It is ironic that I was just reading the threads about burning oil in the 3.5VQ over the last couple of months when all of a sudden I've noticed my car is sucking down the Mobil1 as well. I have also noticed a BIG drop in low end power - the car just isn't pulling the way it had been.

At first I suspected a possible MAF issue but the car revs okay and also idles just fine. Once I discovered that it had started burning oil I am now suspecting the converters may have damaged the engine and resulted in scoring of the cylinder walls plus resulting in lowered compression and burning of oil.

I am bringing the car into Nissan in two days as I have about 79,300 miles on the car and want the problem documented before the 80K mark while the federally mandated warranty is still in place on the emissions system.

Where I need some advice is to ask what tests do I need to have Nissan run to make sure that I have covered my bases? Should they be doing compression tests and vacuum tests?

Thanks in advance.

 

Damn, I don't think my eats oil, but definetely no low end torque when it warms up. Car pulls nice when cold, but when exhaust gets warm, forget it.
I want to see what they tell you, cause I suspect clogged cAT

 

two ways a cat can fail. one, is efficiency. it its the case, itll set a code, p0420 or p0430.

two, clogging, which may or may not set a code. clogging will affect high end performance in early stages, and gradually increase to the middle portion of the powerband.

vacuum tests can be run to check for restricted exhaust, and an exhaust backpressure test if necessary. youll need to be up to date on ALL your maintenance, esp air filter.


another thing, you WILL be paying (or at least signing for) ckout time, and if you complain about loss of power, the cat will be the LAST thing checked by the tech. the tech will likely not condemn the cat if possible, and if the power loss is questionable, youre just going to be quoted an injector flush, induction service, possibly a fuel pump, plugs, etc, etc... maintenance items.

a compression test wont show anything, unless you have low compression, which would probably yield a rough idle.


seriously, if you just want a new cat try taking it to them with a low power and sulfur smell from exhaust complaint. if they dont condemn the cat, youll need to 'clog' it youself, and then take it back the next day saying the problem got worse.