How to quiet down 05 Pathfinder 4.0 V6 chain noise

[VK56VD]

My friend has a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder with the 4.0 V6 engine that is known for commonly having timing chain rattle.

Everything was fine with the vehicle until he forgot to change his engine oil for 10k miles. When he checked his oil level, the dipstick was bone dry and the engine developed tiling chain rattle. He changed the engine oil but it did absolutely nothing.

He wants to drive this car until the engine seizes and wants to quiet down the noise.

Would a thicker oil such as a 50 weight help? How about adding Lucas to that oil? Perhaps a straight SAE 50? I haven’t seen a 50 weight sold in locals tires but have seen 10w-40.

Any tips or ideas to keep this damaged engine on the road with less noise?

Thanks

 

[aquariuscsm]

Maybe some dino 20W50? If he wants thicker, skip the Lucas and just use a thicker oil. I'd take the timing chain cover off first to access any (if any) damage.

 

[HankHill]

Rotella T5 and earplugs.

 

[aquariuscsm]

"Turn up the radio!!" wasn't that a song?

 

[palmerwmd]

Can u post a audio file?

I like thicker grades more than most but masking this noise is not at all helpful

As a long time VQ40 guy it may be in his best interest to have the front cover removed and the timing chains and timing chain tensioners inspected by someone who knows what they are doing.
These are great engines but in some model years the timing chain tensioners and timing chain guides were a weak spot.
He has the most at-risk model year for that.
Some of the 05s never have an issue with it, but a low lube/no lube condition can accelerate wear of those items.
The VQ40de is an interference engine (I own one with 164,000 uses no oil) runs smooth)
so anything that indicates possible issues with timing need to be addressed ASAP.
Before he spends money on a timing chain replacement a compression check may be a good idea too, in case the engine is done due to a no lube condition.

Luckily these are not expensive to find for a use engine install.
I know this is money he will not want to spend but consider the huge sum a body on frame 4x4 SUV with a big V6 commands even well used to replace what he has..

 

[brianl703]

"Turn up the radio!!" wasn't that a song?

 

[aquariuscsm]

YES!! That's it!!

 

[VK56VD]

Can u post a audio file?

As a long time VQ40 guy it may be in his best interest to have the front cover removed and the timing chains and timing chain tensioners inspected by someone who knows what they are doing.
These are great engines but in some model years the timing chain tensioners and timing chain guides were a weak spot.
He has the most at-risk model year for that.
Some of the 05s never have an issue with it, but a low lube/no lube condition can accelerate wear of those items.
The VQ40de is an interference engine (I own one with 164,000 uses no oil) runs smooth)
so anything that indicates possible issues with timing need to be addressed ASAP.
Before he spends money on a timing chain replacement a compression check may be a good idea too, in case the engine is done due to a no lube condition.

Luckily these are not expensive to find for a use engine install.
I know this is money he will not want to spend but consider the huge sum a body on frame 4x4 SUV with a big V6 commands even well used to replace what he has..

Everywhere he has looked , he was told about $3k or more for a replacement.

Can you point us in the right direction?

I see advance auto sells Fram 20w-50. Perhaps give that a try as well.

 

[B1974]

20w50 GTX Conventional or maybe try 10w40 GTX Conventional first.

 

[palmerwmd]

Everywhere he has looked , he was told about $3k or more for a replacement.

Can you point us in the right direction?

I see advance auto sells Fram 20w-50. Perhaps give that a try as well.

remember Frontier and Xterra VQ40s fit as well.
Even the late model ones re interactable if u reuse the accessories.

some examples:

Engine 4.0L VIN A 4th Digit VQ40DE Fits 05-08 FRONTIER 1717864 | eBay

FRONTIER 05-08 4.0L (VIN A, 4th digit, VQ40DE). PATHFINDER 05-07 (4.0L, VIN A, 4th digit, VQ40DE). XTERRA 05-07 (4.0L, VIN A, 4th digit, VQ40DE). PATHFINDER 08 4.0L (VIN A, 4th digit, VQ40DE). You are looking at a used OEM engine pulled from the vehicle shown above.

www.ebay.com

Engine 4.0L VIN A 4th Digit VQ40DE Fits 05-08 FRONTIER 494694 | eBay

FRONTIER 05-08 4.0L (VIN A, 4th digit, VQ40DE). PATHFINDER 05-07 (4.0L, VIN A, 4th digit, VQ40DE). XTERRA 05-07 (4.0L, VIN A, 4th digit, VQ40DE). PATHFINDER 08 4.0L (VIN A, 4th digit, VQ40DE). You are looking at a used engine.

www.ebay.com

This one has only 60k on it:

2018 NISSAN FRONTIER Engine 60K 4.0L VQ40DE Warranty Tested OEM | eBay

Option Type: 4.0L, VIN A (4th digit, VQ40DE). FRONTIER 2018 -2018 4.0L, VIN A (4th digit, VQ40DE). Year: 2018. Model: FRONTIER. Make: NISSAN. Great care is taken to ensure that our used engines are tested, dependable, and made affordable.

www.ebay.com

I also advise him to talk to the Pathfinder experts here, in the R51 subforum (his generation) of thenissanpath.com
(Full disclosure: I am Admin on there, but I am not one of the techs)

R51 Engine, Driveline and Powertrain - The Nissan Path

www.thenissanpath.com

 

[billt460]

Yet another reason to avoid extended oil changes.... And using filters 28 times. Look at how much he saved.

 

[BigShug681]

Yet another reason to avoid extended oil changes.... And using filters 28 times. Look at how much he saved.

so we should all avoid them because this person was incapable of checking his oil level? Guess we should all avoid bathing because someone once drowned in a tub

 

[billt460]

so we should all avoid them because this person was incapable of checking his oil level? Guess we should all avoid bathing because someone once drowned in a tub

I take showers.

 

[Astro14]

He damaged the engine by running it low on oil.

Can’t undo that damage by pouring something in the engine.

The fix is going to be mechanical.

 

[Passport1]

He wants to drive this car until the engine seizes and wants to quiet down the noise.

If he fails to change the oil soon enough next time the above two desired results will happen quickly.

 

[SR5]

My friend has a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder with the 4.0 V6 engine that is known for commonly having timing chain rattle.

He changed the engine oil but it did absolutely nothing.

He ....wants to quiet down the noise.

So what oil is in there now?

In Australia, for the 05 Pathfinder 4.0 V6, we run 5W30 or 10W30 or 10W40

 

[Barkleymut]

so it has a chain rattle, but does it run fairly well? I have a little chain rattle in my Mustang and it has been there over a year. I am going to fix it eventually but some chain rattle does not spell immediate impending doom.

 

[nascarnation]

I always find these stories interesting because my experience as a teenage "gas pump jockey" in the 60s still has me pulling the dipstick on my cars every week and doing a quick look underneath for any fluid leaks. But for some people it takes an expensive repair or replacement to bring the message home.

 

[Boomer]

Palmerwmd hit the nail on the head. Check those chain tensioners and guides. Had a 2007 Nissan Frontier with that engine and the chain guides broke. They were replaced under warranty. Leave it go and you will have SERIOUS problems.

 

[Bud_One]