2003 Nissan Maxima engine burning oil

LILITHFAIRFAN

MEMBER
2003 NISSAN MAXIMA
6 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
118,000 MILES

My Maxima has been burning oil at a high rate over the past several months (like almost a quart every 500-600 miles), with the Service Engine Soon light going on if I let the level get too low. There's no oil on my driveway so it's not leaking while my car is parked. I took it to the dealer today and they said that the problem is due to "bad (leaking) oil rings in the pistons" and that the only solution is to replace the entire engine at a cost of over $9000. Of course I'm going to need a 2nd or 3rd opinion on this, but if it turns out to be true, it's obviously not worth sinking $9000+ into a car that's only worth about $2500-$3000. What I don't understand is how can the only solution be to replace the engine? How come these "oil rings" can't be fixed or replaced?

1 Reply

MMPRINCE4000

MECHANIC
8,548 POSTS

You are right the oil rings can be replaced, problem is the labor involved to remove engine and tear down to bare block (remove rods and pistons) would probably exceed the cost of the new engine.

And there may be other damage to cylinder walls, which may require oversize pistons and a lot of machine work.

I would look for a used engine, you can find low mile engines ( in a rear end collision for example), where the engine is in good shape, but car was totaled.

Are they talking about a long block (block, pistons and head) or a short block (block with pistons installed)?