Major Engine Problems. Recommendations?

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PTownSubbie

PTownSubbie

Member
Joined
May 15, 2009
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Location
Chesapeake, VA
My son's car (98 Nissan Maxima) has been having problems with overheating. We thought we had the problem fixed until last Friday night. He called and said his car was trying to overheat so he pulled over to let it cool down. I hopped in the car and went out to pick him up. I got the car running and we got the car home having to stop one more time to let it cool down.

Turns out I went out Saturday morning to troubleshoot the problem. I uncapped the radiator and it was low. Well, really low. I put a gallon and a half of water in the radiator. I thought maybe the waterpump could have been the problem but it wasn't leaking. I thought to myself...where else could it be? No leaks... Well, it was in the oil pan!!!

Turns out to look like a blown head gasket. Likely caused by the cycling of heat in the engine. Never fully overheated until the head gasket went. The block and heads are both aluminum... They have to be warped. Could they not be? I know the heads are non serviceable so if they are they have to be replaced.

I think rather than actually fixing this motor with ~200k miles on it, I am looking for a motor from a reputable place. My buddy is a motor head and we are going to swap motors. I just need to find one.

Anyone have any online places that are reputable to buy things like an engine? I live in eastern Virginia but most places ship. Some even have free shipping.

Thanks for listening and any help that anyone has to add to my delima.
 
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Fred,

I am a Nissan master technician and have been for 17 years,it is rare that a 98 Max blows a head gasket unless there is another underlying cause.In 17 years I have seen very few blown head gaskets on the VG30 engine.Although rare it is possible for it to leak coolant into the oil from the waterpump as the waterpump is located inside the timing chain cover and is driven by the timing chain.When they start to leak they normally leak behind the a/c compressor,but if one of the o-rings around the body of the pump starts to leak it can leak into the timing chain area and run down into the oil pan.I would check local junk yards before buying an engine online,unless of course they are offering a great warranty.If you need any other help let me know.
 
rdunn12 said:
Fred,

I am a Nissan master technician and have been for 17 years,it is rare that a 98 Max blows a head gasket unless there is another underlying cause.In 17 years I have seen very few blown head gaskets on the VG30 engine.Although rare it is possible for it to leak coolant into the oil from the waterpump as the waterpump is located inside the timing chain cover and is driven by the timing chain.When they start to leak they normally leak behind the a/c compressor,but if one of the o-rings around the body of the pump starts to leak it can leak into the timing chain area and run down into the oil pan.I would check local junk yards before buying an engine online,unless of course they are offering a great warranty.If you need any other help let me know.
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Ronald,

About a week before the failure we changed the oil and it had no indications at all of any water. The same day the car started with a bit of a rattle. I thought it sounded like a pulley bearing. My initial thought was a water pump problem but there was no water leakage from it.

The other thing was about two weeks before the failure he started complaining about a slight loss of power. He said it didn't feel the same when he accelerated.

Does that help any more?
 
How old is your son? Does his car have an echo tip on the exhaust? If so, then i think the problem might be a heavy foot on the accelerator. Always worries me when a son notices a loss of power in a street car.
 
RAdams said:
How old is your son? Does his car have an echo tip on the exhaust? If so, then i think the problem might be a heavy foot on the accelerator. Always worries me when a son notices a loss of power in a street car.
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He's a 20 year old college student and believe it or not is very consious about a lot of things. Cars are one of them. I thought he was nuts when he told me but maybe he was right...
 
Ron when I was 16, I had a 67 Chevelle SS, that was Viper RED. 427 with a four speed. I lived in a town of around 8,000. Was lucky my dad was good friends with the sheriff, as I got a pretty big ticket for Drag Racing the local Police Dept's Camaro. I blew his door's off.
 
I just went out and checked the water level in the radiator again and it is not full like it was on Saturday.

Where can the water be going other than out the waterpump? Level couldn't fall without it running due to a head gasket could it?
 
Most of the time, the waterpump only leaks when it is running. It builds up pressure and starts leaking out of the weap hole. Do you have a Radiator Presuure Checker? If not Autozone rents them, just pay a deposit and when you return it you get your money back. You need to fill it up and put it under pressure to find out where the leak is.
 
My first car was a 1970 Dodge Monaco station Wagon with a 383. it was a ugly oxidized maroon color with worse oxidized fake wood panels. It had no exhaust, and one bad cylinder. The points were wired to a toggle switch, and if you killed the car with the key and forgot to turn the switch off, you couldnt drive again without at least cleaning and resetting the points.

I would NEVER EVER EVER pop the hood at school. I was ashamed enough and didn't want anyone to see the raggedy motor. I had a friend that had a 67 Chevy truck with a 350. Nice truck, even nicer motor. He was afraid to race em because he thought because of the way the car sounded, it was a fire breathing dragon. Luckily for me, He wasn't the sharpest tool i nteh shed because anyone with two cents worth of knowledge would hear that car and cringe.

Ahhhhhh the memories.
 
Try doing a compression check before discounting the engine. From everything you said with the noise and all I would suspect the waterpump as well. A pressure test of the cooloing system will verify this.
 
EBorraga said:
Ron when I was 16, I had a 67 Chevelle SS, that was Viper RED. 427 with a four speed. I lived in a town of around 8,000. Was lucky my dad was good friends with the sheriff, as I got a pretty big ticket for Drag Racing the local Police Dept's Camaro. I blew his door's off.
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I blew the doors off the RCMP Camaro in Ontario with my 1980 Subaru GLF :biggrin: My dad's connections were not so good and I went to jail later that day. They didn't need my liscence number because in a town of 7500 people, I was the only one with a car matching that description and because it was a custom color it was even more noticeable that I was the perp. Heck...when I got home they were sitting in my driveway waiting for me. They took my car away from me and I spent the night in the slammer only because my DAD said it was good for me. Fortunately I was a minor at the time so I no longer have a record. I still can't drive 55!

I don't know what's wrong with the Nissan in question. I am not a mechanic. It's worth spending $35 for an estimate. If the damage is going to be $1500 or more I'd just get a "new" car. new used car that is. If your friend can fix it with parts for less than go for it. Always pay cash.
 
I'd bet it is the rear O-ring on the water pump housing. That "rattle" your son heard was likely the bearing. When the water pump bearing starts 'wiggling around" it sounds like a rod knocking.

Tow it to a garage you trust and have them check the water pump before plunking out for a new engine. As mentioned here already, those engines are darned near bullit proof!
 
EBorraga said:
Ron when I was 16, I had a 67 Chevelle SS, that was Viper RED. 427 with a four speed. I lived in a town of around 8,000. Was lucky my dad was good friends with the sheriff, as I got a pretty big ticket for Drag Racing the local Police Dept's Camaro. I blew his door's off.
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Earnie:
My first car was a 1966 Chevelle SS with 396 CI and positive traction rear end. My uncle, a speed shop owner put Mickey Thompson exhaust headers on it and a new intake mainfold with three dueces. OF COURSE, we swapped out the tranny and shifter with a Hurst "4 on the floor" Damn that thing was fast.

In 1972, I'll bet I spent $300 on tires. Back then, that was about 4 sets. When you "stomped it" it would eat a set of tires before you could stop them from spinning. THOSE WERE THE DAYS!
 
Andy, my dad owned a shop as well. I've always been around cars. My chevelle had a 427 in it. 750 Holley double pump, Hooker headers, had the muncie 4-speed in it. Put a detroit locker in the rearend. Had 10 inch wide tires on the back. When I was about 20 or 21, I totally rebuilt the car. Ended up putting a 563 big block in it with fuel injection. Put a 6 speed out of a vette in it. Also put a ford 9 inch under the rear, with a 4-link suspension. This baby would pull the wheels about 2 to 3 foot off the ground. Not bad for a big heavy car.
 
workinforwood said:
They didn't need my liscence number because in a town of 7500 people, I was the only one with a car matching that description and because it was a custom color it was even more noticeable that I was the perp.

Jeff, I know the feeling. Was in a town of 8000. Was the only one with a very bright red chevelle. Caused me a lot of trouble though the years. I only got arrested once. I was 25 years old. Got pulled over doing 87 in a 35:eek:. Was driving a convertible Mustang that would flat out fly. Was on my way home from Chicago and about 2 blocks from my house. Was 3:00a.m. and the cop was really mad. It didn't help that I was a total smart donkey to him. Spent 2 days in jail for that one.
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workinforwood said:
I don't know what's wrong with the Nissan in question. I am not a mechanic. It's worth spending $35 for an estimate. If the damage is going to be $1500 or more I'd just get a "new" car. new used car that is. If your friend can fix it with parts for less than go for it. Always pay cash.
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The dealer will diagnose it for nothing but it is the tow to and from that puts it over the top. I am likely going to have them diagnose it anyway based on the new data that Ronald posted.

I just can't see how it can be anything but the water pump right now and the water pump is covered by the warrenty on the motor where the head gasket is not...
 
When I was 16 I had ... Chevrolegs. I didn't own a car until I was 18. My son's 19, not only does he not have a car, he has no license yet either.

I have used K Watanabe several times over the years for used engines. But they're in Cali:
310-763-6420
11550 Wright Rd
Lynwood, CA 90262
 
PenMan1 said:
EBorraga said:
Ron when I was 16, I had a 67 Chevelle SS, that was Viper RED. 427 with a four speed. I lived in a town of around 8,000. Was lucky my dad was good friends with the sheriff, as I got a pretty big ticket for Drag Racing the local Police Dept's Camaro. I blew his door's off.
Click to expand...

Earnie:
My first car was a 1966 Chevelle SS with 396 CI and positive traction rear end. My uncle, a speed shop owner put Mickey Thompson exhaust headers on it and a new intake mainfold with three dueces. OF COURSE, we swapped out the tranny and shifter with a Hurst "4 on the floor" Damn that thing was fast.

In 1972, I'll bet I spent $300 on tires. Back then, that was about 4 sets. When you "stomped it" it would eat a set of tires before you could stop them from spinning. THOSE WERE THE DAYS!
Click to expand...

My first car was a '59 Chev Impala with an "Okie" rake to it, sitting about 3 inches lower in the rear, a 348 engine with a 4 barrel and a Hurst conversion on the tranny... don't think they changed the transmission though the column still had the place where the original shifter was and it was an automatic.... she ran good and got good mileage and at about 85 or 90 the rear end would lift because of the rake... but she was incredible slow off the line.. I never tried to drag, but learning to drive that car in the hills in and around San Fran was a trip.... I usually rolled backwards about 6-10 feet before I could get it going forward if I had to stop on a hill.... there was a couple of hills I just didn't try to go up in downtown SF.
 
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