my beater maxima is having issues

[slag]

2000 maxima, purchased this past spring, it has run well for us. I got in it this weekend in 28 degree temps and it didn't want to stay running. It's also putting white smoke out the back that dissipates relatively fast but increases as you give it gas. I'm thinking it has a stuck injector or something but also noticed the overflow was empty. It has had antifreeze in it, but I never checked the concentration this summer.

Anyway, the CEL is lit but has been with O2 codes. I'm thinking its either an injector problem, or possibly upper intake manifold gasket/o ring issue. Once it warms up, or this weekend coming up, we will pull it into the garage and run a compression check on it to see what we are at, but its undriveable right now.

 

[pauldun170]

2000 maxima, purchased this past spring, it has run well for us. I got in it this weekend in 28 degree temps and it didn't want to stay running. It's also putting white smoke out the back that... increases as you give it gas. I'm thinking it has a stuck injector or something but also noticed the overflow was empty. It has had antifreeze in it, but I never checked the concentration this summer.

Anyway, the CEL is lit but has been with O2 codes. I'm thinking its either an injector problem, or possibly upper intake manifold gasket/o ring issue. Once it warms up, or this weekend coming up, we will pull it into the garage and run a compression check on it to see what we are at, but its undriveable right now.

Put all the bolded together and it seams to spell head gasket.

 

[dbcooper1]

Also check the level and condition of your oil.

 

[Kris3]

Put all the bolded together and it seams to spell head gasket.

Agree with this, unfortunately.

 

[sontakke]

although that engine is not known to eat head gaskets; rule out simple leaks before jumping to head gasket conclusion

 

[slag]

Also check the level and condition of your oil.

Oil is clear, clean, not milky, not overfull, and no condensation. It was the second thing I checked after the overflow tank.

 

[lsd]

Take a whiff of the smoke. If it has a sweet smell it's coolant h/g leak, if not it may be just condensation. Check your radiator cap for milky substance.
Check all your codes again. Does the car start then die immediately only when cold? Does it run fine when it's warmed up?
If no smell is noticed from the exhaust, nothing under the radiator cap and you have no codes I would look into the engine coolant temp sensor.