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Car Forum / Nissan / Nissan Cars / October 2005

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Altima Burning Oil?

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Stan and Dee Bringer - 20 Oct 2005 18:28 GMT
It is doubtful your Altima is burning oil.  Look for blue smoke coming out
of the tailpipe.

On my 2002 six cylinder Altima, the dipstick is a bit difficult to read due
to numerous bends in the dipstick and I have not been able to get an
"accurate" reading on the oil level after draining the oil, and replacing it
with a measured amount of new oil.

Stan
Steve T - 20 Oct 2005 22:46 GMT
> It is doubtful your Altima is burning oil.  Look for blue smoke coming out
> of the tailpipe.

Wrong. If the car has a cat  converter, you'll never see any smoke. People
are fooled by this all the time and assume the engine isn't burning oil
because they don't see any smoke or "Only see smoke when the engine is
cold".

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Steve

http://www.atlantaracing.com

rodleo@gmail.com - 21 Oct 2005 01:05 GMT
Well...The mechanics at Valvoline (where I had my oil change) told me
the engine oil tank was pretty much empty, and they just filled the oil
up for me. Then, I brought my car to Pepboys for a engine diagnosis.
They said there was no oil leak at all. 2 weeks after checking at
Pepboys, I checked the oil level and it was as low as like empty again!
Brought to Valvoline and had my oil filled up for free this time.

It's so annoying that I am even dreaming of my car's broken down on my
way home. Anyone has any idea? Does the radiator or cooling system
possibly cause the problem?

Thanks,
Leo

> > It is doubtful your Altima is burning oil.  Look for blue smoke coming out
> > of the tailpipe.
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> because they don't see any smoke or "Only see smoke when the engine is
> cold".
E Meyer - 21 Oct 2005 03:23 GMT
Have you considered getting it diagnosed by a real mechanic?  They won't be
found among the minimum wage oil change jockeys at Valvoline or Pepboys.

On 10/20/05 7:05 PM, in article
1129853127.804783.166970@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com, "rodleo@gmail.com"

> Well...The mechanics at Valvoline (where I had my oil change) told me
> the engine oil tank was pretty much empty, and they just filled the oil
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>> because they don't see any smoke or "Only see smoke when the engine is
>> cold".
Rich - 21 Oct 2005 13:40 GMT
> Have you considered getting it diagnosed by a real mechanic?  They won't
> be
> found among the minimum wage oil change jockeys at Valvoline or Pepboys.

Don't tell him that, he'll bring it to the "guy down the road who changed
his own brakes once".  ;)   For that kind of an issue, you need a real
mechanic with his own shop.  If you see a hoist for swapping engines out,
that's the kind of guy you want.  Better yet, a Nissan dealer, if there is
one around you trust.  They're really hit or miss.

> On 10/20/05 7:05 PM, in article
> 1129853127.804783.166970@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com, "rodleo@gmail.com"
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
>>> because they don't see any smoke or "Only see smoke when the engine is
>>> cold".
Steve T - 22 Oct 2005 03:29 GMT
> Well...The mechanics at Valvoline (where I had my oil change) told me
> the engine oil tank was pretty much empty, and they just filled the oil
> up for me. Then, I brought my car to Pepboys for a engine diagnosis.
> They said there was no oil leak at all. 2 weeks after checking at
> Pepboys, I checked the oil level and it was as low as like empty again!
> Brought to Valvoline and had my oil filled up for free this time.

If there are no leaks and it's going through oil, the only thing else is
it's burning it.

Signature


Steve

http://www.atlantaracing.com

rodleo@gmail.com - 23 Oct 2005 02:22 GMT
I brought it to Pepboys for an engine diagnosis already. And they found
nothing's leaking. BTW, I got a response from another forum. The
replier's an experienced mechanics (well, he claimed).

"Check for sludge buildup in the engine. Remove the oil fill cap and
look for a jelly-like substance in the engine. If you see that, you
will have to remove the valve cover and check the oil return lines in
the head. They may be clogged, causing the oil to fill up in the head
and enter the combustion chamber through the valve guide seals."

It sounds reasonable, doesn't it? But I don't think I am capable enough
to check it myself without any tools and stuff. I will probably bring
it to the shop sooner or later.

Thanks everyone.

Leo

> > Well...The mechanics at Valvoline (where I had my oil change) told me
> > the engine oil tank was pretty much empty, and they just filled the oil
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> If there are no leaks and it's going through oil, the only thing else is
> it's burning it.
Steve T - 23 Oct 2005 05:30 GMT
> I brought it to Pepboys for an engine diagnosis already. And they found
> nothing's leaking. BTW, I got a response from another forum. The
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> the head. They may be clogged, causing the oil to fill up in the head
> and enter the combustion chamber through the valve guide seals."

That;s possible but not very likely. If it's that sludged up, you'd have to
take the engine apart to clean that gunk out anyway and other things are
going to be sludged up as well, like the oil control rings on the pistons.
Basically, if it's using as much oil as you say and it's not leaking, the
engine is toast.

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Steve

http://www.atlantaracing.com

 
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