2003 Nissan Altima Mystery

Asked by Em882 Dec 06, 2017 at 07:00 PM about the 2003 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

I took my Nissan in to get the oil changed and was told that there was a pretty bad leak. Took it to a local mechanic and had the valve gasket cover replaced along with a few other things like spark plugs and tire rods. Almost 3 weeks later I notice a puff of white smoke coming out of the back of the car when I crank it after it’s been sitting all day. I checked my oil the next morning and it’s bone dry. Get the oil filled again and take it in. They say it’s not leaking but maybe burning oil so keep a check on it the next few weeks. It’s been a week and a half since I got oil put back in and my oil is still full. The only thing I can think is that the mechanic did not put oil back in after doing the repair like they were supposed to. Are there any other possible explanations?

1 Answer

15

If you had been driving around for 3 weeks without oil, your engine would be making some terrible noises and it would have failed. This is going to take some more investigation to accurately find where it's going. Remember, burning oil will produce a blueish smoke from the exhaust. I would also check the coolant cap (don't open when hot) to make sure it is how it should be.

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