My brother's 96 Maxima SE with 220K is puffing faint white smoke out of the exhaust when it is first started up and possibly after it's warmed up but I don't know. The smoke smells slightly sweet which makes me think that a little bit of coolant is getting in with the combustion process. Also I noticed that the valvetrain is slightly noisy and there is also a little bit of oil on the outside of the upper intake.

1) What would cause the white smoke? My 2003 definitely doesn't do that so I'm guessing it has something to do with gaskets or seals.

2) Why would the valvetrain be quite a bit noisier than it was when it had less miles? Is something coming out of adjustment?

3) Why is there oil on the upper intake? Are ALL the gaskets bad?

I'm kinda new here but between me and family members we own 3 Maximas (91,96,03 SEs)

Thanks in advance.

 

The white smoke is from most likely the coolant. Check the coolant level. According to Haynes manual, it's:
1. Leaking cylinder head gasket
2. Cracked cylinder bore or clyinder head

When was the last tuneup done?

 

sounds like a blown head-gasket

 

is the car using any coolant?? if it is you may have a blown headgasket....if not and you just see smoke during first start...then that is a clasic sign of worn valve stem seal and or guides....with 220k I would expect that the eng is worn inside... rings/valves ect oil in the upper intake is usually a sign of eng blow by...ie worn rings..... my 2cents if it is not using coolant (blown head gasket) just keep driving and don't worry about the little puff of smoke....chances are you will need a eng overhaul to correct the problems if it is blow by (oil in intake) valve stem seals can be replaced but it would be better to do a valve job and freshen the cyl heads since the car has 220K...

 

The last tuneup was in July. I hope it's not a cracked cylinder head or bore, that could get pretty expensive. I know that the car always seemed to have a bit of spark knock, even from when it was new. My brother did say that he had to add some coolant in October.

 

I just got off the phone with him and he did in fact say that the car does not smoke when it is warmed up. The car still gets 28MPG on the highway and other than that the only noticeable difference from new is increased valvetrain noise.

 

doesnt burning coolant give that odd/almost sweet smell? so that is definately a coolant leak. valvetrain noise could be from the engine running a little too hot, rocker out of alignment, or maybe a worn timing chain...how is it noisier now? what does it sound like? I think it would be smoking more if the whole head was cracked. kinda sounds more like a gasket IMO

 

The engine just sounds noisier now, the valvetrain sounds more like a sewing machine. The timing chain has never been changed on the car.

 

The VQ doesn't use rocker arms. It is on cam-on-shim design. The noise you're getting may be because the valve lash is out of spec. I would give you the link for the Chilton Manual Online directions to readjust the lash but the site is down for now. Do you have the Haynes, Chilton, or Nissan FSM??

 

rocker out of alignment was damn close

 

You probily need to replace hte timing chain tensioner now too.

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....t=timing+chain

http://www.rpmrons.com/nissantiming.html

www.newnissanparts.com

don't pay more then 200 at the dealer to tget that replaced, TRUST ME

 

My car does all of this and still just put 197.1 whp down.