Hello, we have a 1998 maxima v-6 that aparently got hot. There is no coolant and the dipstick has milky brown fluid all the way to the top. I did a compression check and 2,4,6 have 150 and 1,3 and 5 are at 120. My friend says head gasket for sure. I am wondering if there is any other way water could be getting in the oil. Any input would be helpfull. Thanks...

 

If it looks like a blown hg, smells like a blown hg, tastes like a blown hg...

 

It sounds like you have antifreeze in the water, however the compression check is not telling you this. It is interesting that bank 1 and bank 2 are different from each other, but but the spot that allows the coolant to get into the oil is not connected with a cylinder. If it was, you would have one cylinder with a low reading.

 

you might have a very slow leak in bank one.

 

Have it checked with a block tester (co reactive dye). It could be head gasket or waterpump.

CO present in the radiator says HG. No CO says waterpump likely.

It is possible you have a head gasket failure brtween a water passage and a oil return hole.

 

I started to pull the heads yesterday, I got as far as the timing chain cover. I have all of the bolts out, however I can not pry the stupid things apart! It looks like someone glued them on. I gott the top half apart, but it will not budge down by the crank. I don't know what else to do besides just breaking it apart and getting a new one. Has anyone had or heard of this???

 

Good Luck man. I hope it's not too bad!

 

Take off the lower oil pan. There's 2 bolts inside there holding the timing cover on.

I wouldn't even bother tearing this engine down though. Anytime you have coolant mix with the oil you can count on the bearings being shot or will be very soon.
VQ's are cheap so I would just replace the entire engine.

 

Have you done any trouble shooting to see if its a blown head gasket?? For less money and time spent you could have bought a low miles engine and swapped it in.

 

Does anyone know how many shop hours are involved in putting new heads on the 1988 maxima v6?

 

The water pump could be shot, oil and water mix there. Compression is still within spec. If the difference was 75% (113 psi or less) then head gasket.

 

Yup , the water pump could be shot.. Very very rare..but saw it happened recently on a 2000 maxima. Had one where basically no seal between the pump and the engine. Soon as you poured coolant in, it went straight into the motor.

 

Guys I have a problem. I didn't mark the cams or the caps. I had them sitting on the bench in the order I knew they went back. my buddy the parts cleaner, cleaned everything and Im pretty sure I have no clue which cam went where. I know im screwed on the caps but can someone tell me how to get the correct cam in the correct spot???

 

The caps should have identification on each and the cams are separated you have 2 long 2 short. I believe the fsm should explain how to assemble.

 

Wouldn't that kindof be expected because the front bank 246 always gets more direct air cooling than the rear bank 135? For example, when the valve cover gaskets go, it always the rear ones first.

 

What is the fsm? When looking at the cams there are no two that are alike so 2 long and 2 short is no help and the caps do have markings on them but i dont know what they mean. Each cam also is marked with a1 b1 c1 and d1.

 

FSM = Nissan factory Service manual

You can download yours from here;

http://boredmder.com/FSMs/Nissan/Maxima/

 

Thats great. Thanks much...

 

Who rips apart an engine w/o a FSM at their side?

I hope you follow the torque specs and sequences when you put it back together!

 

I'm thinking the head gasket is not blowen. And OP is in over his head. " Ok down to the timing cover., what is a fsm?"
For OP's sake I hope that he will be able to properly diagnose the problem before he digs deeper.

 

In over my head? No. I have never done a nissan before and didnt plan on the cams and caps getting mixed up. My buddy decided to clean them wile i was at work. When i. First posted i asked if there was another way water could get into the oil and my big mistake was not being paitent enough to wait on an educated answer before i tore it down. So yea im am the idiot that pulled the heads to change the waterpump. You guys can have a good laugh over that one. Needless to say thanks for your help i appreciate it....