# 2004 Nissan Altima - oil is ok in the morning, but it’s gone when warm

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-nissan-altima-oil-is-ok-in-the-morning-but-it-s-gone-when-warm/156343>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** nissan, altima\
**Created:** [January 11, 2020, 9:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-nissan-altima-oil-is-ok-in-the-morning-but-it-s-gone-when-warm/156343 "2020-01-11T21:49:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![johnlight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e47774/32.png) [@johnlight](https://community.cartalk.com/u/johnlight)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2020, 9:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-nissan-altima-oil-is-ok-in-the-morning-but-it-s-gone-when-warm/156343/1 "2020-01-11T21:49:44Z")

</div>

when I check my oil in the morn oil is ok when I check it warm it shows almost none

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2020, 9:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-nissan-altima-oil-is-ok-in-the-morning-but-it-s-gone-when-warm/156343/2 "2020-01-11T21:58:37Z")

</div>

> [@johnlight](#):
>
> when I check my oil in the morn oil is ok

That is when you get the best reading. If the engine is warm you need to wait about 15 minutes for the oil to drain back to the pan to get a accurate reading.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [January 12, 2020, 4:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-nissan-altima-oil-is-ok-in-the-morning-but-it-s-gone-when-warm/156343/3 "2020-01-12T16:01:31Z")

</div>

If the oil drain-back hole(s) on the head(s) are plugged with sludge, it takes a long time for the oil to drain back into the oil pan.

Tester

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\
**Post date:** [January 12, 2020, 4:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-nissan-altima-oil-is-ok-in-the-morning-but-it-s-gone-when-warm/156343/4 "2020-01-12T16:11:03Z")

</div>

Tester is right on the money here. I had the same problem with a Chevy truck several years ago. I pulled the valve covers and broke through the “crust” on both heads. Problem solved. I had to flush the oil pan to remove all the crud.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\
**Post date:** [January 12, 2020, 11:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-nissan-altima-oil-is-ok-in-the-morning-but-it-s-gone-when-warm/156343/5 "2020-01-12T23:44:33Z")

</div>

you check how long after motor is stopped? 1 min? 1 hr?