The VQ35 engine is considered one of the most massive engines from Nissan. This engine has won “Best Engine of the Year” many times. VQ35 replaced the VQ30DE unit, which belonged to the first generation of VQ motors.
The 3.5-liter V6 Nissan VQ35DE engine has been assembled at the factories in Iwaki and Decherd since 2000 and put on many prestigious models of the concern, it is especially common on Infiniti. On cars under the Renault and Samsung brands, this power unit is known under the V4Y index.
In 2000, perhaps the most famous V6 engine of the Japanese concern Nissan debuted. This is a motor with an aluminum cylinder block, a pair of DOHC heads and a timing chain drive. On the intake camshafts of the engine there is a variable valve timing system CVTCS. The features of the motor include a nylon intake manifold, forged connecting rods and crankshaft, molybdenum-coated pistons, as well as processing rubbing parts to a mirror finish. But hydraulic compensators are not provided here and the valves periodically need adjustment.
From 2005 to 2006, the 350Z and Infiniti G35 were modified under the Rev-Up index. This version was distinguished by the presence of CVTCS phase regulators on the intake and exhaust, evil camshafts, a short-stroke intake manifold, a more efficient oil pump, and reinforced connecting rods. Thanks to all this, its maximum power has increased from 280 – 285 hp to 300 – 305 hp. The Samsung SM7 was equipped with a particularly environmentally friendly version of the VQ35DE NEO or Nissan Ecology Oriented.
The VQ30 series also includes internal combustion engines: VQ30DE, VQ30DET, VQ30DD, VQ35DD, VQ35HR and VQ37VHR.
The engine was installed on:
- Infiniti G35 3 (V35), I35 3 (A33), M35 3 (Y50), FX35 1 (S50), JX35 1 (L50), QX60 1 (L50), QX4 1 (R50);
- Nissan 350Z 5 (Z33), Altima 3 (L31), Altima 4 (L32), Altima 5 (L33), Cefiro 4 (J31), Elgrand 1 (E50), Elgrand 2 (E51), Elgrand 3 (E52), Maxima 5 (A33), Maxima 6 (A34), Maxima 7 (A35), Maxima 8 (A36), Murano 1 (Z50), Murano 2 (Z51), Murano 3 (Z52), Presage 2 (U31), Pathfinder 2 (R50), Pathfinder 4 (R52), Quest 3 (V42), Quest 4 (RE52), Skyline 11 (V35), Stagea 2 (M35), Teana 1 (J31), Teana 2 (J32), Teana 3 (L33);
- Renault Espace 4 (J81), Laguna 3 Coupe (D91), Latitude 1 (L70), Vel Satis 1 (B73) as V4Y;
- Samsung SM7 1 (EX2), SM7 2 (L47) as V4Y.
Specifications
| Start of production | 2000 |
| Displacement, cc | 3498 |
| Fuel system | injector |
| Power output, hp | 215 – 305 |
| Torque output, Nm | 315 – 375 |
| Cylinder block | aluminum V6 |
| Block head | aluminum 24v |
| Cylinder bore, mm | 95.5 |
| Piston stroke, mm | 81.4 |
| Compression ratio | 10.3 |
| Hydraulic lifters | no |
| Timing drive | chain |
| Phase regulator | CVTCS |
| Turbocharging | no |
| Recommended engine oil | 5W-30, 5W-40 |
| Engine oil capacity, liter | 4.7 |
| Fuel type | 92 |
| Euro standards | EURO 4/5 |
| Fuel consumption, L/100 km (for Nissan Murano 2017) — city — highway — combined |
13.8 8.0 10.2 |
| Engine lifespan, km | ~400 000 |
| Weight, kg | 180 |
Disadvantages of the VQ35DE engine
- This is a very reliable unit with a high resource, but oil consumption is common. The reason is either coking due to long driving at low speeds, for example, in traffic jams, or scuffing due to crumbs from collapsing catalysts getting into the cylinders.
- The weak point is the cardboard gaskets of the oil channels under the front cover, over time they are squeezed out, the pressure drops, errors appear in the phase regulators. If you do not pay attention for a long time, the lubrication level will drop below a critical level.
- The cooling system here is not thought out and the fifth or sixth cylinders often overheat. This usually causes the valve cover seals to dry out fairly quickly and oil to enter the spark plug wells.
- The weak points also include the unreliable viscous coupling of the cooling fan, and due to the lack of hydraulic compensators, the valves have to be periodically adjusted.
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