Nissan Pathfinder oil sludge issues

[Texas Frontier]

I just recently purchased a new 2025 Nissan Pathfinder. Of course after my purchase, I start looking around in the forums and see several people with sludge in their engines causing timing chain and bearing failures. The ones I am seeing are mainly R52 with the CVT. I am not sure if these people experiencing the sludge are taking their oil changes out too far or is the VQ engine garbage. I am planning on doing shorter 3-4000 mile oil change intervals. Has anyone on here had good or bad experiences with the newer pathfinder’s?

 

[Brian123]

Since you plan on doing 3–4000-mile oil change intervals you have nothing to worry about.

 

[GW.]

Sounds like a good candidate for Valvoline Restore and Protect or other high quality oils able to keep things clean.

 

[nomas]

We just purchased a 2025 Pathfinder and I had them do the initial oil change at 2500 miles ( Unusual for me ) and my normal OCI will be around 4k since most of the driving will be short trips .

 

[thastinger]

I just recently purchased a new 2025 Nissan Pathfinder. Of course after my purchase, I start looking around in the forums and see several people with sludge in their engines causing timing chain and bearing failures. The ones I am seeing are mainly R52 with the CVT. I am not sure if these people experiencing the sludge are taking their oil changes out too far or is the VQ engine garbage. I am planning on doing shorter 3-4000 mile oil change intervals. Has anyone on here had good or bad experiences with the newer pathfinder’s?

The VQ35 is a very solid engine....that I would run a xW-40 oil in. I'm not sure what oil weight Nissan specs in countries other than the US, but if they do spec something different in other countries there is usually a reason they do so.

 

[Kira]

Isn't Nissan the 'King of 3,750'?

 

[nomas]

Isn't Nissan the 'King of 3,750'?

Kind of loses it's effect when you have to explain it ..

 

[Texas Frontier]

Isn't Nissan the 'King of 3,750'?

So you are saying that Nissans are known for needing shorter oil change intervals?

 

[goingplacesanddoingstuff]

I just recently purchased a new 2025 Nissan Pathfinder. Of course after my purchase, I start looking around in the forums and see several people with sludge in their engines causing timing chain and bearing failures. The ones I am seeing are mainly R52 with the CVT. I am not sure if these people experiencing the sludge are taking their oil changes out too far or is the VQ engine garbage. I am planning on doing shorter 3-4000 mile oil change intervals. Has anyone on here had good or bad experiences with the newer pathfinder’s?

I just bought one too! Great deals to be had right now, I couldn’t say no.

The VQ is a great engine, or at least the older port injection ones were. It seems direct injection makes them a bit dirtier, perhaps. I am not worried about it though. My guess is that the issues are with people running 10k intervals.

If it worries you, use known cleaning oils like Valvoline Restore and Protect, AMSOIL Signature Series, or HPL.

 

[TheOilWizard]

The VQ35 is a good, reliable engine. Not sure where you are getting this information from. I would suspect a lot of the complaints are from extended OCI's beyond the manufacture recommendation. Follow 5k/6 month intervals and IMO you'll have nothing to worry about. I had the previous generation Pathfinder and never experienced any engine related problems.

 

[Texas Frontier]

I just bought one too! Great deals to be had right now, I couldn’t say no.

The VQ is a great engine, or at least the older port injection ones were. It seems direct injection makes them a bit dirtier, perhaps. I am not worried about it though. My guess is that the issues are with people running 10k intervals.

If it worries you, use known cleaning oils like Valvoline Restore and Protect, AMSOIL Signature Series, or HPL.

Nissan really made the deal too good to pass up. I know the older port injection 3.5's were great engines.

 

[Kira]

So you are saying that Nissans are known for needing shorter oil change intervals?

What I was alluding to was the number of times BITOGers and owners of Nissans I've met have cited the 3,750 number.
It catches people's attention.
A pal recently bought an Xterra and actually loves the HD OCI of 3,750 as he's a short tripper.
I've never read an OCI, in miles, which wasn't stated in round numbers. That's all. No heavy point, no put-down, no praise...just sayin'.

 

[TheOilWizard]

What I was alluding to was the number of times BITOGers and owners of Nissans I've met have cited the 3,750 number.
It catches people's attention.
A pal recently bought an Xterra and actually loves the HD OCI of 3,750 as he's a short tripper.
I've never read an OCI, in miles, which wasn't stated in round numbers. That's all. No heavy point, no put-down, no praise...just sayin'.

Nissan called for 3,750 and 7,500 depending on service type (severe or normal). For better or worse, they were behind other makes in the iOLM game.

 

[Kira]

For better or worse, they were behind other makes in the iOLM game.

To really stretch the concept of Nissan being "behind" other makes.....Last time Nissan was imperiled -with their 'too plain and dated' styling, etc.-, I was hoping Nissan would seize hold of the practical car segment...or even invent it.
Alas, their cars are being filled with toys we don't need.

 

[Johnny248]

The VQ35 is a very solid engine....that I would run a xW-40 oil in. I'm not sure what oil weight Nissan specs in countries other than the US, but if they do spec something different in other countries there is usually a reason they do so.

Like the Nissan Ester oil they recommended for the 370z? I don't even know if that is a thing anymore.

 

[Hohn]

The VQ35 is a very solid engine....that I would run a xW-40 oil in. I'm not sure what oil weight Nissan specs in countries other than the US, but if they do spec something different in other countries there is usually a reason they do so.

Sort of understatement The VQ was a permanent fixture on "10 best engines" lists and such for seemingly half a lifetime. Unless they somehow cheapened it our ruined it, the VQ is a legend.

I'd run a 0w-40 if you have a lot of cold starts. Something thicker if you don't.

 

[Texas Frontier]

Sort of understatement The VQ was a permanent fixture on "10 best engines" lists and such for seemingly half a lifetime. Unless they somehow cheapened it our ruined it, the VQ is a legend.

I'd run a 0w-40 if you have a lot of cold starts. Something thicker if you don't.

The thicker oil will be better for the timing chains and or oil sludging? I am all for thicker oil, but I only have 138 miles on this vehicle and want to keep the warranty intact.

 

[Patman]

Nissan called for 3,750 and 7,500 depending on service type (severe or normal). For better or worse, they were behind other makes in the iOLM game.

I have never understood the point of doing 3,750 mile oil change intervals. As if 4000 is too much?? I get it that in countries using metric that is 6,000 km but in the USA it might as well be 4,000 miles to make it easier to remember. Or even easier, 5000 to be honest.

 

[TheOilWizard]

I have never understood the point of doing 3,750 mile oil change intervals. As if 4000 is too much?? I get it that in countries using metric that is 6,000 km but in the USA it might as well be 4,000 miles to make it easier to remember. Or even easier, 5000 to be honest.

It’s just half of the 7,500 normal interval … but yeah, it seems oddly specific, doesn’t it? I always ended up going 4-5k in my Nissans regardless.

 

[thastinger]

Nissan really made the deal too good to pass up. I know the older port injection 3.5's were great engines.

So we have a 2014 port injected VQ56 in the fleet that has been absolutely rock solid for its 176K life thus far...that said, I would never buy a GDI version.