Time for a tuneup?
01-10-2009, 06:14 AM
#42
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 87
I just saw a 2003 Maxima for sale on autotrader with 215K mi. 
testpipe FTW!
A friend is going to help me with the plugs, pcv, and rear vc. Then I'm going to help him with the plugs and pcv on his 3rd gen Altima 3.5. Anyone know if there is a similar issue with plug wells filling up with oil in those cars? Can it be improved with a newer vc? I'm going to post a similar question in an altima forum, but I thought someone on here might know.
testpipe FTW!
A friend is going to help me with the plugs, pcv, and rear vc. Then I'm going to help him with the plugs and pcv on his 3rd gen Altima 3.5. Anyone know if there is a similar issue with plug wells filling up with oil in those cars? Can it be improved with a newer vc? I'm going to post a similar question in an altima forum, but I thought someone on here might know.
01-10-2009, 07:24 AM
#44
I just saw a 2003 Maxima for sale on autotrader with 215K mi.
testpipe FTW!
A friend is going to help me with the plugs, pcv, and rear vc. Then I'm going to help him with the plugs and pcv on his 3rd gen Altima 3.5. Anyone know if there is a similar issue with plug wells filling up with oil in those cars? Can it be improved with a newer vc? I'm going to post a similar question in an altima forum, but I thought someone on here might know.
testpipe FTW!
A friend is going to help me with the plugs, pcv, and rear vc. Then I'm going to help him with the plugs and pcv on his 3rd gen Altima 3.5. Anyone know if there is a similar issue with plug wells filling up with oil in those cars? Can it be improved with a newer vc? I'm going to post a similar question in an altima forum, but I thought someone on here might know.
01-10-2009, 07:48 AM
#45
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 87
Yeah that's getting after it pretty good. I guess it's feasible if someone drove about 1 hr. to work on the interstate, 5 days a week.
I bought my 03 in the beginning of 07 and it already had 84K mi. At least when someone advertizes "mostly highway miles", you know they're probably telling the truth.
I bought my 03 in the beginning of 07 and it already had 84K mi. At least when someone advertizes "mostly highway miles", you know they're probably telling the truth.
01-10-2009, 07:54 AM
#46
I bought my '02 in November '07 with 113,897 miles on it. Less than 14 months later, I have 143,007. The original owners lived north of Dallas and commuted 60 miles a day, most of it freeway. I've been down to Austin and out to Kentucky with my car, plus I live in the middle of the Dallas-Fort Worth metromess and the rest of my family is scattered on the northern and eastern outskirts. Either of my brother's, my sister or my parents are a 90 mile round trip!
My ex-wife is a sales rep for Nabisco, she puts 30-40,000 a year on her company car. Probably the owner of that '03 has a similar job where they drove the car constantly. As long as it was mostly freeway and the oil was changed regularly the engiine is probably in decent shape.
My ex-wife is a sales rep for Nabisco, she puts 30-40,000 a year on her company car. Probably the owner of that '03 has a similar job where they drove the car constantly. As long as it was mostly freeway and the oil was changed regularly the engiine is probably in decent shape.
01-10-2009, 08:59 AM
#47
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Detroit Metro Area
Posts: 1,617
Yeah that's getting after it pretty good. I guess it's feasible if someone drove about 1 hr. to work on the interstate, 5 days a week.
I bought my 03 in the beginning of 07 and it already had 84K mi. At least when someone advertizes "mostly highway miles", you know they're probably telling the truth.
I bought my 03 in the beginning of 07 and it already had 84K mi. At least when someone advertizes "mostly highway miles", you know they're probably telling the truth.
My buddy has around that number of miles on an 03 and it sucks down 2+ quarts every 3k miles. Mine 02 with 115k miles uses about 1 quart every 3500 miles.
01-10-2009, 09:37 AM
#48
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 17
I had the same code appear early December. I waited a week or so hoping the light would go off with fresh fill up (has worked before on occassion). Fearing the O2 sensor failure again, I went to Autozone and they pulled the code. I had the dealer run it to get the specifics and they said left pre-cat. I was also due for plugs (104,225 miles). Their quote was steep, $790 just for the pre-cat and with labor and plugs I was up around $1300. Went to a local shop that I knew from others was reliable and they verified the left pre-cat that I told them was bad and they did that for no charge. Went with them and last week they put in the cat ($635 w/labor) and the plugs ($218, dealer wanted $225). Saved about $350 total. No joke on the plug labor, everyone said 1-1.5hr to replace those. Car has been purring for a week and half now. I typically have had all work done at the dealer, but holidays and the economy combined I had to try something different. I am not stingy about taking care of my car and every shop says that it'll easily get to 200k miles. Good luck with your repair.
I already changed my plugs, I bought plugs at local dealership for 70$ and paid $40 to change it -)
01-10-2009, 10:04 AM
#49
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 87
I have 102K mi. on my 03, and I use a qt. every 800 miles.
01-10-2009, 01:38 PM
#50
My '74 Z/28 was using a quart of 60w oil every 50 miles and I had to screw in spark plug non-foulers into the heads so I would foul a plug or two A DAY!
01-10-2009, 06:23 PM
#53
01-15-2009, 08:44 PM
#54
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 87
With engine running at idle, remove PCV valve from rocker cover.
A properly working valve makes a hissing noise as air passes
through it. A strong vacuum should be felt immediately when a finger
is placed over valve inlet.
Is that the same pdf you were looking at?
From the schematic diagram, it looks like replacing a bad pcv could potentially make a big improvement in oil consumption. I guess I'll know soon enough.
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