Not every car fanatic really gets into the weeds about car engine families, and that is understandable. After all, if you like the 2020 Nissan 370Z Coupe, you’ll know it has a 3.7-liter V6 naturally aspirated engine, and maybe the horsepower and torque too. But if you find out that the same basic engine is also used in the massive Nissan Pathfinder SUV, and that this engine has been around for over 30 years, and has been on the list of 10 best engines more times than any other engine, you may want to know a bit more about it.
The Nissan VQ engine family is the one we are talking about here. It was launched way back in 1994 in the middle of Bill Clinton’s first term, and versions of it are still used in production cars today. The VQ engine is the catchall name for a family of V6 engines, ranging in size from 2.0-liter to 4.0-liter. It is probably the most versatile engine ever built, but definitely one of, if not the most, long-lasting engines ever made.
Proven Reliability Spanning Three Decades
The Nissan VQ engine is acknowledged as one of the most durable and consistently reliable V6 family of engines of the past three decades. The VQ engine was introduced in the mid-nineties and first used in the US soon after. It has powered everything from sports coupes and luxury sedans to SUVs and trucks. While requiring only routine maintenance, vehicles with VQ engines often comfortably exceed 200,000 miles, sometimes way more than that.
Keeping Older Cars Going Strong
The VQ35DE is possibly the most famous of the VQ engines, powering models such as the Nissan Maxima, Murano, 350Z, and the Infiniti G35 and FX35. It consistently ranks among the highest mileage engines in owner surveys, often exceeding 250,000 miles. Taxi operators in the US and other countries have long shown a preference for VQ-powered Maximas because of their ability to handle extreme heat and long periods of idling, conditions that will often cause other engines to develop problems. You will even find early Infiniti G35 with the same engine on the road with over 200,000 miles on the clock, with the engines often lasting longer than the transmission and suspension.
Allowing Newer Models To Hang In There
Later versions of the VQ, such as the 35HR and 37VHR, continued this tradition of reliability. Nissan updated the engines, with improved oiling systems and higher redlines. It also introduced variable valve event and lift (VVEL) without compromising reliability. The VQ37VHR, used in the Nissan 370Z and the Infiniti G37 and Q50, is renowned for continuous high-performance driving without overheating or mechanical failures. These engines are so bullet-proof that they can handle major super- or turbocharging, as well as other modifications.
It is not only high-performance vehicles that use the VQ engines. The VQ40DE is used extensively in large SUVs and trucks, with Nissan Frontier owners frequently reporting 300,000-mile engines still running smoothly with their original internals. This is made possible by the ample low-end torque, simple design, and strong bottom end, giving it the ability to drive under heavy load, tow long distances, and handle the stresses of extreme off-roading.
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Durable Design That’s Stood The Test Of Time
When the VQ was introduced in the mid-’90s, it was the result of years of research and development to ensure longevity. The VQ engines used a blend of lightweight materials, extremely strong internal components, and a proven engine architecture from earlier engines, modified to tolerate high mileage, extreme temperature, and demanding driving conditions across a variety of uses.
The VQ’s brilliant design achieved two seemingly contradictory attributes: extreme durability and class-leading refinement. This allowed the VQ series to be used successfully in everything from sports coupes to luxury sedans, and rugged SUVs and trucks.
Lightweight But Strong
The mainstay of the VQ design is the aluminum-alloy engine block and cylinder heads. These reduce weight and improve the balance of the vehicle, while dissipating heat more efficiently than iron blocks more commonly used. But aluminum-ally on its own is not enough for durability, so Nissan reinforced critical areas, for example, using cast-in iron cylinder liners. Coolant flow is optimized to prevent hot spots, preventing the major issues of warping and overheating.
The timing chain system used in the VQ is key to its durability. Unlike timing belts that wear out, the VQ’s chains are good for the life of the engine. It uses an efficient tensioning system, and it is lubricated by a high-flow oil pump. Nissan VQ chains often last hundreds of thousands of miles without needing any adjustment. The forged-steel crankshaft, strong connecting rods, and lightweight but strong pistons all allow the VQ engines to handle high compression and high RPM and super- or turbocharging without failing.
Oil Management
Oil management is widely seen as one of the reasons VQ engines are so durable. They benefit from wide lubrication channels, reliable oil pumps, and superior baffling in the oil pan for a steady supply of oil. Maintaining stable oil pressure during high RPM is especially critical in performance models like the 350Z and 370Z.
Later versions of the VQ engines, like the VQ35HR and VQ37VHR, were given improved crankcase ventilation, dual intakes, and oil galleries revised for better reliability. Backing all this up are strong cooling systems, robust ignition parts, and an engine layout optimized for easy routine maintenance.
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Maximum Versatility For All Walks Of Life
The Nissan VQ engine family ranks among the most versatile engine platforms ever created, V6 or anything else. It powered almost the whole range of vehicle types for 30 years. The VQ’s ability to optimally power vehicles with such a wide range of power demands remains unmatched. The VQ has spent decades driving generations of sports coupes, luxury sedans, urban family SUVs and large off-road SUVs, and rugged trucks. You will find VQ engines, standard or heavily modified, on racetracks, professional drifting events, on farms, and providing the daily grunt on construction sites.
The VQ engine was designed from the beginning to be modular and scalable. Throughout the decades, this V6 came in 2.0-liter to 4.0-liter, with the most common being the VQ30, 35, 37, and 40. This gave Nissan the flexibility to tailor the engine for different vehicle sizes and purposes. The smaller engines were ideal for efficient sedans like the Maxima and Infiniti I30. The VQ35DE was the most versatile, powering the hot Z-cars and crossovers. The VQ40DE showed its grunt in body-on-frame trucks like the Frontier and Xterra, an engine that could handle heavy towing and real off-roading.
Performance Cars And Modified Engines
Nissan has had a performance element in its lineup since the 240Z in 1969. The VQ took that to the next level with VQ35DE, followed by the VQ35HR and VQ37VHR. These engines helped to define a whole era of fast Nissan-engined cars, including the 350Z, 370Z, G35, and G37. The VQ37VHR demonstrated the sophistication of this engine by incorporating Nissan’s VVEL that allowed seamless transition between low rev efficiency and high-speed power. The same engine could power your daily drive, yet still give you track-ready power.
Nissan VQ engines are popular among those who love to upgrade stock engines. The engines are great for naturally-aspirated upgrades, forced induction, or motorsport tuning. They are found in drift cars, endurance racing, and very big boost turbocharging.
Luxury Saloons And Beyond
The VQ’s versatility takes it beyond pure performance vehicles. Its smoothness and refined nature made it ideal for more luxury cars like the Infiniti sedans of a few years back. The Nissan VQ engine’s versatility drove its enduring legacy. The ability to successfully use the same basic powerplant in such a wide array of vehicles, and the ability to tune them to provide reliable high performance or rugged strength, will ultimately highlight this powerplant’s role in automotive history.
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Awards And Accolades
Nissan’s VQ engines have won numerous industry awards, while vehicles powered by standard or modified VQ engines have won many championships over decades and in different classes of racing, including grueling cross-country endurance rallies.
Ward’s 10 Best Engine List
The Nissan VQ engine series holds the record for the most appearances on the annual Ward’s 10 Best Engines list. It has won the award a total of 16 times, and is the only engine to be on the list for 14 consecutive years, from the award’s inception in 1995 until 2008. The VQ engine family is widely recognized for its robust design, smooth power delivery, and reliability, which contributed to its unparalleled success in the automotive industry awards
Racing And Rallying
VQ powered cars have won numerous GT championships and endurance races, and won many stages and class wins in major events such as the Dakar Rally and FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies. The engine has also played a leading role in the very competitive Japanese Grand Touring Championship.
Sources: Nissan, WardsAuto