Motor oil in Air intake midpipe
04-08-2007, 05:29 AM
#1
Has his VINs memorized
Thread Starter
iTrader: (18)
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Imperial Beach, CA
Posts: 767
Motor oil in Air intake midpipe
This has me pretty worried. I've been getting random/multiple misfire code for a couple weeks, been working on it. But I changed my adapter for my cone filter the other day and found oil in my intake midpipe. I've never seen nor heard of this happening before so I'm a little leery. I'm going to put in a new PCV valve but don't really think that will do anything. Thinking maybe head gasket breach? It would seem as though it's coming up through the tube that connects the front valve cover to the midpipe. It's not frothy/foamy. I checked my plugs the other day too and my #1 and #5 cyl plugs had oil/were wet, all others were dry. She always needs some throttle feathering to start too. Any ideas or info is appreciated! Thanks
04-08-2007, 05:34 AM
#2
PCV and not sure what you mean by "midpipe". I wouldnt be surprised if it was dirty oil from your cone filter if you oil it). it isnt a blown headgasket and doubt very much it is something on the motor itself since the oil couldnt travel that far back upstream.
04-08-2007, 05:41 AM
#3
Has his VINs memorized
Thread Starter
iTrader: (18)
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Imperial Beach, CA
Posts: 767
intake midpipe, replaces the resonator... I can take a pic with my phone but I don't think it will be good.
No, this cone filter is oilless not to mention it's definately used motor oil. I'm going to take stuff apart to see if I can find a trail of where it's coming from exactly.
No, this cone filter is oilless not to mention it's definately used motor oil. I'm going to take stuff apart to see if I can find a trail of where it's coming from exactly.
04-08-2007, 06:00 AM
#4
well replace the PCV. a PCV that wont close at idle may allow enough oil to pass through and work its way backawrds. and since you are at idle, the air flow wouldnt be strong enough to blow it downstream. If this is the case, it will be easy to tell. the backside of your TB will be dirty and very wet. IAC Valve will need a thorough cleaning also since the excess flow will hit that too.
04-08-2007, 07:49 AM
#7
the oil that is getting into your intake is from your valve cover. theres a hose that runs from the crankcase to the intake pipe. maximas create massive blowback for some reason. i took the hose off, put a breather filter on the crankcase and a vacuum cap on the hose connection on the intake pipe. done. 
04-08-2007, 07:56 AM
#8
Has his VINs memorized
Thread Starter
iTrader: (18)
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Imperial Beach, CA
Posts: 767
Well, I've never had oil appear in the air intake in my maxima in the 2.5-3 years I've had it, just appeared around the same time as the backfire. I've been going over the intake frequently once I began having rough idle waaaay back when...
edit: I am interested in more info on what and exactly how you went about doing it though, parts and costs etc. Thanks!
edit: I am interested in more info on what and exactly how you went about doing it though, parts and costs etc. Thanks!
04-08-2007, 08:13 AM
#10
Has his VINs memorized
Thread Starter
iTrader: (18)
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Imperial Beach, CA
Posts: 767
Why would it all of a sudden come out of nowhere though? This is the first time this has happened on my maxima. So you are saying that this is normal and harmless?
04-08-2007, 08:22 AM
#12
I've noticed this to when I did my PRCAI the other week. Had a mech (friend) check it out he said that there would be no real damage as long as it was just a couple of drops here and there.
04-08-2007, 11:27 AM
#15
lmao @ this thread.. you havent seen oil vapor/ residue until you've worked on an SR or RB. The VQ has such little residue compared to those motors. We really have extremely clean motors..
It has to have somewhere to vent so they ran it back into the intake tract so that it would be burnt/ dissipated during the next combustion cycle. Its the same on most of the other engines I've worked on.
It's supposed to be vapor that leaves a little bit of residue however. If you have liquid oil in the intake, you definitely need to have her checked out IMO.
It has to have somewhere to vent so they ran it back into the intake tract so that it would be burnt/ dissipated during the next combustion cycle. Its the same on most of the other engines I've worked on.
It's supposed to be vapor that leaves a little bit of residue however. If you have liquid oil in the intake, you definitely need to have her checked out IMO.
04-08-2007, 11:57 AM
#16
Has his VINs memorized
Thread Starter
iTrader: (18)
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Imperial Beach, CA
Posts: 767
Originally Posted by Apparition
It's supposed to be vapor that leaves a little bit of residue however. If you have liquid oil in the intake, you definitely need to have her checked out IMO.
04-08-2007, 12:06 PM
#17
Originally Posted by ti2tmax
Do you have any idea what would cause that much oil in there? There's NO way the amount I have in the intake could possibly be considered vapor residue. I'm trying to figure out if this is associated with my misfire issue or if it's just another thing to add to the list. This is much more than the average film, I don't really consider a half a capful of oil in under a week and a half to be normal especially since it's never had any before...
04-08-2007, 01:19 PM
#18
Originally Posted by Apparition
I'm just trying figure out what would cause that.. I really have no clue. Sorry man.
04-08-2007, 01:34 PM
#19
Has his VINs memorized
Thread Starter
iTrader: (18)
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Imperial Beach, CA
Posts: 767
4.27 quarts right? haha! No, I check it and make sure that it's almost exactly the right amount in there. It was just a hair below the H line. So I don't think that is it...
04-08-2007, 02:20 PM
#20
Originally Posted by ti2tmax
Do you have any idea what would cause that much oil in there? There's NO way the amount I have in the intake could possibly be considered vapor residue. I'm trying to figure out if this is associated with my misfire issue or if it's just another thing to add to the list. This is much more than the average film, I don't really consider a half a capful of oil in under a week and a half to be normal especially since it's never had any before...
Bad piston rings?
You might have to get a oil catch like 3.5 guys have-
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....&highlight=oil
.
04-08-2007, 02:27 PM
#21
Originally Posted by crazy97
Bad piston rings?
You might have to get a oil catch like 3.5 guys have-
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....&highlight=oil
.
You might have to get a oil catch like 3.5 guys have-
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....&highlight=oil
.
No. PCV goes directly into the intake manifold, not into the "fresh air"
04-08-2007, 04:32 PM
#22
Has his VINs memorized
Thread Starter
iTrader: (18)
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Imperial Beach, CA
Posts: 767
yeah you're right, PCV connects to the upper intake manifold. Although the one that was in it didn't click like it's supposed to. It really looks like it came from the front valve cover. but that's all uphill from there.
04-08-2007, 05:09 PM
#23
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: New York
Posts: 304
Replace the PCV, check to make sure you are not overfilling your crankcase on oil changes (if you let a schmuck mechanic do your oil change), and do a engine leakdown test to see if your piston rings are still good (if they are not get molybdenum steel rings, they last forever). Good luck!
04-08-2007, 06:06 PM
#24
Has his VINs memorized
Thread Starter
iTrader: (18)
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Imperial Beach, CA
Posts: 767
Well, I replaced the PCV valve, I always change my own oil and filter at 3K miles and never overfill. Well then I guess I'll start looking into a place that can do a leakdown test for me. Thanks for the help
04-08-2007, 10:45 PM
#25
Any high revving/racing? I'm new to the vq scene, but I know alot of motors that get run at high revs/raced can pull enough oil into the head that the PCV can end up sucking sprayed/liquid oil. Not much to worry about per se, but the proverbial "ounce of prevention" involves an oil catch can/separator. Depending on taste/style/budget, it can be a homemade PVC/whatever can, or a slick lookin' shiny chrome deal.
___
JLD
___
JLD
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
sdotcarter
6th Generation Maxima (2004-2008)
2
09-02-2015 09:53 PM