New member here! Maxima has been spraying oil all over the underside of my hood and the motor. Have not driven it much due to fire hazard. was wondering if anyone has any ideas on what could be the cause. I have been told valve cover gasket, but never have seen a bad valve cover gasket do this.

forgot to mention the motor is a 4cycliner

 

Probable valve cover issue.

Oil is not a fire hazard, but makes a mess.

Four cylender...... Which country do you live in?

 

Saw a guy top off his oil and spilled it on his exhaust manifold.
Caught fire almost immediately.

 

I've seen many things catch fire on the exhaust manifold during my days at valvoline. Oil.was one of them.

I second the valve cover issue.

 

Anybody check the oil cap?

 

It could be the valve cover gasket or the power steering fluid also. My leaking rack and pinion and PS return hose was leaking all over the place. The worse of the leaks was the PS return hose and the rack and pinion, it was causing some smoking issue on the rear manifold.

 

I replaced a valve cover gasket on my Altima once, and tightened up the cover too much. The gasket got deformed at the front and spewed oil toward the radiator. A second gasket installed properly fixed that. And how is it you have a 4 cylinder? I thought all gen 4 Maximas have the V6?

 

I also wonder about that 4 cylinder statement. European Maximas can have a 2 liter engine but it is still a V6.

 

The Maxima has never been a 4 banger. There was once a 6 cylinder diesel, about 25 years ago, but that's it.

 

Yes there is a 4 cylinder max....in the middle east

 

there is a 4 cylinder variant of the A32, its not called a maxima though its a Samsung. Seriously its a Samsung. But it has an SR20 in....now watch all the jdm fanboys be like "zoMg sR2O yo0"

 

my mistake it is a v6.

 

F&F reference..." Couple of sr20 motors will pull a premium" good grief! Lol