01 QX4 w/ 176k... has been burning oil (1qt every 500-700 miles) since I owned it 125k (2014). Any hope or keep driving?

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Legend11
Posts: 51
Joined: Thu Jul 24, 2014 11:36 pm
Car: My Car: 2001.0 Infiniti QX4
Dad's Car: 2001.5 Infiniti QX4

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Since July 2014, I have put over 51k miles on my QX4 with the same annoying problem. It burns 1qt every 500-700 miles. Since I've owned it, I have tried Mobile 1 5w-30 high mileage synthetic (3.5 years) and now Valvoline MaxLife 5w-30 (blended) high mileage (2.5 years) with no change. I'm going to be switching from the FRAM oil filters to OEM Nissan tonight for my change. My question is, is this just how it is for the remaining life of my truck? The truck has been good and reliable, but this issue is rather annoying (especially because I hang onto hope that's it's an easy/doable fix).

How long can I keep this strategy going for? Is it what it is as this point?

I'm considering switching to SuperTech 5w30 Conventional (not sure about high mileage or traditional) to see if there is any change.


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PalmerWMD
Posts: 18383
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2002 3:14 pm
Car: 2004 350Z

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It will likely be like this..
Try an oil with hi milage formulation in a 10w-40 or 20w-50.
That might lower your consumption a bit.

Rockwood
Posts: 192
Joined: Wed Aug 10, 2016 6:47 pm
Car: 2002 QX4

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I remember an old post about some 2001's having bad baffles on the inside of the valve cover which allowed the PCV to suck oil into the intake. There was an updated valve cover from Nissan.

Not sure if anyone has rigged up an oil catch can on one of these, but it would help figure out how much of your oil is going that way.

You can seafoam the crankcase - I think you can run seafoam for 300 miles or so before you change oil. It might help if you have gummed up rings.

That is a fair amount of oil, which is not good for the cats.

Buzzman
Posts: 2070
Joined: Fri Feb 02, 2007 2:35 pm
Car: 2017 Mazda 6 GT
2023 Kia Stinger Elite V6 AWD.

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So, is it definitely burning oil? Is the exhaust blue?
At a quart every 500 miles, you should be seeing blue smoke out the back if it's burning.
Also, are you getting any noises out of the engine?
If it ate some power valve screws, then that might be your problem.

Frank01pathfinder
Posts: 19
Joined: Sat Jun 29, 2019 10:28 pm
Car: 2001 Nissan Pathfinder

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I have an 01 with 245k miles on it. Run great does not appear to burn much oil no smoke or smell of oil. Passes smog etc.
I replaced the rear main seal which is where most of my oil loss was coming from. But i probably add close to the same amount of oil per mileage as you. It’s annoying but something I’ve just grown to live with. I run 20w50 oil with a Nissan filter and Lucas oil stabilizer every oil change.


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