Higher Milage Nissans...

[JMyerz]

I found what seems to be a great deal on a nice higher milage nissan.

Link: http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/car/303978916.html

Assuming it was well taken care of, are these motors pretty tough and do they last a long time??

Thanks!!
Justin

 

[articulate]

Here's a thread that goes back a ways, but it was about that 3.3 Liter V6.
Positive comments.

 

[mike h]

People rave about the longevity of those 3.3 V6 motors. They have evolved from the V6 used in the 300zx. This was on a recent thread at NPORA:


<<theres a small army of fanatics to back that up, LOL didnt they win some best motor award for like 10 years in a row?>>

11 years in 2006. From Wards Engine Awards 2006

"Taking its unrivaled eleventh consecutive 10 Best Engines trophy is Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.'s 3.5L DOHC V-6. The only engine to win an award every year since the program's inception, Nissan engineers improve the ever-fabulous "VQ" V-6 with new levels of power and torque for 2005."

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2004/12/21/308485.html


http://npora.ipbhost.com//index.php?showtopic=13674

 

[DesertBound]

Mike, those quotes were in reference to the 3.5L VQ-series engine, which is different than the 3.3L. The VQ is truly a great motor, which is why Nissan is now sticking it in darn near every car that they make.

I would love to have one of those in my Xterra instead of the 3.3 lump it came with. The extra power would really be nice, and the fuel consumption seems to be on-par with the 3.3. :smiley_drive: Having said that, I've got 90K miles on my 3.3, and no engine issues. The consensus seems to be that these are long-lived motors.

My auto tranny, on the other hand, did just frag, requiring replacement. That was disappointing.

 

[vengeful]

That Frontier looks like a very good deal. The 5-speed manual transmissions in them are fantastic (unlike the automatic grindbox that I unfortunately am stuck with...until I can get my hands on a manual from a 90-95 Pathfinder, that is :jumping: ).

The VG33E, the motor in the 1st generation (D22) Frontiers, (WD22) Xterras and early 2nd generation (pre-2001 R50) Pathfinders, and the later Quest and Mercury Villager minivans, is an incredible motor. It may not be the most efficient, it may not make the most power or torque, and it is probably heavy enough to be made out of dark matter...However, on the other end of the spectrum, it is one of the strongest, and most reliable motors Nissan has ever built. It is derived from the VG30 motor used in almost every 300ZX, early Maxima, early Pathfinder and Hardbody pickup, and the earlier Quest and Mercury Villager minivans.

I have read reports of VG30 motors lasting over 500,000 miles with no major issues. That Frontier looks very well maintained. I highly doubt you'd have any major issues with it.

I've got just under 130,000 miles on my `99 Pathfinder (same motor), and I haven't had any problems with it that weren't my own darn fault. :Mechanic:

(Wouldn't it make a little more sense to have a Truck on that smiley instead of an S4? LOL)

 

[bigreen505]

I have read reports of VG30 motors lasting over 500,000 miles with no major issues.

That is slightly surprising, but only slightly. I guessed they were good for about 400,000, but that was really just a guess. I have 325,000 on my Pathfinder and the closest thing I have come to major engine problems was the manifold stud problem and a couple bad alternators and starters (stick with Nissan and save yourself the hassle). I also had a bad transmission bearing that had to be replaced, but that was a TSB. Oh, also had a brake caliper that was seized from the factory and at about 300,000 I had to replace all the suspension bushings. I am donating the truck to the organization I coach sailing with. The main reason I replaced it is I need more room.

If you read my mod thread on it you can see a pretty indepth analysis on what worked and what didn't.

Bill