A fun, yet sad day....
A fun, yet sad day....
From my cellphone @ a greyhound station, excuse my clashez like typing.
Today I took the maxima out to No Problem Raceway for some cheap track time, car ran hot as usual, but as usual in my reckless disregard for my car's well being, I pushed it beyond the limits and drove it like I stole it.
On the way back, I heard rod knock and the temperature spiked straight to H, so I pulled off and viola! Steam out the heads
After it cooled down, I added coolant, and it leaked right back out, that was the final call for my 205k mile VQ30DE.
So now I'm having a friend tow it to a house and it will be at his place till I come back for it from Houston next weekend.
Overall it was fun, and if I had the chance, I'd do it again. I killed my car what I made it for.
I have a rough idea of what's going to happen motor wise before IFO in San Antonio, but I won't put pressure on myself by publicizing it, one thing I will be upset with is if I have to put another 3.0L motor in it though.
Today I took the maxima out to No Problem Raceway for some cheap track time, car ran hot as usual, but as usual in my reckless disregard for my car's well being, I pushed it beyond the limits and drove it like I stole it.
On the way back, I heard rod knock and the temperature spiked straight to H, so I pulled off and viola! Steam out the heads

After it cooled down, I added coolant, and it leaked right back out, that was the final call for my 205k mile VQ30DE.
So now I'm having a friend tow it to a house and it will be at his place till I come back for it from Houston next weekend.
Overall it was fun, and if I had the chance, I'd do it again. I killed my car what I made it for.
I have a rough idea of what's going to happen motor wise before IFO in San Antonio, but I won't put pressure on myself by publicizing it, one thing I will be upset with is if I have to put another 3.0L motor in it though.
I have a ton of videos and photos, this is more of a wake, the funeral will be held in the member's ride's section.
Almost made it to 13 years old, but I did cross 200k miles with it on the road course with it traveling to the red line. This motor went down hard, and I'm glad to say its been a fun 45k miles beating the c r a p outta this motor.
Almost made it to 13 years old, but I did cross 200k miles with it on the road course with it traveling to the red line. This motor went down hard, and I'm glad to say its been a fun 45k miles beating the c r a p outta this motor.
jesus, mines a 95 with 226,000 on it and she taps a little in the cold, but im not excited about doing the engine chain and water pump job. i bet mine would have similar results if i ran her down the track. ( maybe not
) looking foward, ( no offense ) to pics and rebuild!!!
) looking foward, ( no offense ) to pics and rebuild!!!
well, it was bound to happen eventually. you know if you vq35, then we can never settle this... but of course, if you 3.5 n i still manage to walk away, youll never live it down!
*max_dreamer goes outside while shedding a tear for the red devil, drops to his knees in front of his max, and yells a battle cry in your honor "RAAAAAAAACEEEECARRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!"*
*max_dreamer goes outside while shedding a tear for the red devil, drops to his knees in front of his max, and yells a battle cry in your honor "RAAAAAAAACEEEECARRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!"*
I have no doubt that if I drove the car like I had a fck to give I'd be driving back to Houston now instead of being cramped on a bus, but.... I don't 
Oh yeah it'll be back soon... But not the same
Mightymax who told you to speak?

Oh yeah it'll be back soon... But not the same

Mightymax who told you to speak?
ahhh man, what happend to this 3.0L motor and how would it go out on a 205k motor. I am sure there was something wrong not just beating the **** out of it but,did you say something about the car getting in the H mark and coolant gushing everywhere, I am assuming you had the problem before the motor blew up man what a loss. I liked your car a lot and your the 99er's with a quick 3.0L man what a upset.
I've been having overheating issues for some time now, I've always known taking to a road course was not a good idea, but a lot of things I do aren't good ideas, like this was gonna stop me....
But yeah the car ran right at that random hash mark before the h, rarely crossed it, just like at MSR, I took breaks and let it cool down just like before, but this time it was hot on the drive back home, so I knew something was up....
But yeah the car ran right at that random hash mark before the h, rarely crossed it, just like at MSR, I took breaks and let it cool down just like before, but this time it was hot on the drive back home, so I knew something was up....
To me when It comes to mechanical issues, like this and I know that I have an event coming up, I make sure that I get the maintances and other things done before I drive my car. I know oil and the cooling system the most Important fluids for the cars life and death situations. I am assumng you had a waterpump issue and a thermostat issue. I know doing the water pump can be a ish need lot's of patience. Did the car have any other issues?
Like you said, you used the car for what it was made for, no shame there. Honor, as said above, is how it left us. Pretty cool story actually, wish I had a cool story for my part-out.
Dr J
Dr J
i would say your thermostat is on its way out
Dude, trust me for the record try the head gasket, If that's the problem you can atleast run that 3.0l beast one last run and see how much life it's got. I am sure if the gasket work is done you can still beat like you did if the rods are not turned already.
This isn't much of a thread... But yeah I was having the same problem too so I would address that issue...
Look, I killed my 3.0 finally, it went out with the way it was suppose to, driving it... My 5mt died shortly after I won the FWD class for Gymkhana and my VQ30 died after tearing up some corners @ NPR.



(after waiting an hour the motor is STILL too hot to add coolant)
Sidenote: The roof damage is from my CF hood flipping open on the highway a few weeks back and I have the body work done, but I aint ballin enough to pay for a red paint job yet, and my mom backed into my car and hit the fender, it's at the paint shop but I put it on hold because the CF hood thing happened....
Last edited by aackshun; Nov 1, 2011 at 06:11 AM.
This isn't much of a thread... But yeah I was having the same problem too so I would address that issue...So.... Tear down my motor to change headgaskets? It's not worth the effort IMO and in my situation, I'm fortunate enough to have a gas guzzling second car until I can get the max running again and with IFO in San Antonio in about a month.... I'd say this is the perfect oppurtunity to tear down my motor and use it's oil pain and timing parts for some other motor.....

Look, I killed my 3.0 finally, it went out with the way it was suppose to, driving it... My 5mt died shortly after I won the FWD class for Gymkhana and my VQ30 died after tearing up some corners @ NPR.
I wouldnt say a blown head gasket equals a dead 3.0, it is still repairable. Many have done it. I was considering it before deciding to build something a tad more stout. But like youve stated, while its down and if its not a DD good opportunity to build it up.
Last edited by Flava_24/7; Nov 1, 2011 at 08:01 AM.
Once I get that far I'm damn near a hybrid VQ35 swap.... Amirite?

The saga continues, my friend in BR was able to pick it up tonight and tow it back to his House. It's at least safe in a garage in Baton Rouge now. I will be picking her up this weekend and taking it back to Houston this weekend, any one down?
LOL @ "almost made it 13 years". 200k miles is nothing. You should be racing with a VG, not some aluminum block, multi chain driven, million things to go wrong VQ.
Now you and the mad scientist need to rip apart the block and replace the piston rings you fried (or head gaskets).
Now you and the mad scientist need to rip apart the block and replace the piston rings you fried (or head gaskets).
Last edited by Hectic; Nov 1, 2011 at 07:40 PM.
oh dude man, I just watched the video and right when you go and open up your hood the needle jumped up there in the H mark and then ran for three minutes more. The needle rises at 7:34 min into the video. This was just a simple cooling issue a low coolant and a bad thermostat. That's why the motor died. It's just a head gasket hopefully and If the oil was leveled than the rods should be ok.
LOL @ "almost made it 13 years". 200k miles is nothing. You should be racing with a VG, not some aluminum block, multi chain driven, million things to go wrong VQ.
Now you and the mad scientist need to rip apart the block and replace the piston rings you fried (or head gaskets).
Now you and the mad scientist need to rip apart the block and replace the piston rings you fried (or head gaskets).
oh dude man, I just watched the video and right when you go and open up your hood the needle jumped up there in the H mark and then ran for three minutes more. The needle rises at 7:34 min into the video. This was just a simple cooling issue a low coolant and a bad thermostat. That's why the motor died. It's just a head gasket hopefully and If the oil was leveled than the rods should be ok.
And I'll find out the carnage when the motor gets ripped apart.







I vote vq35