Oil loss - diagnosis from dealership
#401
I'm at about just over 2,000K into my oil change and If the sump with filter holds about 4.25, I've added about a litre in 2000K. That's if that figure is correct.
Last time I did oil, I just added four quarts, and drove it for a day. it was a little low the next day from not being quite full. I topped it off then, and have added around a litre since.
So, its around 2.5 quarts on 5,000K kms.
Last time I did oil, I just added four quarts, and drove it for a day. it was a little low the next day from not being quite full. I topped it off then, and have added around a litre since.
So, its around 2.5 quarts on 5,000K kms.
#402
Standard Oil, Significant Oil Loss....
I am curious to find out if those of you having oil comsumption problems are running synthetic or standard motor oil? I don't think it should matter, since the motor should not be burning or using oil in some capacity anyway, but synthetic oil tends to be thin compared to the same weight standard motor oil. I have read other threads that state that changing over to synthetic oil after you have compiled a number of miles on the motor, can lead to leaky seals, in a variety of areas around the motor.
Since most of you don't have leaks, but appear to have oil burning issues, could it be possible that the thiner synthetic oil passes more easily by the rings and gets burned in the cylinders?
I am just curious. I have an 03 SE with 43K miles on it and I feel fortunate that I don't have any oil consumption problems at this time, but I have always run standard motor oil in my engine. I have thought about switching to synthetic but there is no motivation to do so on my part. I have owned 3 Maximas and have never had any oil consumption problems, even with 130K miles plus and I have always used standard motor oil.
Since most of you don't have leaks, but appear to have oil burning issues, could it be possible that the thiner synthetic oil passes more easily by the rings and gets burned in the cylinders?
I am just curious. I have an 03 SE with 43K miles on it and I feel fortunate that I don't have any oil consumption problems at this time, but I have always run standard motor oil in my engine. I have thought about switching to synthetic but there is no motivation to do so on my part. I have owned 3 Maximas and have never had any oil consumption problems, even with 130K miles plus and I have always used standard motor oil.
#403
Same Filter Story Here....
I was told this esoteric theory about how a cheap oil filter blocks critical "binder molecules" that supposedly cling to the cylinder walls, "preventing the oil from getting past the rings," so one must buy a Fram or other name brand filter in a bid to reduce/eliminate oil consumption (assuming a healthy engine).
I'm an engineer, and I say that's just plain bunk! Am I wrong? Does anyone else have any insight into this one? I've used discount Dan filters my whole life, and sell my wheels @ ~145k w/ NO PROBLEMS normally.
I'm an engineer, and I say that's just plain bunk! Am I wrong? Does anyone else have any insight into this one? I've used discount Dan filters my whole life, and sell my wheels @ ~145k w/ NO PROBLEMS normally.
#404
5.5 gens is common for having a cracked cover. i'm going to take a guess here and say that it was the plug nearest to the driver that had the oil leak. i've done searches and more than 75% of them were problems with that specific plug.
they also replaced both front and rear gaskets along with the cover for me. i thought they had gone out of the way, but since they took care of you too, they're possibly seeing this as all too common?
they also replaced both front and rear gaskets along with the cover for me. i thought they had gone out of the way, but since they took care of you too, they're possibly seeing this as all too common?
#406
im starting to wonder if my timing advance to 17 degrees before top dead center would cause this problem.
the timing advance causes the ignition to occur earlier (before the piston reaches top dead center).
would this cause extra compression that this rings cant handle?
the timing advance causes the ignition to occur earlier (before the piston reaches top dead center).
would this cause extra compression that this rings cant handle?
In the old days, people fiddled w/ timing routinely. Now, computers think for us. Remember, the computer determines the ACTUAL timing DYNAMICALLY; the 17 U used is only a static figure you set.
#407
No. Issues like pre-ignition/pinging would occur earlier and would alert you first.
In the old days, people fiddled w/ timing routinely. Now, computers think for us. Remember, the computer determines the ACTUAL timing DYNAMICALLY; the 17 U used is only a static figure you set.
In the old days, people fiddled w/ timing routinely. Now, computers think for us. Remember, the computer determines the ACTUAL timing DYNAMICALLY; the 17 U used is only a static figure you set.
yeah i know that now...that was years ago when i was trying to solve the problem
#408
They Counted On You Concluding As Such...
here are my thoughts...
why spent possibly thousands of dollars on a lawyer for the problem to get fixed for free? its not like i would be making money.
i could just spend that money on fixing the problem (with better parts),
its not that im giving up and that i dont think i could win...its just not worth the money and time.
why spent possibly thousands of dollars on a lawyer for the problem to get fixed for free? its not like i would be making money.
i could just spend that money on fixing the problem (with better parts),
its not that im giving up and that i dont think i could win...its just not worth the money and time.
Nissan counted on your coming to the conclusion you did. That's really a shame for you and ROTTEN of them!
#409
(Al)most Certainly Not....
(I'm aware your problem was/is(???) "old news," but I'm hoping future readers...as I have been on this thread...will benefit from this newer activity, just as I benefited from your story).
Having worked on cars for years, I knew to do what it appears you were not advised to do early enough: I pulled the plugs. The 4 of the 6 I've been able to pull (incl the one w/ oil in the tube) are TEXTBOOK BEAUTIFUL. No evidence of oil burning whatsoever, it runs great, and it just passed smog. After I'd crawled around underneath, shined a light everywhere and couldn't find ANY oil, the two mechanics had a look (father/son) and were shocked @ how "new" my car looks underneath (CA weather is to credit, NOT ME!! HA!). Can it be that the 2 plugs that I cannot access until I pull the intake manifold just happen to be problematic? If so, it'll be like winning the lottery in reverse! Awaiting the gasket shipment prior to disassembly. The mystery still: WHERE is all the oil going???? (I've checked the coolant for contamination that would indicate a blown head gasket; looks "new.") No smoke, etc. Cannot figure it out!
I'm still reading the lengthy thread...how did you come out @ the end?
Having worked on cars for years, I knew to do what it appears you were not advised to do early enough: I pulled the plugs. The 4 of the 6 I've been able to pull (incl the one w/ oil in the tube) are TEXTBOOK BEAUTIFUL. No evidence of oil burning whatsoever, it runs great, and it just passed smog. After I'd crawled around underneath, shined a light everywhere and couldn't find ANY oil, the two mechanics had a look (father/son) and were shocked @ how "new" my car looks underneath (CA weather is to credit, NOT ME!! HA!). Can it be that the 2 plugs that I cannot access until I pull the intake manifold just happen to be problematic? If so, it'll be like winning the lottery in reverse! Awaiting the gasket shipment prior to disassembly. The mystery still: WHERE is all the oil going???? (I've checked the coolant for contamination that would indicate a blown head gasket; looks "new.") No smoke, etc. Cannot figure it out!
I'm still reading the lengthy thread...how did you come out @ the end?
#410
Wal-Mart Xpress....
Man I hope I never have this problem with my 03 6 speed. 65,000 miles and doesnt burn a drop of oil. I almost thought I was have a problem but turned out to be those cheap supertech oil filters not sealing good. Never again will I buy $2 oil filters again. Back to old reliable pureones.....
#411
Not So Fast....
im afraid my engine will lose oil soon too. my engine is at 57k. no oil loss issue. every maxima owner should be aware of this. i love my car very much also. but damn theyre not going to fix your engine for not having records? nissan is denying everything too? what are the guys over at the Z forums doing? if we get enough people to complain, would they fix this problem?
#412
#413
UPDATE:
Well i had a SES light before I went to Korea (P0420).
Im home on leave and went to the dealership. So I still have the P0420 (O2 sensor downstream on bank 1 is detecting that the converter is not working as efficiently as it should be). Basically, the cats are going bad because of the unburnt oil going through them.
On top of that, I have a multiple cylinder misfire (with plugs and coils 10K miles ago). Thats because the plugs are all fouled with the oil.
And since the converters are messing up O2 readings, its running rich...so oil AND unburned fuels going through the cats.
So to fix the problem I now need - rings, cats, and plugs.
I'm officially giving up on the problem. I'm planning to get an Xterra this summer and the POS maxima will be my beater.
Biggest thing pissing me off - i have always babied that car and taking so much care of it...yet this happens. People abuse their car and never change the oil...this needs to happen to them.
Well i had a SES light before I went to Korea (P0420).
Im home on leave and went to the dealership. So I still have the P0420 (O2 sensor downstream on bank 1 is detecting that the converter is not working as efficiently as it should be). Basically, the cats are going bad because of the unburnt oil going through them.
On top of that, I have a multiple cylinder misfire (with plugs and coils 10K miles ago). Thats because the plugs are all fouled with the oil.
And since the converters are messing up O2 readings, its running rich...so oil AND unburned fuels going through the cats.
So to fix the problem I now need - rings, cats, and plugs.
I'm officially giving up on the problem. I'm planning to get an Xterra this summer and the POS maxima will be my beater.
Biggest thing pissing me off - i have always babied that car and taking so much care of it...yet this happens. People abuse their car and never change the oil...this needs to happen to them.
#414
Huh?
yes I have...but forget it, your not understanding what I'm trying to say. If you read more closely, you'll see that the people I spoke to (NNA, service techs) said 1qt per 1k miles is normal. Then you say your current rate is 1qt per 1k miles...so that would be "normal". Since thats the case I just dont know why NNA is saying its excessive if its 1qt per 1k miles.
#415
UPDATE:
since this is starting to get more attention
continued to get the P0420 and cylinder misfire. replaced the plugs again and it was a little better. SES would come on every couple weeks for a year. removed the main cat and replaced it with a test pipe...the inside of the cat fell apart when i dropped it, small particles everyone from it being burned...still got the SES (precats were bad)
gave up on the car and sold it in march
the last time i saw the car
since this is starting to get more attention
continued to get the P0420 and cylinder misfire. replaced the plugs again and it was a little better. SES would come on every couple weeks for a year. removed the main cat and replaced it with a test pipe...the inside of the cat fell apart when i dropped it, small particles everyone from it being burned...still got the SES (precats were bad)
gave up on the car and sold it in march
the last time i saw the car
Last edited by SoonerFan; 08-01-2010 at 03:34 PM.
#416
This worked well for my oil-burning problem as well.
I know most people complain about the reliability aspect of german cars, but I can fondly say that my car now burns a quart of oil in 15,000 miles. My maxima was burning a quart every 350 miles.
#417
I don't necessarily love the fact my Max burns oil, but it also doesn't really hurt anything... I top off as needed with conventional oil and all is fine and dandy. She runs good and pulls strong (since VIAS delete especially)
If I wanted less power and NO oil burning though, I could whole heartedly recommend a DE-K powered Max. My dads burns absolutely zero no matter how far you go.
#418
Do you really consider oil burning a reliability problem? I can't remember the last time I had a car that didn't burn oil and none of them were/are unreliable.
I don't necessarily love the fact my Max burns oil, but it also doesn't really hurt anything... I top off as needed with conventional oil and all is fine and dandy. She runs good and pulls strong (since VIAS delete especially)
If I wanted less power and NO oil burning though, I could whole heartedly recommend a DE-K powered Max. My dads burns absolutely zero no matter how far you go.
I don't necessarily love the fact my Max burns oil, but it also doesn't really hurt anything... I top off as needed with conventional oil and all is fine and dandy. She runs good and pulls strong (since VIAS delete especially)
If I wanted less power and NO oil burning though, I could whole heartedly recommend a DE-K powered Max. My dads burns absolutely zero no matter how far you go.
#419
My Saturn is even worse... But it still runs like a champ.
#420
I know my car is using oil (a quart every 1200-1500 miles now) but some of that is definitely leakage, I can smell it occasionally on left turns when it drips down onto the exhaust. Both valve covers are leaking and spark plug change is due at the rate I drive by the end of the year so I am debating whether or not to spend the money on plugs and valve covers on an engine that by then will have 190,000+ miles on it, or just replace my engine with a low mileage used one.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
TallTom
5th Generation Maxima (2000-2003)
50
07-08-2022 09:54 AM
bigfrank
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
2
10-01-2015 12:51 PM
DC_Juggernaut
7th Generation Maxima (2009-2015)
4
09-28-2015 04:07 PM