Problems

[strykeone]

1) Vehicle is blowing grey right after startup, checked oil, level is good.

 

2) I think the engine is steaming, but my temp gauge reads good and my antifreeze level is good.

 

3) Coming out of driveway in reverse it makes vicious screaming sound. Not sure if it is coming from tranny or some other part of the vehicle

 

4) How can I tell if the rear diff is leakingoil/needs an oil change? I checked the level, seemed good, but oil was dark.

[solid snake]

1) when was it's last oil change/spark plug change? Check those, you may need to change the motor oil, add a smoe treatment additive, and a oil stabilizer, prefferable Lucas. Since you did not say what year your pathy is, I'm thinking that you probably have a fuel injected pathy. Try to use a fuel treatment, try to stay away from those cheap brands though, again use the lucas fuel treatment.

 

2) I would go with an electric fan swap for the readiator, or take it to a radiator shop to get the radiator serviced, can be expensive though. Here's the link on how to do the swap: http://www.nissanpathfinders.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=5701

 

3) Leaking oil should be pretty obvious, but from what the nissan owners manual reads is that it should be a lighter color...may need to be changed also, again use an additive

[strykeone]

1) Yes, fuel injected. I will try changing oil, though it looked good when I checked it. Will also try additive.

 

2) I'm going have to take a harder look at this, I can't tell for sure but I think my radiator is not original

 

3) I have oil around the plug, but it may have just been loose. Like I said the oil level was fine (according to Haynes manual). Will change the oil soon though.

 

 

Thank you for the help.

[88pathoffroad]

1. It may be running a bit rich on startup, which would be normal anyway...

 

2. What's steaming? Is it or isn't it? Please elaborate.

 

3. Most likely brakes, that's a relatively easy first check at the least.

 

4. o.O Hmmmm. It should be pretty easy to tell if the rear diff leaks. Is there oil on the bottom of it? Oil seeping around the seal on the centersection? If it's too hard to tell, clean it off with degreaser and then check it again in a week or so. The oil should be changed if it's dark-colored or creamy-colored(water in the oil). It's cheap insurance against not knowing when it was done last...

[strykeone]

1. It may be running a bit rich on startup, which would be normal anyway...

 

Sounds logical, it idles at 2000 rpm at startup, is this another indicator?

 

2. What's steaming? Is it or isn't it? Please elaborate.

Your guess is as good as mine, I checked the rad and everything looked fine. Coolant levels good. Temp gauge good.

 

 

3. Most likely brakes, that's a relatively easy first check at the least.

 

Can't be it happens especially when I'm off the brakes. Happens more so in reverse as well.

 

4. o.O Hmmmm. It should be pretty easy to tell if the rear diff leaks. Is there oil on the bottom of it? Oil seeping around the seal on the centersection? If it's too hard to tell, clean it off with degreaser and then check it again in a week or so. The oil should be changed if it's dark-colored or creamy-colored(water in the oil). It's cheap insurance against not knowing when it was done last...

 

I am going to try the degreaser. As far as I can tell it is around the plug, but this will confirm what I think.

 

Diff oil change this weekend.

[94extreme]

2. What's steaming? Is it or isn't it? Please elaborate.

 

 

Your guess is as good as mine, I checked the rad and everything looked fine. Coolant levels good. Temp gauge good.

 

 

huh? you used those words not 88.. so what do you mean by steaming?

[solid snake]

Sounds logical, it idles at 2000 rpm at startup, is this another indicator?

It idles at 2,000! Mine idles at 1,000 or 900. I would check the MAF sensor (mass airflow sensor). Before I replaced mine it was idling at high rev's also, sometimes when I would make a stop the revs will drop all the way to zero then climb up to 2,000, shortly afterward if I wouldn't accelerate it would choke. I don't know if this is the case with you, but I would check that. Regarding your rediator, check the coolant resivoir to see if it isn't damaged or if the line that is coming from the radiator isn't damaged or something. I would highly recommend the electric fan swap.

[strykeone]

It is steaming, I see a thin mist over my hood at stop lights. I pop the hood, and nothings there.

 

Mine doesn't choke out, but the revs do drop until its warmed up. I will do MAF sensor as well.

[88pathoffroad]

Check your hoses, hose clamps and the air bypass hose and valve(if so equipped) for leaks or bulges.