The Nissan Path

Hey guys, recently purchased my '97, and have noticed it's been using oil.
I did an oil change about a month ago, and pulled my dipstick today and it was close to being bone dry, added about 3/4 of a quart and it's reading well again. It does not leak oil or blow blue smoke. I just replaced both valve cover gaskets so I know it's not leaking at all. It seems to have good power, so I'm hoping the motor/rings aren't out of it...

Is this common? I've heard of bad valve covers on the 3.5L causing oil siphoning through the PCV, but I've got the 3.3....

The thing is absolutely gutless too... I have to downshift into 4th to climb hills on the highway (with no load whatsoever) and even then I'm just barely accelerating. It gets about 440KM to a tank as well.

Any help would be greatly appreciated guys! Thanks!

Bump!

Anything to check guys? Just changed plugs, all looked white, none with any oil deposits/grease on them. Changed PCV valve for the hell of it. No noticeable smoke, exhaust smells like only gas and no oil being burnt.

Hi, I have some possible bad news for you. I had an xterra that exhibited the same problem, oil consumption with no obvious blue smoke.

But the cause was the oil rings, enough oil got by that I had loss but not enough (initially) for blue smoke. Check your tail pipe for excessive soot, it will feel sort of oily.

Your cats will burn it up enough to turn small amounts to soot.

Yeah, thats what I've figured. Oh well, it runs well, just uses oil. For what I've paid ($800) I'll just keep driving it and take the synthetic out and use 5-30 conventional and just keep topping it up.

Mine has done this for most of its life, about 1 quart between oil changes. After 305k miles it still runs great and has never been an issue. Stick with the full synthetic and just keep driving it. BTW I change my oil every 10k miles with synthetic.