There is coolant on the exhaust on the firewall side and you know how tight it is to see in there from the top. It's a '97 max which I replaced the wate rpump on because my friend insisted that was the cause of the motor eating coolant even after I asked "are you sure it's not the headgasket" well I'm afraid it's the headgasket, am I right? I have feeling I'm going to have to look from under the car to answer this one?

 

Maybe you'll get lucky and its just a coolant hose leaking. Maybe one of those small ones attached to the back of the Upper intake manifold. Have you ever removed your UIM? Might not have gotten the hoses clamped back on properly. Certainly would be better than a head gasket.

 

Check the heater hoses on the firewall?

 

If it looks like one of those metel pipes with the rubber hose going in to the firewall, than it's the heater/cooling core lines leaking. Check all of the hoses and the oil dipstick to be on the safe side about the headgasket.

 

The head gasket is BELOW the exhaust manifold. Probably one of the two hoses attached to the back of the intake manifold, at the EGR pipe flange, or a heater hose.

 

That's what I was hoping for. When I did the water pump I also removed the UIM and valve covers to put in all new gaskets. This was like 2 years ago.
I didn't mess with the heater hoses and I don't think my friend did either. And this coolant is coming from the middle of the motor.
I do have a haynes that I just picked up. It's just so dam tight back there that I don't know where to begin. This might be a happy ending after all. I'll try to do some searching on diagrams of the coolant hoses back there. Thanks everyone!

After a quick search I found this great pic by shadyonedeath and I circled where I found the coolant. What hoses should I be checking for?

 

Just like mrglynis stated, if you removed your UIM to replace gaskets, it means that you had to disconnect the coolant hose at the back of the UIM. Check that hose to make sure the connections are good and the hose is not torn.

 

That's directly under the UIM hoses, they are in the very back and a pain. They are easier to work on with the manifold loose and lifted up, reaching between engine and UIM.

 

Sounds like a defective heater core problem. Does this happen when you turn on the heater or all the time?

 

The heater core is inside the car. The location of the coolant is exactly where the other people and myself have said it is and I remember messing with the hoses while doing the UIM. Thanks for your help though.
I remember messing with the hoses while having the UIM off at an angle and then putting the UIM back on. So I'll have to pull the TB, IACV, and egr to get in there? I'll check it out this weekend.

 

Removing the IACV and the egr tube should give you a clear enough view to hopefully see what is causing the leak. If its just not clamped right you may be able to fix it without too much trouble. But if one of the hoses is cracked or torn, you'll have to pull the manifold to replace it. There isnt enough clearance to pull the hose off while the manifold is still bolted down.

 

That little coolant hose under the UIM had the stock pressure clamp on one side and a hose clamp on the other. I believe the hose clamp was the problem as I had the same problem on a trans hose once. Well while it's off I'm going to try putting my '00vi on. It's been such a while since I researched it. Still have to buy the fittings to prep the UIM and figure out if I should run egr. If anyone has a spare crank pulley pm me.

 

I agree correctly, because I have the same problem leaked (4 days 1 gallon and smoked same as burn).
I bring my Maxima 1995 to TUFFY shop (auto completed repair) to replace Fuel Injectors after them diagnosis (by guessed) but when TUFFY shop changed Injector my car still unsmooth (cost me $400.00 US) but I found more mistaken from TUFFY:
- 2 unscrew IM holder,
- cut off Fuel Line 2.0 inches
- Close to little coolant hose under the UIM they changed 1 screw longer not tighten
- a little coolant U hose under the UIM not claim (claim moving around), claim loosen, and then I tried to use my little thumb & index finger (its hurt fingers) to press a claim toward driver side (opened air filter home, throttle body etc...) I am done this job today but still leaked 5 minutes 1 dropped when engine hot, better no more smoked (later I'll used a thick glove to press a claim without open Intake Manifold)

 

Can those coolant hoses be purchased from Napa, etc.?

 

I see this coolant hose is U hose about 1 span with 2 claim, but I don't know what is this part called?
Does anyone know what is this part called? Thank you