4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999) Visit the 4th Generation forum to ask specific questions or find out more about the 4th Generation Maxima.

Low idle/ oil light flickering.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 4, 2015 | 03:19 PM
  #1  
intimidator's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 54
Low idle/ oil light flickering.

When the engine is cold and I start the car the engine rpm would go to 400rpm and then the oil light would flicker and then rpm would go up to 500rpm.When I stop a stop light the rpm would drop to 400 the oil light would flicker again. I don't know what could be the problem.

Last edited by intimidator; Jun 4, 2015 at 03:21 PM.
Old Jun 4, 2015 | 03:34 PM
  #2  
DennisMik's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,644
From: Plano, TX
Maybe the throttle body needs cleaning, maybe the MAF is going bad.

Is the check engine light on?
Old Jun 4, 2015 | 03:50 PM
  #3  
intimidator's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 54
Originally Posted by DennisMik
Maybe the throttle body needs cleaning, maybe the MAF is going bad.

Is the check engine light on?
The check engine light has not come on.
Old Jun 4, 2015 | 05:10 PM
  #4  
NeedForSpeedGuy's Avatar
 
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 17
From: Mapleton UT
when was the last time you changed your oil? the vg engines run really hot and are known to burn oil.
Old Jun 4, 2015 | 06:03 PM
  #5  
Fakie J Farkerton's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (51)
 
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,189
From: KCK
Originally Posted by NeedForSpeedGuy
when was the last time you changed your oil? the vg engines run really hot and are known to burn oil.
This is the 4th gen section. VQ.
Old Jun 4, 2015 | 08:20 PM
  #6  
PH98I30's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 472
From: SoCal
My engine has never burned oil nor run hot with 143K on it.
Old Jun 4, 2015 | 08:24 PM
  #7  
intimidator's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 54
Originally Posted by NeedForSpeedGuy
when was the last time you changed your oil? the vg engines run really hot and are known to burn oil.
Its been about 5000 miles since my last oil change. Is the vq engine known to burn oil or were you talking about the vg engines?
Old Jun 5, 2015 | 03:45 AM
  #8  
dwapenyi's Avatar
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 5,998
Originally Posted by intimidator
Its been about 5000 miles since my last oil change. Is the vq engine known to burn oil or were you talking about the vg engines?

Vq35 yes oil consumption....Vq30 (yours) not soo much. The oil pump is chain driven so at very low rpms (below 500 rpm) you should expect the oil light to come on. The idle speed IIRC is 700-750 rpm for a manual tranny VQ30.

That cold, low idle could mean you need to clean your throttlebody.
Old Jun 5, 2015 | 07:32 AM
  #9  
M in KC's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 292
And clean your IACV. No doubt it is carbon fouled as well. Use specifically formulated TB cleaner not just any 'ol carb cleaner so as not to remove the finish off the butterfly other parts etc. You need a minimum idle speed to drive many thing: oil pump, trans pump if an auto, alternator etc.

And yeah my '97 doesn't burn a drop of oil, (leaks some) and never ran hot a day in life. It just rolled 350K last month. Amazing motors the VQ's. 7-800 rpms ought to get you where you need to be after a cleaning. Great How-To's in the How-To section. Easy Saturday morning project.
Old Jun 5, 2015 | 10:33 AM
  #10  
JvG's Avatar
JvG
Senior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,974
From: Portland, Oregon
Your idle speed is too low. The oil pressure increases with engine speed, up to a point. Increase idle speed to specifications. Your engine is fine.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Roymg
6th Generation Maxima (2004-2008)
11
Sep 3, 2018 05:10 AM
tnewbs
7th Generation Maxima (2009-2015)
5
Aug 28, 2015 10:15 AM
maxinout93
5th Generation Maxima (2000-2003)
3
Aug 20, 2015 02:17 AM
MaximaDrvr
7th Generation Maxima (2009-2015)
16
Aug 19, 2015 08:20 PM




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:05 AM.