Oil loss - diagnosis from dealership
09-13-2006, 06:40 AM
#81
Originally Posted by kingrukus
Has anyone bothered to do a wet compression test yet?
Our local dealership has 2 VQ35 cars in right now burning severe amounts of oil. This is becoming a more serious problem. I am still looking at picking up a 5.5 gen, but it must have the balace of the powertrain warranty left on it (ie 5 years, 60k miles)
Our local dealership has 2 VQ35 cars in right now burning severe amounts of oil. This is becoming a more serious problem. I am still looking at picking up a 5.5 gen, but it must have the balace of the powertrain warranty left on it (ie 5 years, 60k miles)
09-13-2006, 10:57 AM
#82
Originally Posted by kingrukus
Has anyone bothered to do a wet compression test yet?
Our local dealership has 2 VQ35 cars in right now burning severe amounts of oil. This is becoming a more serious problem. I am still looking at picking up a 5.5 gen, but it must have the balace of the powertrain warranty left on it (ie 5 years, 60k miles)
Our local dealership has 2 VQ35 cars in right now burning severe amounts of oil. This is becoming a more serious problem. I am still looking at picking up a 5.5 gen, but it must have the balace of the powertrain warranty left on it (ie 5 years, 60k miles)
If someone needs instructions PM me, it's relatively easy and a cheap sort-of accurate compression tester can be purchased for $15.00. The #'s aren't all that important anyways, the improvement from compression/wet compression tests are what matters.
Good luck soonerfan, maybe they won't need to tear your bottom end apart.
09-13-2006, 11:08 AM
#83
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Posts: 5,432
Glad to see that a dealer is finally willing to DISCOVER what could be causing the problem. Most just say the engine is fukked and replace it and move on. Good luck with the diagnosis, and let's hope that the technicians working on your car can give an honest and detailed report of the problem. That and give you a new engine 
09-13-2006, 11:46 AM
#84
Originally Posted by soonerfan
well i just got back from the dealership. i went in to have them check the oil level after 1,000 miles. well it was 1 1/2 quarts low. i already knew it was low cause i was getting the timing chain rattle. i overheard the tech talking to the service manager "i have heard about these engines having this problem. i recall hearing somethig about the valve cover being cracked or the gaskets being bad. you cant check either of those from the outside".
so i was right when i though that the PCV valve wasnt the problem. the problem is what clogged the valve.
so i have an appointment next tues for them to remove the valve covers to check things out.
so i was right when i though that the PCV valve wasnt the problem. the problem is what clogged the valve.
so i have an appointment next tues for them to remove the valve covers to check things out.
09-13-2006, 11:55 AM
#85
Originally Posted by boondoxmax
So if that is the cause. Are either one fixable or does the whole engine have to be replaced
im just worried about the mileage till the warranty runs out. they keep trying something and telling me to come back in 1,000 miles. well they have 4 more chances to fix the problem
09-13-2006, 11:56 AM
#86
Originally Posted by LA02MAX
Glad to see that a dealer is finally willing to DISCOVER what could be causing the problem. Most just say the engine is fukked and replace it and move on. Good luck with the diagnosis, and let's hope that the technicians working on your car can give an honest and detailed report of the problem. That and give you a new engine
09-19-2006, 10:49 AM
#87
just got back from the dealership
i thought they were just going to replace the valve cover gaskets but they changed the whole rear cover...they said it was cracked. i dont understand how that would cause the problem. anybody know?
im supposed to bring it back in 1K miles
i mentioned to the guy that my warranty would be up in 4K miles so we had 3 more chances to fix the problem before i was out of warranty. he said that nissan would still cover it since it was a pre-existing problem. thats great news
i thought they were just going to replace the valve cover gaskets but they changed the whole rear cover...they said it was cracked. i dont understand how that would cause the problem. anybody know?
im supposed to bring it back in 1K miles
i mentioned to the guy that my warranty would be up in 4K miles so we had 3 more chances to fix the problem before i was out of warranty. he said that nissan would still cover it since it was a pre-existing problem. thats great news
09-19-2006, 10:53 AM
#88
Originally Posted by soonerfan
just got back from the dealership
i thought they were just going to replace the valve cover gaskets but they changed the whole rear cover...they said it was cracked. i dont understand how that would cause the problem. anybody know?
im supposed to bring it back in 1K miles
i mentioned to the guy that my warranty would be up in 4K miles so we had 3 more chances to fix the problem before i was out of warranty. he said that nissan would still cover it since it was a pre-existing problem. thats great news
i thought they were just going to replace the valve cover gaskets but they changed the whole rear cover...they said it was cracked. i dont understand how that would cause the problem. anybody know?
im supposed to bring it back in 1K miles
i mentioned to the guy that my warranty would be up in 4K miles so we had 3 more chances to fix the problem before i was out of warranty. he said that nissan would still cover it since it was a pre-existing problem. thats great news
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?
09-19-2006, 10:55 AM
#89
Originally Posted by PoLo
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?
09-19-2006, 10:57 AM
#91
Originally Posted by kingrukus
cracked valve cover you say? I wonder if this is what is causing everyone else's oil burning with the vq35...
09-19-2006, 07:42 PM
#93
Well I can personally vouch that you will have to fight like heck to get Nissan to cover the motor if you are past the warranty mileage regardless of whether they had looked at the oil consumption while it was under. If you have your oil change and service receipts and like the guy before said you are nice to the service manager and techs you can come out very well. Documentation is the key. That and stubbornness.
09-20-2006, 07:32 AM
#94
Soonerfan:
Did you ASK to see the "cracked" valve covers?? What did the service ticket say?? I'm curious, but I NEVER trust those damn stealerships....they've lied boldface to me more than once!
CONJECTURE:
So, what are we saying here??
Is it BETTER to simply be proactive and either replace or inspect the valve covers and gaskets BEFORE we get any more miles on our VQ's and subject it to lower oil levels????
I'm not sure I'm buying the cracked valve cover theory yet - no offense to you, soonerfan. Can this REALLY be the issue, or another Nissan coverup??
I hate this.
I've done MOST of my oil changes myself, and haven't documented much. I figured the Nissan V-6 was as bulletproof as my '98, and wouldn't need to worry about this sort of thing.
Doh.
gr
Did you ASK to see the "cracked" valve covers?? What did the service ticket say?? I'm curious, but I NEVER trust those damn stealerships....they've lied boldface to me more than once!
CONJECTURE:
So, what are we saying here??
Is it BETTER to simply be proactive and either replace or inspect the valve covers and gaskets BEFORE we get any more miles on our VQ's and subject it to lower oil levels????
I'm not sure I'm buying the cracked valve cover theory yet - no offense to you, soonerfan. Can this REALLY be the issue, or another Nissan coverup??
I hate this.
I've done MOST of my oil changes myself, and haven't documented much. I figured the Nissan V-6 was as bulletproof as my '98, and wouldn't need to worry about this sort of thing.
Doh.
gr
01-02-2007, 01:58 PM
#95
**UPDATE**
Well the dealership FINALLY did a "leak-down test" today. I've been asking them for months to do it, and the service manager finally got sick of the problem and did it. When i took the car in last week for them to check the oil level, it was 1 1/2 qts low. The service manager said "well its losing even more oil. I'm going to call Nissan NA and push them a little more. I'm tired of them giving us band-aid fixes."
Well the manager just called me and said, "The oil is getting past the rings and burning. I'm calling Nissan NA tomorrow to order the new engine".
Well the dealership FINALLY did a "leak-down test" today. I've been asking them for months to do it, and the service manager finally got sick of the problem and did it. When i took the car in last week for them to check the oil level, it was 1 1/2 qts low. The service manager said "well its losing even more oil. I'm going to call Nissan NA and push them a little more. I'm tired of them giving us band-aid fixes."
Well the manager just called me and said, "The oil is getting past the rings and burning. I'm calling Nissan NA tomorrow to order the new engine".
01-02-2007, 04:23 PM
#98
Originally Posted by KabirUTA13
whoa... wtf... congrats... yeeeesh hopefully this is some iniative for the rest of the 3.5 owners to go and check the dealers out if u are losing oil!
possible TSB in the future (even though they still claim it isnt a common problem).
i guess my patience finally paid off. im been working with the dealership for over a year and about 8,000 miles. my patience forced Nissan NA to figure out the problem.
01-02-2007, 06:37 PM
#100
Originally Posted by 2002 Maxima SE
How many miles do you have on the engine total, soonerfan?
the service manager said that even if I go over the warranty, Nissan NA will fix the problem since it was a know problem that they have been trying to fix for 8,000 miles.
01-03-2007, 03:40 AM
#102
Originally Posted by P. Samson
soonerfan.......what oil did you primarily use?
at first the dealership tried to blame the burning on the synthetic oil. well they were wrong since it kept burning.
01-03-2007, 06:54 AM
#104
I've always said it was either the rings or the cylinder walls (scoring). The compression test, however, still doesn't confirm it. The leak could also be at the valves. See if the dealership will tell you where it was leaking if and when they hear back from Nissan. Even though I replaced my engine, I'm sure the same problem is going to come back up in about another 50k miles or so now. If it's a simple valve job, I'll fix it. If it's the rings and/or cylider walls I'll probably just find a nice field, start the car, light the oil drip coming out the tailpipe and blow the damn thing up. After, of course, I part out anything valuable and sell it here or on e-bay...
01-03-2007, 02:03 PM
#106
Originally Posted by GBAUER
I've always said it was either the rings or the cylinder walls (scoring). The compression test, however, still doesn't confirm it. The leak could also be at the valves. See if the dealership will tell you where it was leaking if and when they hear back from Nissan. Even though I replaced my engine, I'm sure the same problem is going to come back up in about another 50k miles or so now. If it's a simple valve job, I'll fix it. If it's the rings and/or cylider walls I'll probably just find a nice field, start the car, light the oil drip coming out the tailpipe and blow the damn thing up. After, of course, I part out anything valuable and sell it here or on e-bay...
01-03-2007, 04:36 PM
#107
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 933
Soonerfan.............What viscosity Redline? When an engine has had piston ring and/or cylinder wall wear/damage that it uses as much oil as yours and some others on this forum appear to be using, changing oil type from syn. to dino. or whatever is not going to do squat. The damage is done. If you don't want to deal with it, just try a higher viscosity oil as an exercise and see if that decreases the HOC.
01-03-2007, 06:03 PM
#108
Originally Posted by P. Samson
Soonerfan.............What viscosity Redline? When an engine has had piston ring and/or cylinder wall wear/damage that it uses as much oil as yours and some others on this forum appear to be using, changing oil type from syn. to dino. or whatever is not going to do squat. The damage is done. If you don't want to deal with it, just try a higher viscosity oil as an exercise and see if that decreases the HOC.
the type and viscosity of the oil didnt cause the problem. the oil might highlight the problem...but the problem is the rings or scoring
01-03-2007, 07:20 PM
#109
On 4 stroke motors there are oil rings and compression rings.... You can have good compression and still have blow by... a cylinder leak down test is the only way to know....
Congrats on the new motor....and sorry at the same time. I'm at 79k and no issues so far...lucky me...
Congrats on the new motor....and sorry at the same time. I'm at 79k and no issues so far...lucky me...
01-03-2007, 08:57 PM
#110
Originally Posted by shoman94
On 4 stroke motors there are oil rings and compression rings.... You can have good compression and still have blow by... a cylinder leak down test is the only way to know....
Congrats on the new motor....and sorry at the same time. I'm at 79k and no issues so far...lucky me...
Congrats on the new motor....and sorry at the same time. I'm at 79k and no issues so far...lucky me...
01-03-2007, 10:09 PM
#111
Great news on the new motor soonerfan. It looks like your persistency has paid off! 
I bought my '03 almost 3k miles ago at 33k and just went down to the garage to check the oil. Looks like I lost 1 quart in 2.1k miles. I also have the 3rd gear grind happening about half the time so it looks like I need to make friends with the dealer...
Keep us posted on the engine swap.
I bought my '03 almost 3k miles ago at 33k and just went down to the garage to check the oil. Looks like I lost 1 quart in 2.1k miles. I also have the 3rd gear grind happening about half the time so it looks like I need to make friends with the dealer...
Keep us posted on the engine swap.
01-04-2007, 03:38 AM
#113
Originally Posted by AHI
These stories aren't helping my decision on buying this car... i'm actually really worried now.
its like this
80% of people on here have a certain problem
well if you were to look at all maximas produced, the problem probably only occurs on 5% of the cars.
plus people on here tend to drive their cars a little harder. that could either cause a problem or highlights the problem. a little old lady would never realize that she is burning oil.
01-04-2007, 06:16 AM
#114
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 18
Originally Posted by soonerfan
ive always said, problems seem more common on the org because this is where people come to get advice regarding their problem. you cant use the org to gauge how common a problem is.
its like this
80% of people on here have a certain problem
well if you were to look at all maximas produced, the problem probably only occurs on 5% of the cars.
plus people on here tend to drive their cars a little harder. that could either cause a problem or highlights the problem. a little old lady would never realize that she is burning oil.
its like this
80% of people on here have a certain problem
well if you were to look at all maximas produced, the problem probably only occurs on 5% of the cars.
plus people on here tend to drive their cars a little harder. that could either cause a problem or highlights the problem. a little old lady would never realize that she is burning oil.
01-04-2007, 10:16 AM
#115
the engine will burn oil irrespective of what tranny it has..
As sooner says, this problem really is pretty limited, which is why Nissan isn't making a big deal about it, unless you do. It sucks to be victim of it though.
Just check out some of the polls which have been made - even out of our group here on the org, only a certain percentage have the oil burning issue.
As sooner says, this problem really is pretty limited, which is why Nissan isn't making a big deal about it, unless you do. It sucks to be victim of it though.
Just check out some of the polls which have been made - even out of our group here on the org, only a certain percentage have the oil burning issue.
01-04-2007, 10:33 AM
#116
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 933
When you get a sudden jump in oil consumption caused by rings or cylinder issues, something catastrophic happened and whatever caused the rapid wear or scoring or whatever, had a root cause. Soonerfan....was it all cylinders? It just ain't normal for these cars when you look at the big picture.
01-04-2007, 02:01 PM
#117
Originally Posted by P. Samson
When you get a sudden jump in oil consumption caused by rings or cylinder issues, something catastrophic happened and whatever caused the rapid wear or scoring or whatever, had a root cause. Soonerfan....was it all cylinders? It just ain't normal for these cars when you look at the big picture.
01-07-2007, 08:40 AM
#119
I find it interesting that Nissan continues to COLLECT bad motors.
Notice that NOBODY (however few given the total number of Max's on the road) who Nissan has approved engine replacement under warranty, is having the engine REBUILT or the Rings Replaced.
Economics will dictate --- but still.....engine replacement is the prescription for this issue.
The engines are getting shipped back to the factory for Tear-down and analysis. This is no surprise.
Interesting though, that Nissan has not issued a TSB or similar statement regarding this malody. I doubt they will - given the fact that it's probably less than 1% of the total units manufactured.
I for one, still do NOT accept my own personal Oil consumption level of 1 qt every 5k miles as NORMAL. Not in THIS engine.
My 98 didn't burn a DROP, and this one shouldn't either.
I don't know what to do about this.....I hate dealing with dealerships.
gr
Notice that NOBODY (however few given the total number of Max's on the road) who Nissan has approved engine replacement under warranty, is having the engine REBUILT or the Rings Replaced.
Economics will dictate --- but still.....engine replacement is the prescription for this issue.
The engines are getting shipped back to the factory for Tear-down and analysis. This is no surprise.
Interesting though, that Nissan has not issued a TSB or similar statement regarding this malody. I doubt they will - given the fact that it's probably less than 1% of the total units manufactured.
I for one, still do NOT accept my own personal Oil consumption level of 1 qt every 5k miles as NORMAL. Not in THIS engine.
My 98 didn't burn a DROP, and this one shouldn't either.
I don't know what to do about this.....I hate dealing with dealerships.
gr
01-07-2007, 08:43 AM
#120
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 234
It's good to see that Nissan is starting to take care of this kind of issue. I just bought a brand new G35 with the rev-up engine. It seems that it is more common for the rev-up engines to consume oil. I have 1600 miles, think I should take a look at my oil level? Or is it unlikely that I would have such problems so early?
Who knows, I already had the MAF go on me at 1450 miles.
When I sold my 2003 6-Speed I had 60,000 miles and I didn't have the oil consumption problem, so lets hope my luck holds out.
Who knows, I already had the MAF go on me at 1450 miles.
When I sold my 2003 6-Speed I had 60,000 miles and I didn't have the oil consumption problem, so lets hope my luck holds out.