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Nissan Quest/Mercury Villager Starting & Stalling Problems

511 messages,  Last post on Jan 08, 2012 at 8:34 PM

You are in the Nissan Quest Forum.

What is this discussion about? Nissan Quest, Mercury Villager, Van

Messages Page 42 of 52

#406 of 511 Re: Intermittently won't start or hesitation [rockmobile] by nissanquest94

Jun 28, 2011 (9:24 am)

Replying to: rockmobile (Jun 28, 2011 8:08 am)
Yep! and you shall see more because I start sending this Nissan Quest forum to current Nissan Quest owners and prospective owners such as this one http://newyork.craigslist.org/brx/cto/2464961359.html
 
When you one day planning to sell your Nissan Quest, you may find the solutions in this Forum helps a lot.
 
And, if you planning to buy a "newer" Nissan Quest, you may find the best value price year may be 2004 for year 2011. Why? Because most people in this country finance to buy new car, and in the good old days when new car was not that expensive, people got car loan of 4 or 5 years, but as new cars getting more expensive, in order to keep monthly payment affordable, people start getting 6 years car loan.
 
So, once the car loan paid off after 6 full years, many car owners who has little knowledge about cars may simply sell it with the proceeds as down payment of next new car to buy, so all of a sudden, the used cars with 6 to 7 years old are all over the place. as you can see http://newjersey.craigslist.org/search/cta?query=nissan+quest+2004&srchType=T&mi- nAsk=&maxAsk=
 
Now, when you see so many 2004 van's for sale, but the price varies so much difference, you may go ahead to get the one with best price. Why? Because now you know Nissan Quest is a great van with a forum behind you, and you know the solution of the water problem that most of others do not. For those much higher prices vans, they may have been "over serviced by dealer" or "replaces many parts unnecessarily", you do not want to pay couple thousands of dollars for that. And, you shall find your capital cost of owning a reliable Nissan Quest 2004 for 10 years is very cheap, only $550 (e.g. $7,000 - $1,500 = $5,500, and $5,500 / 10 = $550). I mean if I sell my Nissan Quest 94.
 
What do I mean for "over serviced"? If you listen to dealers to tell you change oil and oil filter every 3,000 miles, your car is over serviced. If you look at your Nissan Quest manual, it tells you to do it at 15,000 miles. All these extra cost spent on a resell Nissan Quest 2004 may reflects on the price. Believe or not, my Nissan Quest 94 has not changed oil and oil filter for past 3 years, and as more car owners I talked to, I get to know it better.

#407 of 511 How many miles do you change oil and oil filter with you Nissan Quest? by nissanquest94

Jun 28, 2011 (9:49 am)

Mine has not changed since 2008 and running great; I am wondering if anyone has longer record.

#408 of 511 Re: How many miles do you change oil and oil filter with you Nissan Quest? [nissanquest94] by nissanquest94

Jun 28, 2011 (1:13 pm)

Replying to: nissanquest94 (Jun 28, 2011 9:49 am)
When I was at Berkeley many years ago, I was told to change oil and filter every 3,000 miles or 3 months, and if I just changed oil but not oil filter, the oil will get dirty right away. Unfortunately (or lucky?) one time I changed the oil but was not able to removed the oil filter, so what should I do? I was very worry and add the new engine oil and "monitor" the oil change every day. One day, two days, one week, two weeks, ...etc the result was "new oil NEVER get so-called dirty like the rumor says!!!". So, I decided NOT to change oil filter every time I change oil; everything has been great, save some money and hassle.
 
Later on I bought a brand new Toyota Corolla 1990, and I decided to follow the manuel to change oil every 7,500 miles and 15,000 miles change oil filter, and it has been great too. So every time I heard people saying "change oil every 3 thousand miles or 3 months", I knew it was a long history myth. Yes, my Toyota Corolla 1990 still alive running very well, and I have not used up the case of oil filters I bought at $1.99 each when I bought the car.
 
One day, I asked the owner of a local auto repair service why they tell their customer to "change oil every 3 thousand miles or 3 months", I told him never need to and my car running very well not doing so. He finally admit that "everyone else says so, we have to say the same thing, or customers may think we are NOT professional..."
 
So, I told him my other friend making huge profits as at home auto mechanics, always recycle engine oils and "add last quart of new oil" when customers came change oil at only 3 thousand miles or 3 months. As soon as he heard this, he got excited and told me how they did in New York City. He said since there is no need to change that often, and engine oil changed still very clean, so they just "drain one quart of the engine oil at the bottom and add just one quart of new oil on top", when show customer with the dipstick, it always show the top level of clean engine oil just added, and customer happy.
 
When I told him even engine lose one quart of oil, the low oil light may turned on but engine still run fine; it may overheat when two quarts loss. He said had seen a customer commute 100 miles a day and came to change oil of his Honda Civic with only one and half quart left in the crankcase.
 
I like this one very much http://howautowork.com/part_1/ch_1/Four_stroke_cycle_Engine_6.html that gives you very clear picture of how engine works, in particular, how crankshaft working with engine oil. If you also understand that "new and clean oil is lighter and will be on top of oil tank, and dirty oil is heavier will sink down to bottom", you eventually will develop a very cost effective way of maintaining your engine oil and oil filter.
 
My understanding is that engine oil eventually "get thicker" due to heat and chemical reaction, so every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, when you check your dipstick, you see missing 1/4 quart or so, if you follow the manual and change every 15,000, you may lose about one quart. So, if I do not change oil, but "add a new quart of 5W30 on top" I should be fine, and the engine started using the new clean engine oil. But if I have some time, I top up the engine oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles that even better. No need to change engine oil, nor oil filter.
 
Eventually, after many many years, as you can guess the bottom of oil tank will accumulate very thick oil just like gas tank accumulated water, but I know I can remove the water using "water remover" such as Heet or Splash to fill in the gas tank, how would I remove the thicker engine oil from oil tank other than changing oil the traditional way? I found this Engine Restorer http://www.restoreusa.com/Engine_Restorer.html very interesting.
 
Last time when I needed to add more oil to my crankcase, instead of adding 5W30, I add a can of Engine Restorer for 6 cylinder. Wow! Amazing! the engine became quiet and quiet every day and every trip till eventually the engine is like new, so quiet, sometimes, could not tell if engine already started!
 
Even more interesting, the oil in the oil tank became cleaner and cleaner as if the whole chemical reaction has been reversed. And, of course, the mileage seemed to increase a bit. One senior auto mechanics even said, of course, it is like the Sea Foam thinner. Anyway, after a while when I need to add more engine oil, I added some 5W30 as Engine Restorer $9 is much more expensive than 5W30 oil $2. But now I feel great that my engine is perfect and I have much less worry of my engine as I can use Engine Restorer in the years to come when I wanted to, either engine noise higher or oil darker.
 
My goal is to keep my Nissan Quest 94 running as long as possible and as good as it was new. In the mean time, try not to touch "screw", and avoid "auto surgery" to replace parts unnecessarily.

#409 of 511 Walmart Auto Department seemed to monitor this forum? by nissanquest94

Jun 28, 2011 (9:02 pm)

Our Walmart never carried Heet for "water removal", and I had to got to Pep Boys to get this yellow bottle 12oz $1.99 or Advanced Auto Parts $2.29. Not long after I started talking about Heet, tonight I found dozen of yellow Heet $1.37 and red Iso-Heet 12oz $1.99 ($2.99 in Pep Boys and more in Advanced Auto Parts) at Walmart auto pharmacy department. http://www.goldeagle.com/brands/heet/default.aspx
 
I was very excited to pick up a bottle of red Iso-Heet 12oz $1.99 to pour into my half empty tank of Nissan Quest 94, started losing power again as gas tank going toward half tank. On the way home, wow! the power was increased a lot, I can feel the power even more than the yellow Heet bottle I used before. The red Iso-Heet claimed to have 5 times more "water removal power", and I feel the "throttle response" much more instant and powerful.
 
While I was there, a family with 2 kids told me their Toyota Avelon 98 had the problem. After asking some questions, I advised them to buy yellow Heet, two STP red bottle and two STP white bottle and one Engine Restorer for 6 cylinder, and they also got bottle of a/c to refill their not so cool a/c.
 
I believe Auto Pharmacy is the future.

#410 of 511 Re: How many miles do you change oil and oil filter with you Nissan Quest? [nissanquest94] by steve_ HOST

Jun 29, 2011 (8:04 am)

Replying to: nissanquest94 (Jun 28, 2011 1:13 pm)
I went 15,000 miles and over a year on my last oil change. Probably a bit much.
 
When I lived further up north, my wife would buy a bottle of yellow Heet now and then. After I yelled at her a couple of times, she quit putting it in the tank. Always heard that the yellow stuff was bad for hoses or something like that.
 
I don't think much of additives beyond what the oil companies toss in their gas.
 
Just burned a tank of gas yesterday and the van is pushing 157k.
 
Steve, visiting host

#411 of 511 Re: How many miles do you change oil and oil filter with you Nissan Quest? [steve_] by nissanquest94

Jun 29, 2011 (11:08 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Jun 29, 2011 8:04 am)
I just double checked my Nissan Quest 94 manual, and it says in normal driving situation, change engine oil every 7,500 miles and oil filter every 15,000 miles, so you seemed to be doing correctly.
 
As said, as time goes, the engine oil gets thicker and the volume shrink, so if you change engine oil and oil filter together at 15,000 miles, the old flushed engine oil may be 1/2 to one quart short. Does it trigger "low oil light" ?
 
I have found it helpful to add some new 5w30, the recommend engine oil by Nissan Quest 94 manuel, to top it off every 3,000 or 5,000 miles or whenever convenient. And, when engine gets noisy, for every 50,000 to 100,000 miles, instead of adding 5w30, I may add a can of Engine Restorer that magically quiet down the engine to like no noise and thinner the engine oil and smell much better.
 
And when change oil and filter became once a year or two job and more affordable, I just use the drive thru service like Valvoline, Lube Express, Mobile Express or the like. And, I found this "low oil" light seemed to be a good reminder of either top off engine oil with 5w30, or with Engine Restorer, or with drive thru oil change service.
 
When you use these drive thru oil change services, remember to just change oil and oil filter. If they tell you to do other things, just ask for a list of work they suggest and do NOT do it right there. It often very expensive, and could cost you a lot.

#412 of 511 Have you encountered any problem using yellow bottle Heet water remover ? by nissanquest94

Jun 29, 2011 (11:52 am)

According to Heet's website, "HEET contains special additives and methanol. When HEET is added to the gas tank, it sinks to the bottom and mixes with any water. Since both HEET and water are heavier than gasoline, they go to the bottom of the gas tank. HEET absorbs water and keeps it from freezing, and blocking the flow of gasoline through the gas line and fuel pump. When the vehicle is started, the additives, methanol, water, and gasoline are consumed during combustion inside the engine." So, the power of "water removal" comes from "methanol" which is well known.
 
In Wiki Methanol, it says "One of the potential drawbacks of using high concentrations of methanol (and other alcohols, such as ethanol) in fuel is its corrosivity to some metals, particularly aluminum. Methanol, although a weak acid, attacks the oxide coating that normally protects the aluminum from corrosion:
6 CH3OH + Al2O3 → 2 Al(OCH3)3 + 3 H2O
The resulting methoxide salts are soluble in methanol, resulting in a clean aluminium surface, which is readily oxidized by dissolved oxygen. Also, the methanol can act as an oxidizer:
6 CH3OH + 2 Al → 2 Al(OCH3)3 + 3 H2
This reciprocal process effectively fuels corrosion until either the metal is eaten away or the concentration of CH3OH is negligible. Concerns with methanol's corrosivity have been addressed by using methanol-compatible materials, and fuel additives that serve as corrosion inhibitors."
 
In other words, you need to have "high concentration" of methanol to cause corrosion, and Heet seems to contain corrosion inhibitors. That's why we do not just pour "methanol" into the gas tank to remove the water in tank.
 
It also says "Low levels of methanol can be used in existing vehicles, with the use of proper cosolvents and corrosion inhibitors. The European Fuel Quality Directive allows up to 3% methanol with an equal amount of cosolvent to be blending in gasoline sold in Europe."
 
Heet website also says "One bottle of HEET treats up to 20 gallons (75.7 L) of gasoline. You should not use more than 2 bottles in a 20-gallon (75.7 L) gas tank, 3 bottles in a 30-gallon (113.6 L) gas tank. HEET and Iso-HEET are safe to use in every tankful, in all seasons, all year-round." In other words, each bottle is 12oz and one gallon is 128oz and 10 gallon is 1,280oz; with one bottle Heet in 1,280oz gas, it is under 1% of methanol concentration, much less than European Fuel Quality Directive allows.
 
Anyway, since I am using yellow Heet bottle 12oz to remove water from my Nissan Quest 94, I am wondering if any of you ever encountered any problem using it with your cars or vans?
 
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#410 of 411 Re: How many miles do you change oil and oil filter with you Nissan Quest? [nissanquest94] by steve_ HOST
Jun 29, 2011 (8:04 am)
 
Replying to: nissanquest94 (Jun 28, 2011 1:13 pm)
 
.....................
 
When I lived further up north, my wife would buy a bottle of yellow Heet now and then. After I yelled at her a couple of times, she quit putting it in the tank. Always heard that the yellow stuff was bad for hoses or something like that.
 
.....................

#413 of 511 Re: How many miles do you change oil and oil filter with you Nissan Quest? [nissanquest94] by steve_ HOST

Jun 29, 2011 (12:43 pm)

Replying to: nissanquest94 (Jun 29, 2011 11:08 am)
I check the oil about every time I fill up, and I don't remember ever adding oil. Probably stays topped up from the water condensation getting in the oil.
 
Never seen the oil light come on except at start up when all the idiot lights come on.
 
Filters are cheap so while I'm under there changing the oil, I just change it at the same time. Don't trust the quickie places all that much, and if I get lazy, I have a regular mechanic I'd rather trust for working on my van.
 
And, like HEET, I don't believe in adding any additives to the engine oil either. Haven't checked my manual, but I know that GM and other manufacturers specifically warn against doing that. Plus I don't care if the oil smells like roses since I'm not sniffing the dipstick.
 
About the only additive I trust is Techron, and while I'll buy Chevron gas now and then (it has Techron in it), I won't go out of my way to get a bottle.

#414 of 511 Re: How many miles do you change oil and oil filter with you Nissan Quest? [steve_] by rockmobile

Jun 30, 2011 (7:24 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Jun 29, 2011 12:43 pm)
Oil is cheap. Filters are cheap. I do my own oil and filter change every 7500 or 8000 miles, that way I let it drip the old stuff at my heart's content.
 
I never add anything to gasoline but I can't argue pro or against it. That 10% ethanol/gas mix has kept my throttle body clean so I have not had to clean it in a while.
 
Rockmobile
_Rusty 99 Quest

#415 of 511 Re: How many miles do you change oil and oil filter with you Nissan Quest? [rockmobile] by steve_ HOST

Jun 30, 2011 (8:09 am)

Replying to: rockmobile (Jun 30, 2011 7:24 am)
Now that you mention it, it has been a long time since I've had to clean my throttle body. Hard to believe that the ethanol laced stuff is good for anything but there you go. The ethanol free station here is usually twenty cents a gallon higher and isn't convenient anyway.
 
Probably doesn't matter much, but it is kind of satisfying to pull the oil plug and let it drip for an hour or two.
 
An oil and filter change usually runs around $14 for me.

Messages Page 42 of 52

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