edwardh1

99 max
107,000 miles -
leaks 1 drop a day in cold weather (say below 40) driven round town
-does not leak in warmer weather and does not leak in cold weather when driven even 200 miles on interstate, and then parked for a week - zro leak
strange
could pcv valve cause this?

aackshun

iTrader: (3)

Metal contracts in cold, expands in heat, you need to track down the source of the leak... Is it towards the passenger's or driver's side of the vehicle?

Snypa

iTrader: (35)

subscribed. I have rear main seal leak to deal with as well.

edwardh1

seems to be where xmission is bolted to engine.
how can I post a picture- forum says I can not post (I know how on other forums)

dan1el

If the leak is coming from where the tranny bolts to the engine, you really only have 3 main probabilities.
1-The upper oil pan gasket
2-The valve cover gaskets (front and or rear)
3-The rear main.

From everything I've read and heard, the rear main is a very very rare leak on our cars. On top of that, it is a super pain to replace. So you should get some uv dye for engine oil at the parts store and a small uv light and try to pinpoint where it's coming from. If it's the upper pan gasket, it should be relatively easy to spot since you get a pretty complete view of that gasket from under the car. If it's the front valve cover gasket, it should also be easy to spot as you can see it from the top. If it's the rear cover gasket, then it's probably not so easy since I think you have to remove the upper intake manifold to get a clear view of that gasket. In any case either of the first 2 options is easier than the 3rd. So if you can pinpoint it, great. If not, I would start with the vc gaskets and if it continues, I would try the oil pan gasket.

When you say it drips about where the tranny meets the engine, do you mean toward the front of the car? Or do you mean right below the middle of where they meet? A rear main leak would most likely drip straight down below that point.

edwardh1

There is a center brace running forward and backward. just to the drivers side of the brace is where the leak is- looks like where engine bell housing and transmission meet. Oil comes out where a thin piece of sheetmetal is up against a cast part of (I think) the transmission

dan1el

That thin sheet of metal is the rear cover plate. If oil is dripping there it is probably either coming from the upper oil pan gasket (the rear cover plate is actually bolted onto the upper pan right where it meets the tranny). The rear main is just above that cover plate about 8", so it could be the rear main, but as I mentioned before it is a very rare leak on our cars. Get the uv dye, and run it for a day or so until you see it drip. Check the drop with the uv light to see if it glows. If not, keep driving until it does. Remove the upper oil pan and very thoroughly inspect that area to see if you think the leak is coming from higher than the oil pan. If you are pretty sure it was coming from the pan, put it back together. If not, then you should consider going on to do the rear main. The upper pan is just one step to get to the rear main, so if you put it back together and it still leaks, you're going to be ticked off.

edwardh1

Sounds like a complicated design. Are all v-6s made that way or is this a nissan thing?

dan1el

Not sure. I just picked up my first tool after thanksgiving and I drove corolla's before this lol.

Snypa

iTrader: (35)

Does this look familiar

edwardh1

IS that a rear main seal leak? I may ignore mine for a while, leaks are not real bad. I dont know what my small garage mechanics will charge to fix the rear main.
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I also seem to have a much worse rear valve cover gasket leak- oil on back of the block, passenger side, drips on the exhaust manifold edge a little, then over some wires and then adown onto the shield over the exhaust system
It stinks - gee smells like burnt oil.

Snypa

iTrader: (35)

I dunno, but im tired of cleaning oil when i do get to park in the garage and oil seaping into the bricks outside is not something my my brother wants.So this ish has got to be fixed. I have valve cover leaking too.....ohh how i "love" that scent of burned oil coming thru my vents.

I actually just made a thread asking for info.Check it out, possibly subscribe and stay tuned.

edwardh1

whats the thread name?

TRBOMAX92

Here's the deal i had a 95 max also and it had oil dripping from the center of the engine and trany. It was the rear valve cover leaking down the engine to the trany. Not a big deal.

Snypa

iTrader: (35)

The rear valve cover is one of my problems too. I know for sure those need changing, cause i can see the wetness on the sheild right nexxt to the firewall. But i guess at the moment, im somewhat assuming RMS needs changing too and possibly do it now versushaving to go at it later. I dunno.

http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generat...ggestions.html

Sproket13

iTrader: (1)

i have this exact problem right now...took off the starter and there is fresh engine oil in there..wtf?!

maxed_out_99

^^ yeah that looks real familiar... oh, you were not talking to me. i guess its a common problem. to the op, the tranny has to come out to replace that seal. if you have time to spare i say go for it. if not, just buy a small piece of carpet and slide it under the problem area so your broski doesnt get mad.

Br0nz

check rear valve cover if you are smelling it in the vents it may be burning off the manifold

slfalco

I am in the middle of a clutch change, and I did notice a small amount of oil in that spot before I started...
1) the tranny and flywheel are out, how hard to change the rear main seal at this point?
2) can the upper oil pan be removed easily given the tranny is out? does the exhaust have to be dropped to do that?
I am thinking it may be worth changing both the upper oil pan and rear main gaskets before I replace the clutch and reassemble everything....