davidaltmejd.com is a participant in the Amazon Associate program, we may earn a small commission from the qualifying purchases of our recommended links. Learn more.

4 Common Nissan 3.5 V6 Engine Problems & Most Possible Solutions

It’s no more new to everyone that Nissan engines are one of the very best amongst automobiles.

They produce reliable, cheap, and long-lasting engines to serve the car very well.

One of the best engines produced by Nissan is the Nissan 3.5 V6 engine, it has been used for so many years and people are happy with the performance.

Although the engine has some downsides, the Nissan 3.5 V6 engine problems are what can be solved easily by expert mechanics.

The reliability and durability of the engine have made it to be used by some other car brands such as SUV, Infiniti, and Pathfinders.

There is a saying that every good side will probably also have a bad side, this applies to the V6 engine too, the engine has some downside which can probably frustrate the car owner.

In this article, we will be discussing the common Nissan V6 Engine Problems and the possible solutions.

Contents

Nissan 3.5 V6 Engine Specs

Nissan 3.5 engine has some specifications that differentiate it from other engines and is probably responsible for its outstanding performance. Some of the specifications are listed below

  • Horsepower rating: 220-310HP
  • Compression ratio: 10.3
  • Torque rating: 320-375NM
  • Engine size is 3499cm
  • 6 cylinders in total
  • 4 valves in each cylinder
  • 6cm cylinder diameter
  • Uses A1-92 fuel type
  • Works with a time chain drive

How Long Does The Nissan 3.5 Engine Last?

Generally, the Nissan V6 engine is very durable and will not give you any problem if used properly.

The history of the durability of the Nissan engine is very good.

The Nissan engine will last you up to about 200,000 to 250,000 miles if used properly.

What it means to use it properly is to constantly service the engine, top up the engine oil when it’s down, refill the carburetor water, and buy the necessary fuel type for the engine.

By doing all these, the engine will not give you any problem.

To make your engine last up to 200,000 miles when you notice your car has traveled we’ll above 100,000 miles, replace the engine coolant and the spark plug.

These are all the things that will make your engine last.

3.5L V6 Nissan VQ35DE Engine Following Vehicle List With Year

Due to the reliability and durability of the vq35de engine, it has earned the interest of many other car brands.

The engine is being used in many other vehicles. Below are the vehicles that use the V6 Nissan VQ35DE engine.

  • 2001 Nissan Pathfinder
  • 2013 Nissan Pathfinder
  • 2001 Infiniti QX4
  • 2002 Infiniti I35
  • 2002 Nissan Altima
  • 2002 Nissan Maxima
  • 2003 Nissan 350Z
  • 2003 Infiniti G35
  • 2003 Infiniti G35 Sedan
  • 2003 Infiniti FX35
  • 2003 Nissan Murano
  • 2004 Nissan Quest
  • 2006 Infiniti M35:
  • 2013  Infiniti JX35
  • 2014 Infiniti QX60
  • Infiniti QX60
  • Nissan Altima
  • Nissan Maxima
  • Nissan Murano Z50
  • Nissan Pathfinder
  • Nissan Quest

4 Nissan 3.5 V6 Engine Problems & Quick Solutions

The V6 engine is very reliable but after a long year of use, the engine may break down and have some issues.

Although all engines have issues there are some issues that are common to the V6 engine.

These problems do not occur immediately, they only occur after some years of use.

We will be talking about the common problems affecting the V6 engine and the possible solutions.

1: Oil leak

This is one of the common problems of the V6 engine, when the engine is getting old or has undergone a series of repairs, it is liable to suffer from engine oil leak problems.

When you have used your engine for a longer period of time, it may develop some issues that will require you to visit the mechanic for a repair, during this repair, the mechanic will touch some parts of the engine and probably forget to tighten it back, this may cause an oil leak.

Another possible cause of the oil leak is when you drive your car over a long distance and the engine and the internal combustion becomes hot, when this happens the lubrication level of the oil decreases and the oil begins to leak.

As this might look like a minor problem, it needs to be solved as early as possible or it can lead to a major problem by reducing the engine performance.

Possible solution

To solve the issue of the oil leaks, you need to know the major cause of the problem. When the cause of the problem is detected, then the solution will be easy. The possible solutions include

  • Use a more viscous oil
  • Probably replace the engine if it’s old
  • Buy a new VCGs

2: High oil consumption

High oil consumption is not too good for the engine, although a mechanic might say an engine consuming oil at an increased rate is normal at times because of the engine’s high performance.

When the consumption rate is higher, this is dangerous to the engine life and the problem needs to be solved immediately to avoid further damage.

Although the issue of high oil consumption can affect any engine, the problem of high oil consumption is more of a general engine problem than a common problem. Bad weather can also result in an engine consuming too much oil.

Possible solution

If your engine suffers from high engine oil consumption, there are a number of possible solutions

  • Do not idle for a long time: Idling your engine for a long period of time.
  • When you’re traveling over a short distance, the vq35de consumes more oil, so avoid idling your engine for too long.
  • Use quality oil: When you notice your engine suffers from high engine oil consumption, you should change your oil dealer and get a more viscous oil.

3: Engine Overheating

Engine overheating occurs when oil drops on the spark plug. The only reason why the oil drops on the spark plug is because the gasket valve closes early. When this happens the engine overheats.

Overhearing of the engine can also happen when you travel over a long distance without enough water in your carburetor.

When there is not enough water in your carburetor, the engine overworks and sucks engine oil at a higher rate, this can result in overheating.

Possible solution

  • Fix your cooling system: When the cooling system is faulty, it won’t be able to cool the engine down when overheating occurs so make sure your cooking system is in perfect condition
  • Refill carburetor when it’s down: Top up the carburetor eater when it’s down to avoid overheating
  • Repair your expansion tank: Make sure you repair the expansion tank when it’s faulty, this can also save you from engine overheating

4: Timing chain failure

When the engine timing chain fails, you will notice a rattling noise from the engine, the noise becomes louder if it’s not attended to immediately and it can lead to reduced efficiency of the engine.

Possible solution

The solution to the timing engine failure include

  • Repair the faulty chain system: when you notice this problem, repair the faulty part of the chain system and the engine will work perfectly again.
  • Replace the whole system: The best option is to get a new chain system when the problem occurs, this will save you from further expenses.

Nissan 3.5L V6 Service Process & Cost

All engines need to be serviced regularly to avoid unwanted problems from the engine. If you take care of your engine very well, it will serve you better too.

Servicing your engine include replacing the worn-out part of the engine, refilling the carburetor water when it’s down, topping up the oil, and general cleaning of the engine.

Doing all these will make the engine last long, the service cost ranges from $300-600$.

Tuning of Nissan 3.5L V6 Engine

 Nissan VQ35DE 3.5L V6 Engine Tuning is very common nowadays. People who travel in their cars frequently want more power and efficiency from their car engines.

Tuning the V6 engine will increase the engine’s overall performance and boost its power.

There are different modes of tuning that can be sine to the vq35de engine, exhaust modification can be done, plenum, bolt, intake and also increase the HP output.

Tuning the v6 engine does not affect the engine negatively, there has not been any form of complaint from car owners who have in one way or the other tuned their car engine.

Although there might be slight complications as a result of tuning, it’s not enough to damage the engine.

Frequently Asked Questions

 Are V6 Engines Good?

 Yes, V6 engines are good. V6 engines are Nissan engines that are designed with 6 cylinders, each of the 6 cylinders has its valve. As a result of the 6 cylinders, your car has more power and efficiency.

The 6 cylinders also mean the car has more pistons which in turn help the engine to convert most of the fuel to usable energy, The usable energy increases the overall performance of the engine.

Although the V6 engine also has its bad side, it emits a lot of exhaust into the atmosphere and also has a very bad gas mileage rate.

Are V6 engines fast?

V6 engines travel very fast and they are reliable. Anybody that owns a car that was developed with a V6 engine will testify to the great speed of the engine, as you press the accelerator, the car responds quickly and moves very fast.

Even if your V6 engine does not move fast, you can tune the engine to possess great power which will boost the car’s speed.

People that travel over a long distance do this a lot, they need the car to move very fast so they need to tune the car to their desire, but naturally V6 engines are fast and you can count on them if you need an engine to move at high speed.

How long will my V6 Nissan VQ35DE engine last?

 VQ35DE is very reliable, so the reliability status makes them last for a long period of time.

If you use your V6 engine properly, it won’t give you any problem and it will easily last you for about 200,000-250,000 miles.

Vq35de won’t give you any problem until it reaches about 100,000+ miles, these problems are minor problems that if you notice early, can be solved easily.

If you want your V6 engine to last very well, service it regularly, do not idle for too long and repair any worn-out part immediately.

Does the V6 engine consume a lot of fuel?

The V6 engine consumes fuel moderately, you do not have to spend much on fuel if you use the V6 engine.

The engine consumes about 9-11 liters of fuel per 100km.

This is very moderate compared to other engines. Some engines consume around 15 liters per 100km.

The reduced fuel consumption is part of the reason people go for the V6 engine.

What are the problems associated with the VQ35DE engine?

It has been said that the VQ35DE engine is very reliable and durable, but after some years of use, the engine may develop some problems, these problems usually occur after 100,000 miles.

The problems associated with Vq35de engines include high oil consumption, overheating, and oil leakage.

Final Words

That’s all that is needed to be known about the Nissan 3.5 V6 Engine Problems, these problems can be dealt with easily if detected very early.

Tell an expert about your engine problem and get it solved. If you enjoy this content, please leave a comment and share it with your friends and family if you have any questions, please leave a comment too, we will gladly reply to you.