Looking to buy a 2002-2003 maxima 6 speed NEED SOME HELP
11-23-2007, 12:01 AM
#1
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 98
Looking to buy a 2002-2003 maxima 6 speed NEED SOME HELP
Hello guys
I am looking to buy a 2002-2003 nissan maxima and a lot of people tell me that there is a major problem that the 3.5 motor's eat oil. Now was there a recol for it or it was left as it is. Also know a guy who got 2002 3.5 and changed his motor 3 times and nissan and the problem is still there. i dont want to invest money in to the engine so what are the chances and what would you guys say. I know nissan motor are really good but the 3.5 i heard is horrible. Thanks in advance . Also any common problem on this car would definatly give me heads up
I am looking to buy a 2002-2003 nissan maxima and a lot of people tell me that there is a major problem that the 3.5 motor's eat oil. Now was there a recol for it or it was left as it is. Also know a guy who got 2002 3.5 and changed his motor 3 times and nissan and the problem is still there. i dont want to invest money in to the engine so what are the chances and what would you guys say. I know nissan motor are really good but the 3.5 i heard is horrible. Thanks in advance . Also any common problem on this car would definatly give me heads up
11-23-2007, 05:30 AM
#3
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Queens, NY
Posts: 70
Not every 3.5 ate up oil. Mine didnt, and I know a handful of people that also had no complaint. It's only on some that they ate up oil. If it worries you that much, buy a max with warranty, less miles. So if it does happen, you can get it replaced by nissan
11-23-2007, 06:12 AM
#4
I bought my 03 SE, 6 speed earlier this yr. The issues I learned concerning the 5.5 Gen from this site were the oil consumption problem, the oil in the spark plug tubes, the bad brakes and the 3rd gear crunch.
I don't have the oil consumption problem but I do/did have the other problems. I could have kept driving the car with the oil in the tubes and the bad brakes but I decided to fix them. I'm not too worried about the "crunch" as I don't autox or race the car. I bought Hawk pads and an 04 valve cover which fixed my problems.
IMO you should be concerned most with the oil consumption issue because it can lead to needing a new engine. Look for a car with low mileage, (under 45k) and make sure you monitor the oil level regularly. Because from what I've read here Nissan isn't exactly running ppl down to give them free engines. You will have to provide "substantial" proof of your consumption and sometimes that isn't enough.
11-23-2007, 07:41 AM
#5
imo most 3.5s use a bit of oil...nothing to worry about. The owner's manual even says adding oil between oil changes is considered normal. Even my new engine w/ 4k miles burns very little every 500 miles. I have learned to live with it
11-23-2007, 09:35 AM
#7
As long as you aren't fouling plugs, seeing blue smoke or going through more than a quart every 1000-1500 miles and it isn't getting worse, I wouldn't worry too much about it. A drastic change in oil consumption is a huge concern though.
Last edited by Scottwax; 11-23-2007 at 09:37 AM.
11-23-2007, 03:17 PM
#10
Oil consumption is a documented issue but not nearly the "norm" like it may be portrayed on a forum like this where people typically come to get answers. The first oil change I did on mine after I bought it used was almost 5,000 miles since the oil change when I bought it, I might have used 1/8 quart in that 5,000 miles. I've not encountered the 3rd gear crunch or the oil in the spark plug tubes (bad VC gaskets), the stock brakes do kinda suck though I will admit. Only other "issue" I have encountered is the plastic splash guard that goes under the engine has broken or missing pins holding it up so I have to push them back in every once in a while when it is hanging down.
11-24-2007, 08:39 PM
#12
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 2,898
if you use a thicker oil like 10w30 or 40 will that slow or eliminate the oil burning? i would like to use synthetic in my engine, and i was hoping a higher weight synthetic would make a difference
11-24-2007, 09:19 PM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 2,898
yuck.. i hate the design on those... the 07's arent bad though, but a tad out of my pricerange
naa.. if im putting out more money, i'd rather upgrade to the bigger engine and the 6 speed tranny
naa.. if im putting out more money, i'd rather upgrade to the bigger engine and the 6 speed tranny
11-24-2007, 11:28 PM
#17
11-25-2007, 06:32 AM
#18
11-27-2007, 09:20 AM
#25
HLSD only comes on some SE's as an option...the H is for hydraulic. My 02 6-speed has the 3rd gear crunch and it burns some oil but I have learned to live with it. You will love a 5.5gen. Don't worry about it.
11-27-2007, 09:23 AM
#26
11-27-2007, 10:18 PM
#28
6CD changer, Auto Dimming Mirror/Compass, Chrome door step/kick panels that read MAXIMA. Also, one color was specific to the TE, Polished Titanium, even though all colors were available w/all the other aforementioned SE TE options.
11-28-2007, 01:36 AM
#30
yes, here ya go--> http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....transaxle+code
11-29-2007, 08:19 PM
#31
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 57
mine 02 SE does not have the oil consumption problem and the sparks are good...
The third gear issue is a little annoying, but survivable. I also replaced one Oxygen sensor, which I thought was a fairly common issue...
The third gear issue is a little annoying, but survivable. I also replaced one Oxygen sensor, which I thought was a fairly common issue...
12-03-2007, 06:18 PM
#33
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: 32 miles north of Nissan AZ Proving Grounds
Posts: 239
Oil consumption is a documented issue but not nearly the "norm" like it may be portrayed on a forum like this where people typically come to get answers. The first oil change I did on mine after I bought it used was almost 5,000 miles since the oil change when I bought it, I might have used 1/8 quart in that 5,000 miles. I've not encountered the 3rd gear crunch or the oil in the spark plug tubes (bad VC gaskets), the stock brakes do kinda suck though I will admit. Only other "issue" I have encountered is the plastic splash guard that goes under the engine has broken or missing pins holding it up so I have to push them back in every once in a while when it is hanging down.
at 56k, I use about 1/4 to 1/2 quart in my 10k oil change interval (synthetic). No 3rd gear or oil in tubes either. I know the oil consumption is a documented issue here; but when i look at the forums for any car i have owned in recent years, there have always been peeps with oil consumption issues. Not to generalize, but many people on forums are performance minded and tend to run their engines a little harder than the average person would. For example, on my f-body, i found a direct relationship between average rpms and oil consumption. when i was auto-xing and dragging more regularly, i noticed very noticible consumption compared to now when i rarely have time to get to the track.
12-13-2007, 01:28 PM
#34
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 18
Not to tread jack but I have a quick question.....is there a BIG difference between the 4speed auto vs 6speed 5.5gen? Sorry for being a newbie I'm just thinking of trading in my 04 maxima se(just too heavy for me and I still want a maxima) for a 5.5 gen and I don't know too much about them...thanks....
12-13-2007, 01:29 PM
#35
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 18
Not to tread jack but I have a quick question.....is there a BIG difference between the 4speed auto vs 6speed 5.5gen? Sorry for being a newbie I'm just thinking of trading in my 04 maxima se(just too heavy for me and I still want a maxima) for a 5.5 gen and I don't know too much about them...thanks in advance
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