Hi all, I have a 99 Maxima GLE. I am having a problem with this car burning oil. It's burning oil at a rate of 2 quarts per 450~500 miles. I can see the blue smoke puffing in the back after I get out of the tolls and cannot accelerate to over 35-40 mph until the smoke is cleared. After that, it still takes long to get to 65, about 10 seconds from 35 mph. I could sense a lost of power at highway trips, but not local. The fuel mileage stays the same, about 29-30 miles/gal throughout my whole trip. I just want to know some ideas, suggestions, or solutions on how to end this? If you know the cost of repair this problem, please include also.

 

Ahhh.... new engine???

 

throw out the engine and stuff a vq35 in there. that is the best route. probably the seals on the valves or the rings

 

Any estimate on price and location?

 

for a vq35 swap check the all motor forum.
regular vq30 check car-part or etc
you also have the option of swapping in a de-k with a VI on it also can be found on car-part or etc

 

Any idea of the price of installing one of these engine from car-parts?

 

you can contact tilley and ask how much he charges. if i had a place to do it, i would do it for you.

 

Anyone in NY area that have an estimate?

 

Also, valve seal or the rings, what's the price on those?

 

its one of the two things

 

Do you have any ideas on price or any other possible problems that's causing this?

 

rings and or valve seals... your better off getting a new motor form car-part.com.. trust me...not worth fixing

 

we established that a while ago

 

Burning oil is very rare in a VQ, especially the VQ30DE. Are you sure it's not leaking from somewhere onto the exhaust? That happened to our Mercury Sable, oil was leaking from the engine onto the Y-pipe and it made clouds of smoke come out from under the car. A new gasket took care of the problem.

Do you have a supercharger or turbo? Do you run nitrous? How many miles on the car?

If you decide to pull the engine and put in a new one, I'd do a teardown and investigate why it was burning oil.

 

I currently have 77k on the car with no mods to it, all stock. I only see blue smoke when the car is stopped and then accelerate. It happens as well when I just turn off the engine and start it again. A lot of blue smoke coming up. I cannot find any other leaks to it. Only noticed a loss of power. I'm trying to see which is better for the car, engine or fixing it. (money is an issue in this case)

 

77K and it's burning such a lot? Incredible. It sounds like you've had an 'accident' in the motor. Typical kind of thing is a broken piston ring, that proceeds to gouge a slot into the cylinder wall, permitting oil to pass easily into the combustion chamber. I don't think it likely that the valve seals are at fault, not with that low a mileage.
Before you do anything, I think you should take out the plugs and examine them carefully. If you find that five are clean and one is all oily and carboned, then you'll know.
HOWEVER... if you have indeed got a bore problem like that, or maybe someone ran the car for 30K with no air filter and all the rings are worn out, then you'd be into a complete bore+hone and replace 6 pistons, 6 ring sets, gaskets, labour. All in all, I'd be looking for a motor somewhere. Just like the others suggested...

 

All the plugs are oiled on the threads and something like ash-like color at the tip of the plug. It is a used car, so I would imagine someone would've run the car with maintanence at all.

 

I agree 77k is still in diapers for a vq30... Do you change your oil regularly?? Sounds like a broken piston ring to me.. possilby a valve guide but i doubt it.. Only way to fix either one is a complete teardown

 

Check your valves...timing...belts. Any leaks at all?

 

bad pistion rings or bad valve stem seals. My money would be on pistion rings. Time for a junk yard engine. Also pull out your plugs see if they are oil fouled

 

Timing chain, oil is needed to keep the chain from locking up. This isnt a honda or a toyota v6. This is a nissan 4 cam, internal water pump, timing chain engine.

 

I would say go with a new motor.

 

when we are talking about getting a new motor as in the VQ35, should I look at the VQ35's from the 5th geners or 6th geners. or its makes no difference or what ?
Thanks

 

if you are running syn or semi-syn oil??

the 96se5spd i just bought burned about the same amount, but i switched to regular oil 5w30, and no more smoking

since synthetic oil is thinner, it tends to pass places where regular would'nt because it thicker...


try it, anyway, its cheaper than a new engine

 

wow never knew that...i have been running redline full synthetic for 2 years now and never had a problem....

go figure, i also use 10w30

 

if you do end up swapping your engine, give tilley a call, he's sort of in your area and will be able to swap it a whole lot faster than anyone else since he's done so many, plus he's a really cool guy

 

I am running on regular oil 10W30. Switched from 5W30 awhile ago. So much problems with this oil burning problem. I checked everything and no leaks to my eyes. The plugs are not like above, nothing on it except some ash-colored on the metal. I bought this car used like that. The burning problem only occurs when I go on the highway at high speeds. When driving locally, 20-30mph, there's no burning at all. I somehow need estimates of whatever it takes to fix this problem, whether a new engine, valve seal, piston rings. Anyone have any ideas?

 

With 77K miles on it, you still have many more miles to enjoy on the VQ30. I would start with the cheapest item first... Check your PCV Valve. if it's dirty, replace it...it's a $5 investment. If that doesn't work move onto the Valve seals...Piston Rings...Head Gasket...and so on..

I had the same problem, and the PCV valve ended my woes.

 

Ash-colour on the plugs is fine, that's how it should be.
Somewhat strange your problem only happens at high speed. Your original post didn't make that clear.
Makes me wonder if there is a crankcase over-pressure occurring, forcing oil via the PCV or whatever other breather, into the combustion chambers.

 

Great deal

 

Yes, forgot to add that. Only happens at high speeds, 45mph+. Had the PCV-valve changed, distributor cap, cylinder head, head gasket, oil pump. Nothing works so far. One time I did an engine flush, and it was fine for 3 weeks, but I had my acceleration very low (taking 30 seconds just to get to 60mph). That works fine every now and then, but not anymore. Any more ideas? Really planning on an engine change or engine swap if the price is right.

 

You can get a low miles VQ30DE for under $500 probably. If you know anyone with an engine hoist you can swap the engines yourself. Otherwise labor will cost you, dunno how much. I don't know why people are suggesting a VQ35 swap, unless you have the time and care enough about power it's certainly not worth the trouble to make it work.

 

I need someone that can do it cheaply and with warranty.

 

Dude, sounds like you need a new motor.

 

...you sure about that?