My '98 Maxima needs oil from time to time but I don't see any oil dripping underneath or smell any in the exhaust. Any ideas on where it's going?

 

you're burnin oil

 

all engines "burn" a little....up to a quart every 3K is what I consider normal. GM considers a quart every 1000 miles normal. That might be oil going past the rings, or running down the valve guides...but it all end up in the combustion chamber and is burned off.

Don't panic about it

 

how many miles does ur car have? cuz u are burning oil if u aint leaking it. a quart of oil every 3k is a lot man, that doesnt seem right its more like 1/2 quart or less depending on milage. do a simple test... have someone floor the car and stand behind the exhaust pipe... if you see blue smoke its oil... good luck

 

Does your oil light flicker on and off??

 

A quart every 3000 miles is NOT NORMAL, especially for a VQ30DE...and comparing a GM to a Nissan is like comparing a Big Mac to Filet Mignon.

Granted, every engine does burn very little amount of oil, but it should be negligable, a few ounces at every oil change...certainly not enough to require adding oil. I've got 202,000 miles on my engine and it's never shown an indication of burning or losing oil.

How many miles are on your engine? How much oil are you adding, and how often? Are you running forced induction? Do you get blue smoke from the exhaust when you rev the engine? I suggest you do a compression test, that might indicate if you have very worn piston rings or a valve seats. Also, what kind of oil are you using?

 

My car loses a little over a quart every 3000 miles or so. I have a seeping rear main seal but it never leaves any puddles. I think that mine is burning oil too because I just don't see how that much oil is coming out of that seal. If it was there would at least be a couple of drops of oil on my driveway. There isn't, just an old oil stain from the old accord.

 

RAAAARRRR maybe the oil monster ate it

 

yur burnin oil

 

Please explain in technical terms why the fact if the oil light was/wasn't flickering would affect the oil level.

 

im assuming bijan was joking...his oil light turned on when his oil pump failed, he knows well waht that oil light is for.

 

I will never overestimate that boy's mechanical skiltz.