Life span of a VQ37?

falconfixer · 07-18-2013, 10:58 AM

I know the plugs are supposed to be good for like 100K or something asstronomical. It still might not be a bad idea to change them now. And here's why. I had a 2005 Frontier that was running like a$$ right around 70K. Figured I change out the plugs and give it a good tune up. When I pulled the wire off the #6 plug, the head was full of oil thus covering the top of the plug and wire boot in dino piss.

I googled the find and surprisingly enough, it is quite common among Nissans in general. A lot of hits on Frontiers and Maximas. Sure, some go forever with no issues but it was common enough to be found on various forums. If I recall, the fix was to replace the seal on the intake plenum but it was just short of ripping the top end of the motor apart on the truck. So I cleaned it out, changed the plugs, and ran it to the dealer to trade in. (Another reason why I never buy used).

Long story short, there is a guy on here with 100K and no issues. Not a lot of folks are racking up crazy miles just yet, so who knows what quirks might surface when more of these motors get higher miles.

Zensation · 07-18-2013, 10:52 AM

Ecu reset and k&n filters installed...all I can say is WOW world of difference. No hesitation after a shift at all. Still cant get the tires to break loose but oh well. Im feeling a switch to 4.08 gears anyways. Ill never need to do 170 and i read that 0-60 time is around 4.5 or maybe lower with the swap. On a lighter note i walked into advance and there was a young couple coming out and the girl sayed wow wat is that and the guy ah its just a 350z haha she obv has better taste than he does.

2011 Nismo#91 · 07-18-2013, 10:53 AM

A well maintained engine and not abused engine will last hundreds of thousands of miles. The rubber and plastics will break down before any mechanical failure baring any defects missed at manufacture.
My family drives a lot of highway miles and usually get over 200k miles with only one mechanical issues from the engine on about 7 cars. The one engine failure was in a 79 Camaro where a push rod broke. Everything is standard maintenance and 3k ish oil changes.
This is the main reason why so many manufacturers have been increasing their power train warranties.

Chuck33079 · 07-18-2013, 11:04 AM

Change plugs and filters. Get an oil analysis when you next change the oil. Change brake, diff, tranny and clutch fluids. Get an alignment. That's about everything I can think of when buying a used car.

DEpointfive0 · 07-18-2013, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck33079

Change plugs and filters. Get an oil analysis when you next change the oil. Change brake, diff, tranny and clutch fluids. Get an alignment. That's about everything I can think of when buying a used car.

And power steering fluid IMO

2011 Nismo#91 · 07-18-2013, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck33079

Change plugs and filters. Get an oil analysis when you next change the oil. Change brake, diff, tranny and clutch fluids. Get an alignment. That's about everything I can think of when buying a used car.

Oh that reminds me the VLSD fluid is shot and you have an open diff by now. That fluid breaks down in 30-50K miles and cannot be changed.

Zensation · 07-18-2013, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2011 Nismo#91

Oh that reminds me the VLSD fluid is shot and you have an open diff by now. That fluid breaks down in 30-50K miles and cannot be changed.

wait what? this cant be right. I dont mean to insult any experience you may have, but I can tell pushing it around a turn that its not an open diff...Can anyone else verify this?

DEpointfive0 · 07-18-2013, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zensation

wait what? this cant be right. I dont mean to insult any experience you may have, but I can tell pushing it around a turn that its not an open diff...Can anyone else verify this?

It's a POS diff, it becomes open when the fluid slightly overheats and it wears VERY quickly. The forum consensus is that it becomes open around 60k miles

03g35coupe6mt · 07-18-2013, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEpointfive0

It's a POS diff, it becomes open when the fluid slightly overheats and it wears VERY quickly. The forum consensus is that it becomes open around 60k miles

Good thing i changed my diff fluid at 4k heard the stock stuff turns bad fairly quick Redline in there too .

Zensation · 07-18-2013, 11:07 AM

Yeah i had a 350z and there was always oil in the plugs just bc of an o-ring that happens a ton. Im an engineer at a facility that makes seals and gaskets so thats where my expertise lies if you could call it that. I wasnt so much worried that the engine is worn out but that it may not be producing its peak hp anymore. Ill deal with it i can live with how it feels now haha. Thanks for all the support guys! I love how close knit this forum is.

Chuck33079 · 07-18-2013, 11:16 AM

I knew I missed one.

USMCASA · 07-18-2013, 11:31 AM

115k here, no issues. still fast as **** and still original clutch... don't turn off your syncro-rev and your clutch will last forevaR

NickTurnon · 07-18-2013, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by USMCASA

115k here, no issues. still fast as **** and still original clutch... don't turn off your syncro-rev and your clutch will last forevaR

You hit 115! Thatta boy

Chuck33079 · 07-18-2013, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagle

That might be part of your prob right there. Those tires aren't that great, especially compared to the Yokohama and Bridgestones that come stock with the Z

I would think less grippy tires would make it easier to chirp them shifting into second.

NickTurnon · 07-18-2013, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck33079

I would think less grippy tires would make it easier to chirp them shifting into second.

I switched from 245's that were about 40% tread left. I was chirping into 3rd.

Then switched to 275s and what a world of difference in grip!

07-18-2013, 10:53 AM	#3 (permalink)
2011 Nismo#91 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: NJ Posts: 2,407 Drives: slowly Rep Power: 40570	A well maintained engine and not abused engine will last hundreds of thousands of miles. The rubber and plastics will break down before any mechanical failure baring any defects missed at manufacture. My family drives a lot of highway miles and usually get over 200k miles with only one mechanical issues from the engine on about 7 cars. The one engine failure was in a 79 Camaro where a push rod broke. Everything is standard maintenance and 3k ish oil changes. This is the main reason why so many manufacturers have been increasing their power train warranties. DEpointfive0 likes this.

07-18-2013, 11:04 AM	#4 (permalink)
Chuck33079 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Houston Posts: 12,265 Drives: 2011 370ztt Rep Power: 29539	Change plugs and filters. Get an oil analysis when you next change the oil. Change brake, diff, tranny and clutch fluids. Get an alignment. That's about everything I can think of when buying a used car. __________________ 2011 MB Touring-Sport-6sp-Nav/GTM TT/FI TT TDX/JTran/Kosmic/Eibach/Hotchkis/SPC/CSF/RPS/SoThatsWhereAllMyMoneyWent

07-18-2013, 11:16 AM	#11 (permalink)
Chuck33079 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Houston Posts: 12,265 Drives: 2011 370ztt Rep Power: 29539	I knew I missed one. DEpointfive0 likes this. __________________ 2011 MB Touring-Sport-6sp-Nav/GTM TT/FI TT TDX/JTran/Kosmic/Eibach/Hotchkis/SPC/CSF/RPS/SoThatsWhereAllMyMoneyWent

07-18-2013, 11:31 AM	#12 (permalink)
USMCASA A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: NC Posts: 1,152 Drives: 09 370z CY M6 Rep Power: 18	115k here, no issues. still fast as **** and still original clutch... don't turn off your syncro-rev and your clutch will last forevaR Montez, DEpointfive0 and Magic Bus like this.

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07-18-2013, 10:58 AM	#1 (permalink)
falconfixer Track Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: 10aC Posts: 978 Drives: Taco Rep Power: 77	I know the plugs are supposed to be good for like 100K or something asstronomical. It still might not be a bad idea to change them now. And here's why. I had a 2005 Frontier that was running like a$$ right around 70K. Figured I change out the plugs and give it a good tune up. When I pulled the wire off the #6 plug, the head was full of oil thus covering the top of the plug and wire boot in dino piss. I googled the find and surprisingly enough, it is quite common among Nissans in general. A lot of hits on Frontiers and Maximas. Sure, some go forever with no issues but it was common enough to be found on various forums. If I recall, the fix was to replace the seal on the intake plenum but it was just short of ripping the top end of the motor apart on the truck. So I cleaned it out, changed the plugs, and ran it to the dealer to trade in. (Another reason why I never buy used). Long story short, there is a guy on here with 100K and no issues. Not a lot of folks are racking up crazy miles just yet, so who knows what quirks might surface when more of these motors get higher miles.

07-18-2013, 10:52 AM	#2 (permalink)
Zensation Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Spartanburg, Sc Age: 35 Posts: 483 Drives: 93 rx7 Rep Power: 14	Ecu reset and k&n filters installed...all I can say is WOW world of difference. No hesitation after a shift at all. Still cant get the tires to break loose but oh well. Im feeling a switch to 4.08 gears anyways. Ill never need to do 170 and i read that 0-60 time is around 4.5 or maybe lower with the swap. On a lighter note i walked into advance and there was a young couple coming out and the girl sayed wow wat is that and the guy ah its just a 350z haha she obv has better taste than he does.

07-18-2013, 11:07 AM	#10 (permalink)
Zensation Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Spartanburg, Sc Age: 35 Posts: 483 Drives: 93 rx7 Rep Power: 14	Yeah i had a 350z and there was always oil in the plugs just bc of an o-ring that happens a ton. Im an engineer at a facility that makes seals and gaskets so thats where my expertise lies if you could call it that. I wasnt so much worried that the engine is worn out but that it may not be producing its peak hp anymore. Ill deal with it i can live with how it feels now haha. Thanks for all the support guys! I love how close knit this forum is.

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