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Car guys: best, most dependable engine Nissan has made this century?

Posted on 4/18/26 at 1:34 pm
Posted by High C
viewing the fall....
Member since Nov 2012
60770 posts
Posted on 4/18/26 at 1:34 pm
I’m looking for a cheap old beater, no urgency. I’d love to get an old XTerra or Frontier, but I don’t know much about good/bad Nissan engines.

Any info (except Altima jokes) is appreciated.
Posted by LootieandtheBlowfish
Member since Aug 2021
821 posts
Posted on 4/18/26 at 1:36 pm to
I have an old xterra that is extremely unreliable. But that is probably bc we put an aftermarket supercharger in it.
Posted by Obtuse1
Westside Bodymore Yo
Member since Sep 2016
30283 posts
Posted on 4/18/26 at 1:43 pm to
The answer in to the question in your subject line is simple: VQ35DE, and it isn't close.

The only SUV or truck they came in was older Pathfinders.
Posted by JerryTheKingBawler
South of Memphis
Member since Jan 2023
7949 posts
Posted on 4/18/26 at 1:47 pm to
XTerra? More like XTerrible. Knew one person that owned one and it was trash. Frontiers are pretty reliable. Judging by the Altimas I’ve seen driving around, they could survive a nuclear bomb.
Posted by SwaggerCopter
H TINE HOL IT DINE
Member since Dec 2012
27469 posts
Posted on 4/18/26 at 1:49 pm to
The fact that you basically never see XTerras on the road should tell you a lot.
Posted by Fat and Happy
Baton Rouge
Member since Jan 2013
19870 posts
Posted on 4/18/26 at 1:56 pm to
Nissan is a prime example of what happens to vehicles when technology goes too far.

There used to be 20+ year old Nissans all over the place and last forever. Then they decided to add all the fancy shite and kinda became crap
Posted by NBR_Exile
Houston via Baton Rouge
Member since Jul 2012
2042 posts
Posted on 4/18/26 at 2:02 pm to
quote:

The answer in to the question in your subject line is simple: VQ35DE, and it isn't close.


I had a 1992 Z with a V6 non turbo. That car was perfect. Unfortunately I sold it because of babies.

ETA:
My mind was clouded by too much bourbon last night. My '92 was a Maxima with the V6. Not sure what it was called but it was the top of the line. I spent 32K for it brand new. My Z was a used '95 model, again with the V6 no-turbo, It was painted a very rare purple metallic, I should have kept it but I need a back seat for baby seats and didn't have the space for a third car.
This post was edited on 4/19/26 at 7:24 am
Posted by LSUtigerME
Walker, LA
Member since Oct 2012
3955 posts
Posted on 4/18/26 at 2:02 pm to
quote:

The answer in to the question in your subject line is simple: VQ35DE, and it isn't close.

This.

The VQ is by far the most reliable engine they have made.
Posted by MattA
Member since Nov 2019
2019 posts
Posted on 4/18/26 at 2:05 pm to
Nissan RB series of motors from mid 80’s to 05 or so. Incredibly overbuilt straight 6. Problem is they didn’t send them here
Posted by chryso
Baton Rouge
Member since Jul 2008
13686 posts
Posted on 4/18/26 at 2:06 pm to
I remember the old 240z engines were popular for a long time.
Posted by X123F45
Member since Apr 2015
29752 posts
Posted on 4/18/26 at 2:24 pm to
The Nissan 4.0 is in the running for most reliable engines ever.

The early 2nd gen xterras and frontiers had a strawberry milkshake of death problem due to faulty radiators. By this point, any defective ones are dead.

I ran a 14 to 360k miles before trading it. It had ZERO ISSUES. I did change the valve cover gaskets and all hoses at 200k...and an alternator after it ate a bunch of silt in 3ft of water.

The frontier used the same engine trans and drive line until ...19 I believe.

Mpg is bad. It's a half ton drive line under a mid size SUV.

But... Mobil1 0w40 and it'll basically run forever. It doesn't care about running it hard.

Nissan truck platforms were never the issue. Their cars and jatco CVTs were the problem.

I drive a Nissan 5.6 currently. Tuned. B pipes. Banks 3in exhaust (replaced banks muffler with something very quiet), dirt king mid travel, Bilstein bypass shocks. It gets aired out...daily. 220k miles and counting.
This post was edited on 4/18/26 at 2:31 pm
Posted by X123F45
Member since Apr 2015
29752 posts
Posted on 4/18/26 at 2:26 pm to
quote:

The fact that you basically never see XTerras on the road should tell you a lot.


Where do you live? They haven't been made in 11 years and are pretty common. First gens haven't been made in 22 years and I saw a few this morning on the way to home depot.
Posted by Athis
I AM Charlie Kirk....
Member since Aug 2016
16280 posts
Posted on 4/18/26 at 2:29 pm to
I have a 2005 Infiniti fx35.. Whatever engine that is in there is a workhorse.. It has just about 80,000 miles.. I just got it back from the mechanic because a spark plug and coil went out.. About $340 to replace.. A lot of crap had to be taken off to get to the plugs so about $200 in labor.. A known issue is leaky valve covers and that would be around $1900 to fix. Mechanic said it's not gushing oil so just keep an eye on the oil..

I am thinking about getting rid of it but there are other things that need attention and not sure anyone would want to buy it... AC has a leak.. passenger window won't roll down.. steering wheel controls are not working.. otherwise a solid car... Paint fading.. Of course the dash has cracks..
Posted by Paul Allen
Montauk, NY
Member since Nov 2007
78274 posts
Posted on 4/18/26 at 2:33 pm to
Nissan Maxima was one of the more reliable and successful cars of the 90’s.
Posted by dstone12
Texan
Member since Jan 2007
40094 posts
Posted on 4/18/26 at 2:35 pm to
I had a 2005 Maxima and the engine was great.

Transmission rant that expensive K Fluid tho.

Nissan cannot piece together a good car. Why would they want to tho?
Posted by Dubosed
Gulf Breeze
Member since Nov 2012
7626 posts
Posted on 4/18/26 at 2:43 pm to
99 Nissan Sentra. Was passed on to 4 different people. 580k miles before the motor went.
Posted by c00per
Member since Aug 2012
169 posts
Posted on 4/18/26 at 3:01 pm to
$200 in labor is cheap. It cost that to get a mechanic to open the hood.
Posted by Crawdaddy
Slidell. The jewel of Louisiana
Member since Sep 2006
19226 posts
Posted on 4/18/26 at 3:08 pm to
1990 hardbody 4 cyl
Posted by 3deadtrolls
lafayette
Member since Jan 2014
6879 posts
Posted on 4/18/26 at 3:21 pm to
90s hard body trucks with the 4cyl and 5 speed stick shift are as reliable as reliable gets
This post was edited on 4/18/26 at 3:22 pm
Posted by RoyalAir
Detroit
Member since Dec 2012
7432 posts
Posted on 4/18/26 at 3:55 pm to
The V8 in the first-gen Titan is mfing bulletproof.

Problem is the transmission it's mated to has trouble. If you can get a first gen with a tow package/4x4, do it. I think it has a different transmission, and it's very reliable. You see a lot of early first gens still on the road, and parts are cheap.
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