European guy dreaming at a VX --- some Questions

[evillecutter]

What design flaw are you referring to??

oil burn is the only recurring problem i know of i thought that was what he was referring to - wouldnt be the first time i was wrong though

[Maddawg]

oil burn is the only recurring problem i know of i thought that was what he was referring to - wouldnt be the first time i was wrong though

Me either. Not sure what he meant ?

[badsykes]

I read this thread ...
http://www.vehicross.info/forums/showthread.php?t=3756

The 3.2l engine is reliable but the 3.5l seems not so..
If i just need to put and check oil regulary i don't mind but i dont like the fact that many 3.5l engines failed with very expensive costs for repairs..I already check oil for my Frontera after offroad trips..

[Maddawg]

My 3.5L is at 83,000 miles, no issues yet aside from the usual maintainance. (knock on wood, lol)

[Mile High VX]

96,000 here and no issues, but great maintenance from all POs...going to need to do the timing belt and water pump this summer...

[evillecutter]

115K on mine runs better than any other v6 ive owned (aside from the oil issue)

[Maddawg]

115K on mine runs better than any other v6 ive owned (aside from the oil issue)

How much oil are you using, if you don't mind? Is that common around here?

[badsykes]

having the 3.2l engine has two advantages for me:

1. reliable
2. I can find parts in Europe for it because it was installed on the Frontera 3.2 v6

[evillecutter]

How much oil are you using, if you don't mind? Is that common around here?

i use at least a quart for every 1k miles and i change my oil about every 2k miles because it always looks like it needs it - filter every two changes - seems to be a commom problem there are a few different threads about it on this site - something to do with the pistons not having enough drain holes for the oil to circulate so it gets vaporized and goes out the exhaust - i believe the 3.5l is the same motor on the outside as the 3.2l just bigger pistons for more horsepower and torque - obviously the engineers didnt do near enough testing on the 3.5l - i think quite a few people might have blown their motors thinking the vx was invincible or from not checking the oil and gave the 3.5l a bad name but other then the oil problem i havent found any issues that i wouldnt have on any 13 year old used v6

[Maddawg]

i use at least a quart for every 1k miles and i change my oil about every 2k miles because it always looks like it needs it - filter every two changes - seems to be a commom problem there are a few different threads about it on this site - something to do with the pistons not having enough drain holes for the oil to circulate so it gets vaporized and goes out the exhaust - i believe the 3.5l is the same motor on the outside as the 3.2l just bigger pistons for more horsepower and torque - obviously the engineers didnt do near enough testing on the 3.5l - i think quite a few people might have blown their motors thinking the vx was invincible or from not checking the oil and gave the 3.5l a bad name but other then the oil problem i havent found any issues that i wouldnt have on any 13 year old used v6

That's interesting. Thanks Eville, My VX uses exactly the same oil amount every 1000 mi. I just set the odometer to 0 and check it again at 999. I was thinking maybe it was valve guides, because I don't see any evidence of smoke, but I do get a black residue on my exhast pipe tip.
My 2002 Axiom has the same engine but I don't get any oil usage between changes, but its only got 30,000 mi. on it so far. Is it something that developed over time with the VX or was it evident from the beginning?

[evillecutter]

i get no white smoke either - apparently its not burning oil it just "uses" it and from what ive read on here there is a difference - even though i dont wish for anyone to have the oil issue its oddly comforting to know someone else is in my same boat - with your axiom i think they might have fixed the problem by drilling extra holes for the oil to drain through in the pistons - they have rebuild kits that members have used (y33treker maybe?) with the new pistons and whatnot and i believe some newer 3.5ls like your axiom have a good chance to have the version with the problem fixed

[Maddawg]

i get no white smoke either - apparently its not burning oil it just "uses" it and from what ive read on here there is a difference - even though i dont wish for anyone to have the oil issue its oddly comforting to know someone else is in my same boat - with your axiom i think they might have fixed the problem by drilling extra holes for the oil to drain through in the pistons - they have rebuild kits that members have used (y33treker maybe?) with the new pistons and whatnot and i believe some newer 3.5ls like your axiom have a good chance to have the version with the problem fixed

Alrighty then! IMO, I think I'll not mess with it, oil's cheaper than pistons, lol. I did notice that the last time I checked at 1000 miles it was only (only, lol) a 1/2 quart lower than usual. Hallejulah, it healing itself!!