MikeSDA

iTrader: (23)

Man this has been a great week!

My oil light came on after the track, I checked the oil level and it was where it should be and looked clean so I didnt think much of it. After driving about 5 miles the car did not feel right at all, kind of surging and then it stalled. I pulled over and it did start back up but it was making a horrible noise and smoking near the belt. I tried it 2 more times so I could check it out more to get an idea of what was going on. Then like the 4th time it wouldnt even start, the battery wasnt dead and it didnt seize, but the car wouldnt turn over, the crank pully was turning just a hair. Luckily I have AAA and got it towed.

I try to start it todat and it does but it sounds like its knocking. At this point I figured I spun a bearing. I turn it off right away and drain the oil. I see alot of fine metallic flakes in the oil but no chunks at all. I take the oil pan off and look at the oil pump , heres some pics:









What Im really wondering is do I replace the pump and hope for the best? Or generally if this happens, does it take out the whole motor? It didnt run for long at all after it 1st died. But I can only imagine how much crap could have already went through the oiling system. Any opinions on what I should do ?

Swap oil pump and hope motor is ok?

Or

Motor rebuild / motor swap time?

Kevlo911

iTrader: (36)

To replace the pump you have to remove all the timing which is much easier when the engine is out of the car. With all that work you might as well do a VQ35 swap.

If you do just change your oil pump, upgrade to a vq35 oilpump. But who knows how the rest of the engine is right now.

slinky87

iTrader: (1)

that sucks id go ahead and do the oil pump its not hard if you can do headers you can do a oil pump but id drop the whole oil pan and double check the bearings, metallic flakes ususally indicate a broken, spun rod bearing i bet its probably piston no .6 with the spun bearing i have a oil pump if you want to buy one it has about 80,000miles on it

Kevlo911

iTrader: (36)

Headers /= removing timing

JClaw

iTrader: (17)

Time to look for a 600$ VQ35. Not worth risking all that work. VQ30s problem has always been the oil pump. I would dump that motor.

MikeSDA

iTrader: (23)

I guess my main concern is wasting time and money. Im no stranger to motors and rebuilding them...granted most of my experience is with twin cam 4 cyls, but timing or anything like that shouldnt be a problem if I do decide to do just the oil pump.

I did eventually want to do a 3.5 swap, just not yet.

hmm...poop...cars = my death

slinky87

iTrader: (1)

exactly all you have to do is get the timing cover off and mark the crank and cams gears with white out so you dont throw your timing off. loosen tensioner you have three 10mm bolts that hold the pump on replace and your done

MikeSDA

iTrader: (23)

Ive been thinking about it. Im not going to chance putting just the oil pump in. There was too much oppertunity for crap to go thru the oiling system and to much crap at the bottom of oil pan.

I guess now its a question of rebuild it or swap a 3.5, but Ive been looking and the cheapst 3.5 I can find is a slightly damaged one for like $750 on car- part.com .... no $600 ones ...do you have any links Jclaw?

Kevlo911

iTrader: (36)

I see lots of cheap ones on car-part. Search the entire usa if you don't mind paying for shipping. I wouldn't mind getting a high mile one either because I would change the pistons/rings so I would never have to worry about potential oil burning issues.

MikeSDA

iTrader: (23)

thats what I did, I got alot more options when I searched for a altima and not a maxima but still nothing under 750 I believe and when I read the abbreviations on the side it had damage to it. I'll search around there some more

Kevlo911

iTrader: (36)

I know there are 500-600 dolla ones in the southeast last time I checked. Look for 02-07 maximas. You will have to search 02-03 and 04+

MikeSDA

iTrader: (23)

ok cool I will try that, thanks!

edit...yep that worked, found a few within 80 miles of me for 850, 950 + 700

NevadaJack_9

iTrader: (3)

Get A New One?

MikeSDA

iTrader: (23)

nothing yet...still trying to decide which way to go, but probably 3.5