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Nissan Maxima: 90 Nissan Maxima Flash Oil Light, Knock, Valve Noise, Oil Pump? HELP!?

  1. #1
    matthew
    Guest

    90 Nissan Maxima Flash Oil Light, Knock, Valve Noise, Oil Pump? HELP!?

    I have a 1990 Nissan Maxima, not sure if it's a GXE or a SE, (how do you
    tell?)
    It has the standard 3.0 v6 engine, here is my problem/question(s):

    I have checked with the manufactures specs about oil changes, which
    recommended -
    Changing oil every 3-5000 miles and Filter changes every other oil change.
    I did do an oil and filter change back in April, (since the odometer counts
    mileage at random, it's at 170K miles - but bad counting gears or rpm wire
    only work intermittently, whatever... no worry I change oil by the month,
    not the miles).
    I did an oil-only no filter change in May (10-w30) and had been noticing a
    slight air hiss or popping sound coming from under the car on the drivers
    side, leading to about middle under the motor. I checked with a couple of
    friends that work at Goodyear and they said it was normal sounds, but
    I say if it's normal why did it only start just recently?

    My BIG Question is this.
    I have what sounds like a valve noise coming from about dead center to the
    rear top side of the top of the motor. Mostly sounds like there isn't enough
    oil getting up to the parts in the engine. When I first start/spin the
    motor, it starts up fine. There are about 3-4 different knocking, clicking
    noises that I hear, and 2 of them go away after about 20-45 seconds of
    running. The last noise concerns me since it does not go away and gets
    louder at times. Some of the time it will go away at higher RPMs, but I am
    not sure I am just loosing the sound because of other higher noise. The OIL
    LIGHT starts to blink about 20 miles in to a country - non-highway drive.
    Some times the light will stay on, but I have the oil dead set on
    Normal-Full. When I first noticed this noise, I checked the engine and it
    had about 1/2 - 3/4 qt of to much oil, so I drained it and filled it
    correctly. The oil light some times flickers or is steady at start up and
    goes out which does not worry me. It's when the oil light come back on in
    20-30 minutes that make me think it's a bad oil pump, a sticking valve, or
    some other thing that I have no clue about.

    Also, I am looking for a cheap place to find replacements for my window
    regulators, high side power steering line, Front Fascia (bumper cover), and
    pitted windshield (that I may let someone else do).

    Any comments, or advice, including comic relief are welcome, please post
    your reply as soon as possible, I don't want to ruin this engine or it's
    driving life.



  2. #2
    Meat-->Plow
    Guest

    Re: 90 Nissan Maxima Flash Oil Light, Knock, Valve Noise, Oil Pump? HELP!?

    On Tue, 29 Jun 2004 09:19:53 -0400, "matthew" <net>,wrote:
     

    Sounds like normal wear and tear. Is the 3.0 a SOHC? If so you may be hearing
    hydraulic lifters that no longer hold pressure. And it doesn't matter how much
    oil you have in the engine as long as it is at a safe level. If you have
    sufficient main bearing wear, it will kick your oil pressure right in the pants.

  3. #3
    Chris
    Guest

    Re: 90 Nissan Maxima Flash Oil Light, Knock, Valve Noise, Oil Pump? HELP!?

    Window regulators you can get from Courtesy Nissan in Richardson, TX if you
    mention that you're a member of this message board-- about $70. Yours is a
    SOHC- they didn't make DOHC engines until 92. Change your oil and filter
    every seasonal change and you'll be OK. You can use 20W-50 weight oil and
    it might help your low oil pressure situation, but as MeatPlow said, your
    bearings and lifters are probably worn enough to not hold good oil pressure.
    As long as you have enough oil to lubricate, you won't accelerate the wear
    already present, but it sounds like your engine's days are numbered. If you
    love the car enough and have the money/talent/time, you can rebuild this
    engine and it will run another 150 - 200k miles. Not sure if that's the
    reasonable thing to do, tho, since it's pretty old. You might do better
    buying something a little newer and/or with less miles. I'm sure there are
    some 94's out there that have considerable lower miles. My 94 now has 100k
    and it still runs beautifully!. (My 90 GXE has 135k and it runs great too,
    but has had alot of work done to it- tranny, exh pipe, alt, ps hose,
    radiator, timing belt, main seal, axles)

    Chris
    90 & 94 GXE's



  4. #4
    matthew
    Guest

    Re: 90 Nissan Maxima Flash Oil Light, Knock, Valve Noise, Oil Pump? HELP!?

    After the great responses, (btw Thank you) I tried a Oil treatment which was
    some very thick stuff. The noises did get quieter.
    What still concerns me is why is the noise that is still there, seem to be
    random placements of the time? It's the same repeating 4-5 clicks/knocks,
    but it's not in any form of rhythmic patter to say it's happening because of
    the engine.
    Also, on a side note I forgot to mention, After I start the car up for the
    1st time each day, pull out of the drive way, and get to the first traffic
    light, the computer can be heard making some sort of grunting, or almost a
    grounding/arc-ing noise... where is the computer located? and what can I do
    to fix that when I find it?
    Thanks again, all responses welcome.

    "matthew" <net> wrote in message
    news:supernews.com... 
    counts 
    enough 
    OIL 
    and 



  5. #5
    Chris
    Guest

    Re: 90 Nissan Maxima Flash Oil Light, Knock, Valve Noise, Oil Pump? HELP!?

    That may be your shift lock solenoid clicking if the noise is coming from
    around the gearshift lever. My wife's 94 GXE does that a lot. Doesn't seem
    to bother anything. But someday, when I can't get it into gear, I'll know
    to replace either the shift lock solenoid, or shift lock controller- or
    both, as I've done that on my 90.

    Chris
    90 & 94 GXE's



  6. #6
    matthew
    Guest

    Re: 90 Nissan Maxima Flash Oil Light, Knock, Valve Noise, Oil Pump? HELP!?

    I went by Autozone, and you should have seen the people swarm over to my car
    when I pulled up.
    They all said it was a Valve sticking, and recommended RISLONE
    (www.rislone.com) similar to Marvel Mystery Oil.
    This system has a fuel injected, non-carburetor layout- fyi for other 1990
    maxima owners that don't know, I didn't remember.
    Someone there told me if it didn't have the fuel injector system, I could
    put a little transmission fluid on the valves, if it had a ez access
    top placed carburetor , but he warned me it would smoke like crazy, while I
    was doing it.
    I drained out the Dollar Store's 10w-30 and put in the 20w-50 Coastal, that
    was recommended, plus I added 1 quart of Rislone as directed. I checked out
    their site and it's a very good possibility that it will take about / up to
    700 miles to see results. So I'll keep you all posted as I find out things.

     
    counts 
    enough 
    OIL 
    and 




 

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