I just read a good thread on VQ35 oil burn caused by our rings. I burn oil and my engine is knocking/pinging badly between 2k and 3k RPMs. I use 93 octane gas and my engine has 130K miles. I recently replaced the plugs and added an oil catch can with no significant improvement to the k/p.

I'm burning a qt of oil every 500 miles or so. I'm wondering whether the k/p is caused by lowered octane caused by significant oil burn. Are others with similar oil burn experiencing similar knocking/pinging?

 

Our Maxima has been pinging since new also regardless of the octane gas used. Dealer is mystified or unable to detect problem.
83K and recently has been burning 1qt per 1k miles.
Love the car, but this is maddening!

 

Same here. I burn a little oil and knock/ping regardless of octane.

 

There are a lot of cars here that burn oil but the weird thing is the mileage intervals posted for oil loss. I lose about a 1/2 quart every 3k to 3500 miles.

But some of you guys are posting (what I consider) ridiculous numbers, 1 qt per 500 miles, 2 qts per 1500 miles, and I assume we all take great care of our cars otherwise we wouldn't come here to get and share knowledge. Anyway just an observation.

 

If oil gets into the intake, you obviously lose octane points, therefore leading to increased chances of pinging.

Severe blow by (bad rings) can cause this.

 

I'm one with ridiculous numbers 1qrt every 500 miles or so also. My engine only makes noise when low on oil though. Other than that, no knocking and pinging.

What gets me is the thing will run itself nearly out of oil and the oil light never comes on.

 

Oil light is for low oil pressure, not actual fluid level.

 

pinging?

or timing chain rattling? with low oil, the timing chain will rattle between 2k and 3k RPMs.

 

That’s one thing that is hardly eve specified. Some cannot and or get the verbage mixed up when referring to rod knock, spark knock, timing chain rattle.

 

You think there would be a sensor for that. That's precisely why these engines fail. Bad rings + no knowledge of oil loss (since it likes to use heavily all of the sudden)= seized engine and spun bearing. F****** thing has 100 other sensors, but nothing for fluid levels, purely asinine (which of course goes for every engine made).

 

there are very few cars (including luxury high performance) that have oil level sensors. but nissan should have designed one...not knowing there would be ring problems

"no knowledge of oil loss" is a very poor excuse. a good owner should ALWAYS know when there is a problem.

 

 

i heard the rattle...checked the oil...had the car at the dealership...all within 3 days

 

When I first noticed this it had been about 2k (3grts low) since I changed my oil and I'm a poor owner, It didn't even cross my mind that I would have to check my oil that often if I was keeping up on my oil changes. Never had an issue with my 00(rip) but still love this car more.

I would think that if oil is not getting to the timing chain and causing it to rattle and make noise it would be because of lack of oil pressure. Is the chain only lubricated at the bottom of the engine from the oil pan?

 

the timing chain is kept tight by the tensioner. the tensioner works with oil pressure. low oil = low oil pressure = lose tensioner = chain rattles against cover

 

So, at what point dose the low oil pressure light come on? Why don't it come on when the pressure gets low enough to make the tensioner work? Maby the oil light should just be a complete engine failure light

 

when the pressure is low...it will flash longer during start-up

 

Mine has never flashed, or even turned on other than when I first turn the ignition on. Maby nissan doesn't think 3qrts low is low enough for a light to be needed. Could the sensor be bad (unlikely)? Maby my car just wants to die.

 

my oil is actually at the bottom of the dipstick but the last owner said its overdue for an oil change. so its burning about 1/2 liter every 5000 miles.

 

i get timing chain rattle sporatically on start up but dont burn oil and never have low oil. just cause your rattling doesnt mean you have low oil. but having low oil DOES give you a very good chance for having the rattle

 

a qt every 500 miles is excessive...I dont believe it has anything to do with the knocking/pinging unless you are mistaking the noise for timing chain clatter

 

So what did the dealership determine? I have been in the dealership the last two months having them do an oil consumption test. They now tell me the same thing they told me two months ago... We'll have to take the engine apart to find out what the problem is. The claim that they have never seen a 3.5 maxima burn oil even though its obvious from this site that it IS a problem. I just want to know what they did to fix it? Was it rings? What did it cost for you to fix the problem?

Mine burns about 1qt every 1k miles.

 

They did nothing for him but start a battle. He will be rebuilding his own engine.

 

the consensus is rings, yes

 

I very interested in getting this problem fixed. The dealership gave me two options: Tear the engine apart until they find the problem, fix it and put the engine back together. Est. price for tear down and rebuild (not including fixing the problem) was over $1200. Option two is to replace the engine with one from a salvage yard. The engine they quoted me had 41k miles and carrys a 6-month parts only warranty. They quoted me $3200 parts and labor for the swap. Im tempted to swap the engine but there is a risk that it may be an oil burner too. Would it be better to replace my motor with 90k for one with 41k or risk spending up to $4k to fix my engine? Thanks for the help.

 

well when the timing chain rattle (probably) sounds just like that exhaust rattle that you already had....

Seriously, you could tell that nothing was wrong till she physically couldn't run anymore. A bunch of ******* BS.

 

RE sounds:
Timing chain rattle ≠ exhaust rattle ≠ rod knock ≠ spark knock

Most people on here need to 'tune' their ears.

 

I'm new here. However, I've had this pinging/rattle for months now. Noise is also between 2-3k RPM. This thing sounds bad, like an old Mercedez diesel, it's embarassing. My 03 Max has 102k miles now and has been making the noise sinse like 85k miles. I've kept up with oil changes every 3-4k miles (although I hear 5k is ok). I've used the recommended oil 5W30 (not synthetic). I always use 76's Premium (91). Just this weekend I did an oil change myself and decided to try the Lucas oil additive. WOW, I'm a believer...so far (only 200 miles driven). Everyday, since the oil change, I turn the music off and listen for the noise, roll down the window and listen, shift gears and listen...no noise yet. Before I heard it with all windows closed. Well folks this is my testimony. I'll try to follow up a few weeks from now, but If I don't send me a reminder message.