sold it to a buddy 2 years ago. He still drives it daily to work. I believe it has around 400-450k on the original motor as of now