GBAUER

iTrader: (2)

I too had the annoying valve rattle between 2500 and 3500 rpms under no or little load. Just wanted to let you all know that there is light at the end of the tunnell! I changed my spark plugs (well, at least the front. Rears are going to have to wait till this weekend) and got rid of almost all of it! My gut tells me that once I change to rears, the rattle should go away completly. I had suspected that the weak spark had something to do with it.

Also, any of you have a dissapearing oil issue? I'm losing fluid, but not on the ground and not out the tail (that I can see). I assume that I'm burning it, but the cat is finishing it before it leaves the tail pipe. Just wondering if anyone else had this problem and can point me towards leak areas. I know it's not the front valve cover. I'll check the rear this weekend. I'm aware that it could be the head gasket, but I'm still holding onto the hope that it's not. Ya, I know I could get the oil tested, but I'd rather bang up my knuckles trying to find it myself.

FYI: I have a 103k on my 2003. Just info to keep you 50k people from freaking out. No comments on the milage or else the evil directors will ban this post!

durckelg

I have an 03 with 34000 miles. I notice when I change my oil that I am only getting just under 4 quarts out. I put 4.5 in every 3000 miles. I use mobile 1. When should I look at changing the spark plugs (ORG recommendations, not factory)?

As for mileage:
Lets just say, I have been doing a lot of traveling for work in a rented GMC Envoy with 6000 miles. I have been getting about the same MPG out of it with regular gas as I do out of my car with premium.

E55AMG2

iTrader: (4)

We are not evil, first of all....just imagine seeing the SAME thread 50000x a week

second, the oil burining off could be (COULD BE) something you want to have checked out...depending on your oil change intervals. How much oil is it losing, and what type/grade oil are you using.

kcowden

iTrader: (2)

What I've heard befor is it's because of the way engines are designed these days that the heat and friction cause the oil to "vaporize"... yes that's what I said. Loosing .5 quart over 3-4k miles on a higher mileage engine is probably normal. If your loosing .5 quart in a few weeks, that's not normal.

GBAUER

iTrader: (2)

Your words, not mine

I'm losing a quart or so every 4k miles. Still haven't changed the rear plugs. Will do Sunday and will look for oil in the plug wells. The real reason why I started this thread is because a lot of 5.5 gens complain that the engine rattles at 2500 rpms at around 40-50k. Because something simple like changing the plugs fixed it on mine, I just wanted to recommend that solution to anyone else with simular problems.

E55AMG2

iTrader: (4)

naw, this is the type of thread we like to see...dont even worry about it. The rattle however, comes from the timing chain....mine has done it since new. The less the timing has to adjust (from faulty plugs, worn coils, etc..) the less the rattle appears.

with regard to your oil loss, that doesnt seem overly excessive for a car with your mileage. What grade and brand of oil are you using, also syn or dino?

E55AMG2

iTrader: (4)

PS: why do you think we're so evil?

2002 Maxima SE

iTrader: (3)

Please take pictures so I can add them to the write up. We have no pictures of the intake removed and the rear bolts/nuts to remove. Thanks!

raiste

I second the picture taking. I need to replace my plugs soon and dread working on the back-side ones.

Cavez

so is this rattle common on most 5.5 gens? And the oil consumption thing concerns me too. My max never once consumed oil even after hard driving for 85,000 miles. Are these problems something that most 5.5 gens have?

ben02smse

Hey GBAUER- I wouldn't sweat the .5 quart consumption between changes. That's pretty normal for most all engines, especially running mobile 1 5W30. Mine does the same thing. I'm sure we all get a little blowby since most of us like to rev our VQ's to the red quite frequently!

Blowby if some of you don't know refers to small amounts of oil getting by the oil and compression rings on each piston and burning in the combustion chambers. That synthetic lube is slippery stuff!

I've got a little valve clatter myself but nothing to be alarmed about. Strange that changing plugs would quiet it...