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Various Non-Bald Discussions => Autos,Toys and Hobbies => Topic started by: ice4life on February 29, 2008, 10:20:03 AM

Title: Trouble with my nissan, need advice
Post by: ice4life on February 29, 2008, 10:20:03 AM
  I was checking my maxima's spark plugs, and I found OIL in the spark plug hole, almost all the way up to the coil pack....... :'( 
Anybody familiar with nissan's 3.5 v6? I'm hoping it isn't a cracked head, but who knows.... somebody please help

 Ice
Title: Re: Trouble with my nissan, need advice
Post by: Timmay on February 29, 2008, 11:14:40 AM
Take it to the nearest cliff.....put it in neutral...and push really hard.....LOL

Sorry bro...not good on cars here....I couldnt tell ya really...hope someone in here knows....
if it isnt related to just changing the oil...putting in gas...or simple things like that....I dont know how to identify problems.  Like with my Chevy Blazer...the service engine light came on the other day...and its still on....So I checked all the fluid levels and stuff...everything seems to be fine....So I just unhooked the battery for a while and hooked it back up and it was gone...so who knows...lol

Timmayy!
Title: Re: Trouble with my nissan, need advice
Post by: PigPen on February 29, 2008, 03:56:56 PM
Do the plugs and coils sit in the middle of the valve cover?
Title: Re: Trouble with my nissan, need advice
Post by: schro on February 29, 2008, 03:58:31 PM
Hey PigPen, I thought you'd tell him to buy an Acura.
Title: Re: Trouble with my nissan, need advice
Post by: ice4life on February 29, 2008, 04:12:23 PM
Yes they are right in the center. I think i need a new valvecover.... and thanks for not tellin me to get an acura lol
Title: Re: Trouble with my nissan, need advice
Post by: Tyler on February 29, 2008, 04:20:34 PM
I have a similar engine on my Pathfinder, but I have no clue how to work on it.  Give me a older Chevy and I could tell you with my eyes closed.  It could just be a valve cover gasket and not the entire valve cover.
Title: Re: Trouble with my nissan, need advice
Post by: ice4life on March 01, 2008, 07:53:26 AM
I have a similar engine on my Pathfinder, but I have no clue how to work on it.  Give me a older Chevy and I could tell you with my eyes closed.  It could just be a valve cover gasket and not the entire valve cover.

   The valvecovers on the 3.5 are notorious for cracking..... so there is officially 1 thing that I don't like about nissans
Title: Re: Trouble with my nissan, need advice
Post by: nomad on March 01, 2008, 12:18:20 PM
if I'm not mistaken there are little gaskets in the plaug holes on those it comes with the valve cover gasket set
Title: Re: Trouble with my nissan, need advice
Post by: Marz on March 03, 2008, 11:05:47 AM
Could be a valve cover...

could be rings

Check the water in your radiator for oil, if there is oil there it would be a head gasket / head.

Does it smoke when you take off from a stoplight?
Title: Re: Trouble with my nissan, need advice
Post by: PigPen on March 03, 2008, 12:01:47 PM
if I'm not mistaken there are little gaskets in the plaug holes on those it comes with the valve cover gasket set

That's exactly what I was gonna say. They have a tendency to crack. Especially with mileage and the heat that is built up under the hood.
Title: Re: Trouble with my nissan, need advice
Post by: ice4life on March 03, 2008, 12:38:19 PM
Could be a valve cover...

could be rings

Check the water in your radiator for oil, if there is oil there it would be a head gasket / head.

Does it smoke when you take off from a stoplight?

  Marz, don't be a downer bro! my head gaskets are good, i'm not loosing coolant in the oil, or oil in the coolant... the oil that i do loose is almost not noticeable because it's suck a small amount.. it fills the sparkplug hole, then it leaks out only from the top.... i think it might be affecting the coil pack though, because the engine doesn't like to idle when it's in gear..
Title: Re: Trouble with my nissan, need advice
Post by: Z CRUZN on April 05, 2008, 06:09:55 AM
I drive an '04 350Z with basically the same V35 engine - have done lots of modifying on that engine & it does sound like a cracked valve cover or valve cover gasket leaking. If the oil is merely filling the plug hole on top of the plug then spilling over, that'd most likely be the problem. If you're talking about oil in the plug hole after removing the plug, that's an internal problem....rings, etc. As for your coil pack, it's a sealed unit and shouldn't be affected, unless the cable wire is cracking and oil seeps in. As for the idling problem, depending on the mileage, could be plugs need changing, injectors need cleaning, the above mentioned coil pack wires cracked, dirty air filter, MAF (mass air flow) sensor in your intake tube needs cleaning, lots of different things. Not really a definitive anwer here...just some suggestions.   
Title: Re: Trouble with my nissan, need advice
Post by: ice4life on April 08, 2008, 01:48:57 PM
Z,
 Thanks for the advice! Here's what I've changed so far: Oil, Oil filter, Air filter, spark plugs (I put in NGK, of course), Fuel filter (engine bay), fuel filter sock (gas tank).... Thanks about it so far. I did use a few bottles of injector cleaner, about every 2-3 tanks I would add a bottle.... seems to be a waste..... I'll try moving the coilpack to a different plug..... What can I clean the MAF with?

 Ice
Title: Re: Trouble with my nissan, need advice
Post by: Timmay on April 08, 2008, 02:31:39 PM
I say just put lop sided tires on it....do some grafitti work on it and drive it down main street during a parade! LOL......
Title: Re: Trouble with my nissan, need advice
Post by: ice4life on April 09, 2008, 08:08:45 AM
I say just put lop sided tires on it....do some grafitti work on it and drive it down main street during a parade! LOL......


 That's not funny Timm. that's VERY not funny  :Xo!
Title: Re: Trouble with my nissan, need advice
Post by: Z CRUZN on April 09, 2008, 02:35:26 PM
Well, it seems you've covered several things I mentioned....as for the MAF sensor, you can use regular electrical circuit spray cleaner (Radio Shack, etc.) or pick up some electrical spray cleaner at your local auto parts store (lots of times, it's actually listed as MAF sensor spray cleaner). Hit it with that for a few seconds - it evaporates quickly. Just be careful to put it back in the same direction you took it out & be careful with the sensor itself (the part inside your intake tube). That's sounds like enough injector cleaner - if it hasn't made a difference after several bottles, that's not it (unless there's a badly clogged or fouled or bad injector). Does it run pretty solid as you accelerate? the problem just appears at idle? Best of luck!
Title: Re: Trouble with my nissan, need advice
Post by: flattop peterbilt on April 09, 2008, 07:49:07 PM
if the oil is on the top of the plugs it isn't internal...so that is good my suggestion get some engine cleaner ..go to the car wash clean it real good drive it for 10 to 30 minutes ..look for more oil ...you might be able to find the leak after you clean it....
Title: Re: Trouble with my nissan, need advice
Post by: ice4life on April 11, 2008, 05:46:35 PM
Well, it seems you've covered several things I mentioned....as for the MAF sensor, you can use regular electrical circuit spray cleaner (Radio Shack, etc.) or pick up some electrical spray cleaner at your local auto parts store (lots of times, it's actually listed as MAF sensor spray cleaner). Hit it with that for a few seconds - it evaporates quickly. Just be careful to put it back in the same direction you took it out & be careful with the sensor itself (the part inside your intake tube). That's sounds like enough injector cleaner - if it hasn't made a difference after several bottles, that's not it (unless there's a badly clogged or fouled or bad injector). Does it run pretty solid as you accelerate? the problem just appears at idle? Best of luck!

   She runs like a BEAST, as long as I'm on the gas..... At idle, its bad, unless I put it in park or neutral, so I was thinkin it has to be a fuel problem, thats why I changed the fuel filter and sock, and tried so much injector cleaner. Also, for a little of the cars history: My cousin bought it new in 95, did all schelduled  maint. and never had any problems at all. nissan says to only use premium gas, but 87 was what it used for it's entire life... now that the car has 118,xxx do you think the gas might be a problem? I guess I'll try a higher grade and see if that helps... I will also buy the circuit cleaner and try that out. 
Title: Re: Trouble with my nissan, need advice
Post by: ice4life on April 11, 2008, 05:57:36 PM
if the oil is on the top of the plugs it isn't internal...so that is good my suggestion get some engine cleaner ..go to the car wash clean it real good drive it for 10 to 30 minutes ..look for more oil ...you might be able to find the leak after you clean it....

   I know the valve cover is leaking, and I know that it's the center plug hole..... I don't think knowing exactly where in the hole would make a difference, because its plastic, and when I take it off, its going in the trash.... but I will clean the engine after I change the valve cover.. and I was almost certain that the problem wasn't internal, because I'm not burning oil