So how long do our engine last?
My car is at 175k now and the engine itself still feels very strong, but I maintain the hell out of it. The only immediate concern I have is my tranny, which will be getting rebuilt next year. Other than that I feel as if the engine could easily make it to 300. I would probably rebuild the engine at 300 tho lol. or sell it and get something better+newer.
Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 153
From: south fl.
With regular oil changes and good old fashion maint. A long time. I always ask how long is a piece of string. Your engine will find the weakest point and then it's just a matter of time before that weak point breaks.
+1 for routine maintenance....I think the weak point at high mileage with DE-K's at least from my experience is the manual tranny.....mine went out completely at 181K....right now I'm at 197K and no issues with the replacement.
As others have said 300K is reasonable for the engine but it's a long/fun road of replacing/modding things like bushings, shocks/struts etc that in the end make the cost of a replacement engine negligable IMO.
With that said, I certainly hope I can be testament to a 300K maxima.
As others have said 300K is reasonable for the engine but it's a long/fun road of replacing/modding things like bushings, shocks/struts etc that in the end make the cost of a replacement engine negligable IMO.
With that said, I certainly hope I can be testament to a 300K maxima.
Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 153
From: south fl.
With that being said, these engines are pretty easy to fix. Some of the repairs are a pita. But I would think 250,000 plus. The biggest question is, when are the repairs not worth it. I say when the repairs start costing me more than a 350 dollar a month car payment. Regular maint. Will always cost money. How much are your extra repairs costing you a month. My 5th gen i35 has 103,000 miles and has not cost me a cent. Best car I ever owned. I'm a total type a personality when it comes to my house and and my cars. My wifes ford exploder is a 03 limited 4 whl drive. She has 120,000 plus. What I'm saying is I am **** as heck, and proud of it.
Last edited by infiniti medic; Apr 27, 2011 at 07:08 AM.
100k miles isnt much to rave about..just saying. when you hit 170k...then thats when you'll start questioning whether its worth fixing
at 200k on this car though...pretty much everything has been replaced....last thing to do is my a/c compressor. unless something else goes wrong
at 200k on this car though...pretty much everything has been replaced....last thing to do is my a/c compressor. unless something else goes wrong
3.0 liter well maintained say like 300k or more, a 3.5 a good one, no oil burner the same, my oil burner died at a little under 153k and when they dropped that upper oil pan you can tell it wasn't going to last much longer...
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 497
Exactly what do you mean by "engine dieing"? Too much blow by? Too much oil consumption? Lack of power? Engine seized? Too much sludge? All of these things can be avoided by regular oil changes.
Seriously, there is no reason why an engine can not outlast any modern car if properly treated.
- Vikas
Seriously, there is no reason why an engine can not outlast any modern car if properly treated.
- Vikas
All good stuff in here, 300k + is easy with regular maintenance. Just know the in's and out's of your engine like the back of your hand so you can diagnose and repair even the slightest knock/rattle/etc before it becomes a larger problem.
Member
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 200
From: Murfreesboro, TN
I had 290,xxx on the dial when I replaced the engine with a vq from an '07 Quest. Engine pulled pretty strong even after the issue. Turned out that after talking with my mechanic, it wasn't anything mechanically wrong with the engine itself, my real issue was a bad head gasket around cylider 6. Even with a cylinder misfiring it would still make the tires sing.
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 42
I had 290,xxx on the dial when I replaced the engine with a vq from an '07 Quest. Engine pulled pretty strong even after the issue. Turned out that after talking with my mechanic, it wasn't anything mechanically wrong with the engine itself, my real issue was a bad head gasket around cylider 6. Even with a cylinder misfiring it would still make the tires sing.
Yessir in our climate, those numbers are laughable. In the southern states though, no problem to see that mileage.
In Our neck of the woods, 185,000 miles and it's getting rough. (300,000km)
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 485
From: Pullman, WA
The rust! I bought Maxima II in Rochester as a replacement/get me home for the one I wrecked with the 300,000 mile odometer pic.
That car would have fallen apart before the engine ever died. For a little bit before it's tranny died I had the de facto rustiest car in Las Vegas.
Honestly though both of my previous Maxima experiences were very good and I am glad I spent the 6+months I did looking for this 5th gen rather than giving up and buying something else.
That car would have fallen apart before the engine ever died. For a little bit before it's tranny died I had the de facto rustiest car in Las Vegas.
Honestly though both of my previous Maxima experiences were very good and I am glad I spent the 6+months I did looking for this 5th gen rather than giving up and buying something else.
Last edited by ffcbairn; Apr 28, 2011 at 08:18 AM.
That's nothing.
I rust proof my car every year though, not the cheap crap, the Krown annual spray. I'm hoping it holds off the rust. But I already have some on the door sil, under the one door handle, and a little on the inner fenderwell. I just passed 100,000km.
So, for me, the car will definitely be rusty before the engine gets tired. The other thing is components die much faster, electrical especially. This means more frequent and more expensive repair costs. That plus the fact that Canadians get gouged at every turn, gas prices, taxes, cost of parts, etc, etc. It all adds up to short vehicle ownership in comparison.
I rust proof my car every year though, not the cheap crap, the Krown annual spray. I'm hoping it holds off the rust. But I already have some on the door sil, under the one door handle, and a little on the inner fenderwell. I just passed 100,000km.
So, for me, the car will definitely be rusty before the engine gets tired. The other thing is components die much faster, electrical especially. This means more frequent and more expensive repair costs. That plus the fact that Canadians get gouged at every turn, gas prices, taxes, cost of parts, etc, etc. It all adds up to short vehicle ownership in comparison.
Last edited by TunerMaxima3000; Apr 28, 2011 at 01:07 PM.
Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 165
From: Baltimore,MD
I was at 277k when i totaled my 01 maxipad gxe I agree with everyone for the most part about everything around our engines lasting only half as long, but we haven't said one thing and that's who isn't going to total they're car before u see over 300k miles.
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 40
I have a 1997 Maxima SE with 205,000 miles on it. It has generally been a great car. It was more reliable between 140,000 and 205,000 than it was from 50,000 to 100,000 (needing more repairs when it was younger). Gas mileage has steadily dropped too.. I used to get 23-24mpg city and now I get 18-20mpg city.
I have used Mobil 1 with a 4k oil change the whole life of the car and the engine still pulls hard, runs smooth and idles perfect at 205,000 miles. It feels as if the engine could last another 50k miles. I recommend using the synthetic as my friend has a similar 4th gen that used regular motor oil at 200k and the engine is more sluggish than mine. My engine never leaked oil until my local region switched to E10 Ethanol gas. Within a month all of the seals in my engine were leaking horribly.
The life of the car also depends if where you drive it. If you're on a coastal area or in the Rust Belt, then it will not last as long with exposure to salt on the roads. If you live in Arizona, Texas, NM or a dry area with no snow or ice it will probably last longer.
As my car ages many of the plastic components are starting to get brittle and break in the engine compartment. Also the rubber hoses are splitting and becoming brittle.
In 205k miles I have replaced:
----------------------------
Radiator at 160k
Stereo System at 140k
Power antennae broke at 120k (never fixed)
Alternator twice (100k and 190k)
outer CV Boots twice (100k and 190k)
Front R and L strut bushings (70k)
Starter (65k miles)
Original AC Compressor at 205k miles
Original O2 Sensors
Original Transmission
Original Exhaust system
Original Muffler
Knock Sensor at 205k
(brake pads, tires, brake rotors, batteries, filters)
I have used Mobil 1 with a 4k oil change the whole life of the car and the engine still pulls hard, runs smooth and idles perfect at 205,000 miles. It feels as if the engine could last another 50k miles. I recommend using the synthetic as my friend has a similar 4th gen that used regular motor oil at 200k and the engine is more sluggish than mine. My engine never leaked oil until my local region switched to E10 Ethanol gas. Within a month all of the seals in my engine were leaking horribly.
The life of the car also depends if where you drive it. If you're on a coastal area or in the Rust Belt, then it will not last as long with exposure to salt on the roads. If you live in Arizona, Texas, NM or a dry area with no snow or ice it will probably last longer.
As my car ages many of the plastic components are starting to get brittle and break in the engine compartment. Also the rubber hoses are splitting and becoming brittle.
In 205k miles I have replaced:
----------------------------
Radiator at 160k
Stereo System at 140k
Power antennae broke at 120k (never fixed)
Alternator twice (100k and 190k)
outer CV Boots twice (100k and 190k)
Front R and L strut bushings (70k)
Starter (65k miles)
Original AC Compressor at 205k miles
Original O2 Sensors
Original Transmission
Original Exhaust system
Original Muffler
Knock Sensor at 205k
(brake pads, tires, brake rotors, batteries, filters)
Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 235
wasnt that thorzdad? my old 4th gen had around 210k on it when i got rid of it. it has since been sold thru 3 of my friends, wrecked twice, and its still terrorizing the streets. id bet its around 300k on it now, and half of that was pretty abusive downtown atlanta driving. i dont think i ever had a single issue with that car. so i went and got this 5th gen and...
wasnt that thorzdad? my old 4th gen had around 210k on it when i got rid of it. it has since been sold thru 3 of my friends, wrecked twice, and its still terrorizing the streets. id bet its around 300k on it now, and half of that was pretty abusive downtown atlanta driving. i dont think i ever had a single issue with that car. so i went and got this 5th gen and...
