Need help. 2009 Titan

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bigcountry78

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I need some help guys. I’m looking at a 2009 Nissan Titan, 126k miles. 5.6 liter engine. My father in law bought it a month or so ago to flip, and I was going to sign the papers on Monday. But today it blew a huge blue cloud on startup. So now I’m concerned. I’ve read that it could be anything from a clogged pcv valve to piston sleeve scarring from pieces of the catalytic converters being sucked in. Apparently the manifolds on these trucks are known to crack, and when that happens the uneven exhaust pressure can suck parts of the converters back into the engine. Should I take a gamble on this thing? Or run like my hair is on fire? The thing is crazy clean otherwise. I need help. Hopefully someone here has some experience with these trucks.

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Midnightmoon

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Does it look like this?

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Midnightmoon

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If the price is right, I wouldn't be afraid of it. If it is the beginning of the PCV/sludge issue as in the video, it appears to be a fairly minor fix if it gets to that point.
 

bigcountry78

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If the price is right, I wouldn't be afraid of it. If it is the beginning of the PCV/sludge issue as in the video, it appears to be a fairly minor fix if it gets to that point.
I was going to give 12k for it. But I really don’t like the idea of having to fix a truck that I’m making payments on. If it’s pcv valve and gummed up valve covers, that’s fine. I can do that myself. But if it’s more serious, that creates a problem.
 

Midnightmoon

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$12K.......? Oh heck no! Not for that price. I was thinking that you were getting it much cheaper than that from your father-in-law.
 

RecklessWOT

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Honestly, I could not recommend anyone buy a newer Nissan anything. They have really let their quality slide over the years. Nissan had problems with oil consumption in the early 2000s, not sure if they had it straightened out by then, but that 5.6 was a newer engine designed during that time. Overall the ones from that time period weren't as bad as the garbage from more recently, but I still sure as hell wouldn't pay 12 grand for that! Around here that would be a $7-8k truck, and even for that price I personally probably wouldn't unless it was immaculate.

And that's not me being a biased GM owner, over half the cars in my driveway are Japanese. That is simply advice from someone who actually appreciates cars of all types but unfortunately has spent enough time around/working on Nissans over the years to watch the quality decline much more than the other of the Japanese big 3. I also worked the parts dept at a Nissan dealer for about a year in '15-'16 and witnessed all the problems firsthand, ordering transmissions and engines for practically brand new cars left and right.
 

bigcountry78

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Honestly, I could not recommend anyone buy a newer Nissan anything. They have really let their quality slide over the years. Nissan had problems with oil consumption in the early 2000s, not sure if they had it straightened out by then, but that 5.6 was a newer engine designed during that time. Overall the ones from that time period weren't as bad as the garbage from more recently, but I still sure as hell wouldn't pay 12 grand for that! Around here that would be a $7-8k truck, and even for that price I personally probably wouldn't unless it was immaculate.

And that's not me being a biased GM owner, over half the cars in my driveway are Japanese. That is simply advice from someone who actually appreciates cars of all types but unfortunately has spent enough time around/working on Nissans over the years to watch the quality decline much more than the other of the Japanese big 3. I also worked the parts dept at a Nissan dealer for about a year in '15-'16 and witnessed all the problems firsthand, ordering transmissions and engines for practically brand new cars left and right.
I was thinking 12k wasn’t too bad. Around here most 4x4 crew cab full size trucks are 18k +, and that’s with 100k miles or more. They’re very popular here in NC. And believe me, I’ve been looking. I never admitted to being right all the time though.
 

bigcountry78

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$12K.......? Oh heck no! Not for that price. I was thinking that you were getting it much cheaper than that from your father-in-law.
Well that’s what he has in it. He’s just breaking even. He’s a business guy, NOT truck guy lol.
 

bucket

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I was going to keep my 2 cents out of it because I don't care for those trucks and figured "for 6-8K, how bad could it possibly be? But, ain't no way I'd recommend anyone spend 12k on it.

Imho, save yourself the trouble and hopefully your father in law can find someone to buy it so he can make a little money.
 

Frankenchevy

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The earlier Titans had not so great reviews through jd power or consumer reports, iirc. They also get less than stellar fuel economy.

I’d keep looking. Maybe a Tundra or Silverado will come up for sale. The tundras aren’t great on fuel either, but most people who own them really like them.
 

bucket

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The earlier Titans had not so great reviews through jd power or consumer reports, iirc. They also get less than stellar fuel economy.

I’d keep looking. Maybe a Tundra or Silverado will come up for sale. The tundras aren’t great on fuel either, but most people who own them really like them.

Everyone that I know with a Tundra has liked them too. However, I absolutely cannot stand the fact that the front and rear door handles don't match, lol.
 

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