I am currently looking into buying a 2009 Maxima with 140k. Very clean. Very very good price. Previous owner says it has issues with it smoking. He said if you drive it for a while and let it get hot then turn (while driving) lots of smoke comes out of the exhaust. They put new plugs in it and checked the intake and it had oil in it.. they cleaned it all out and ran even better but shortly returned to that same issue.


He took it to Nissan and they said it needed an engine. But didn't say why or what was wrong with the car. It runs and drives smooth. No CELs, ticks, knocks. Nothing!


Another tech at work (I work at Honda) said it runs too smooth to need a motor. He thinks a valve cover and gasket and a pcv valve and it should be good as new.


Any ideas of whats causing this blow back? Should I think motor? or something cheaper/easier? HHELP!!


Thanks!

 

Have you checked PCV valve and its associated hoses?

 

PCV valve would be an easy check. I would be worried about oil consumption due to worn piston rings. I suppose a compression test would determine if this is true.

 

If the smoke is coming out the exhaust, then probably not valve covers as you would see smoke from the engine bay. What color is the smoke? White smoke means coolant which could be a head gasket, and blue means either worn rings (compression test likely will tell you this), or worn valve guides (you get smoking after engine braking on a hill or long idle).

Either way, if you're buying the car, I would personally just walk away from this. You can find plenty of 7th gens in way better shape.

S

 

its white smoke. were looking into pcv valve. were thinking head gasket after looking at it yesterday.... but i am getting the car VERY cheap. probably just drive it til it really blows up and put an engine in it.

Thanks!

 

First post OP needs help.
Second post OP going to run it until it blows up.

After number two happens OP will be back looking for more help.

 

In addition to stating that they are never getting another Nissan product because their engines run like , or isn't reliable, or some other complaint.

 

that's like the gentleman that came in today with his sons sentra acting strange and we tell him hmm could it be becuase it has no oil and 3 out of 4 cylinders are not firing
that cant be i changed the oil just last year really just last year only lol