yup. When people ask about my '04 Maxima I had, I tell them, "absolutely fantastic powertrain, **** everything else." Kinda like Cummins engines in Dodge/Ram trucks.
Greatest/worst 3.5/3.6 24-valve V6 of the late 2000s?
- Thread starter brages
- Start date
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2022
- Messages
- 3,839
I had the 1998 VQ30DE. The engine was too much for the chassis, hey I was young lol I took her up to 137 mph as it was a 5-spd SE. Just junked the car this year, owned it for what 25 years? And it started with a jump pack after sitting for more than 2 years. Funny thing is I was listening to the Bose stereo and thought dang this sounds better than the 3 cars that are still on the roadyup. When people ask about my '04 Maxima I had, I tell them, "absolutely fantastic powertrain, **** everything else." Kinda like Cummins engines in Dodge/Ram trucks.
The 3.5L didn't really replace the 3.3L. It was originally designed as a high output engine for the LH cars in the mid(?) - late 90's, then soldiered on through the late 2000's in Chargers, 300's, pretty much the whole lineup that needed a high performance engine before the Pentastar debuted. The 3.3L and 3.8L twins stayed in production for minivans, things that needed V6 torque, but not necessarily the top end that the 3.5L had.
Eventually the 3.5L got an upsize to 4.0L as a stopgap until the Pentastar VVT came onboard, so Chrysler could match HP/TQ with other manufacturers that had already introduced VVT engines that could make awesome power in a smaller (3.0-3.5L engine).
My '96 Maxima w/ Bose system is the only car I've ever had where I didn't have any desire to swap out speakers, factory amps, etc. I added a subwoofer and replaced the head unit, and the system sounds awesome to this day.I had the 1998 VQ30DE. The engine was too much for the chassis, hey I was young lol I took her up to 137 mph as it was a 5-spd SE. Just junked the car this year, owned it for what 25 years? And it started with a jump pack after sitting for more than 2 years. Funny thing is I was listening to the Bose stereo and thought dang this sounds better than the 3 cars that are still on the road
My 2018 Regal with Bose audio system was a huge downgrade in output/treble/fidelity compared to the '96 Maxima. The Maxima is about to be handed down to teenager duty, I will miss that audio system.
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2022
- Messages
- 3,839
The demise of mine was emissions, and I hate to say it rust. Maybe I didn't care for it as I should have, or, I got duped by the dealer (it may have had body work as a new car). But oh the trips I took in that thing 1998-2002. $0.76/gal regular (I ran it on regular all 25 years) and those nights in Montreal, like something out of a Yacht Rock tune!
My 2008 Xterra - not anywhere near as old - is still pristine with 378,000 miles on it. However it has never seen salt. From the Nissan boards it seems Nissan's in general don't do salt very well.The demise of mine was emissions, and I hate to say it rust. Maybe I didn't care for it as I should have, or, I got duped by the dealer (it may have had body work as a new car). But oh the trips I took in that thing 1998-2002. $0.76/gal regular (I ran it on regular all 25 years) and those nights in Montreal, like something out of a Yacht Rock tune!
I like the 3.6 Pentastar. The 3.6 LFX out of the Camaro is pretty darn good.
I thought these had a bunch of problems? Why I haven't bought a Wrangler - although I would like one.
4WD
$50 site donor 2024
This is one of several threads - but the bottom line is by the time the Wrangler JL came out - lots of the DOHC stuff was sorted …
Think Jiffy Lube can still break the filter housings
…Jeep 3.6 Pentastar
I bought a 2020 Grand Cherokee with the 3.6.....sure i had rather have the 5.7 v-8 but not willing to pay 40k etc....I got a great deal on this one at 31k for a Limited. Ive been a Ford guy most all my life ....had 4 Mustangs v-8's but I just dont like the 2.7 ecoboost in an Explorer.....not a...
bobistheoilguy.com
There were about 14 million Pentastars made, so even a tiny percentage having a problem would mean every shop in the country would see it at some point. They have a rep in the industry as one of the lowest warranty cost (to the manufacturer) engines (not just V6's) during its lifespan. It's been on Wards 10 best list something like 7 times. I see them all the time in Jeep clubs with north of 200k miles on them. Mine has been a real sweetheart. It is really the perfect match with my Jeep and its manual transmission and 4.56 axle/35" tire combo. I just love it.
I had a GM DI 3.6 in a Buick Enclave and it never had an issue while moving that SUV around just fine. I liked it. But didn't have it long enough to really test it.
The V6 in my brother's Palacade (sp?) seems really smooth and quiet. Nice engine.
It's not a 24v, but the old 3.8 in my 2008 Jeep is a pretty bulletproof mill. It runs like new after 182k hard miles. I'm confident I'll push this motor past 300k in that Jeep one day, God willing. It's a real blue collar engine that shows up for work every day. Nothing glamorous, but it gets the job done, every time, with no fuss.
Not sure on the LFX, the one I have driven was stuffed into a Mazda RX-8 and tuned to run E85 exclusively.
Granted it’s a sample size of 3 and one I only owned for about 30k miles (not a fault of the car, we moved to an area that saw WAY more snow and RWD life wasn’t very conducive to that), but we haven’t had any issues even if I went 30k miles on an oil change in our Grand Caravan
My parents 2013 200 with the 3.6 has been rock solid but your experience may vary.I really really like the 3.7L in my 2012 F-150 Ford.
Never used a drop of oil in almost 120000 miles. 302 hp. Excellent gas mileage considering it’s hp. Smooth. Quiet. Easily the strongest point on the vehicle.
A way underrated engine.
Never used a drop of oil in almost 120000 miles. 302 hp. Excellent gas mileage considering it’s hp. Smooth. Quiet. Easily the strongest point on the vehicle.
A way underrated engine.
Without question, the best big V6 is the VQ37VHR. And I'm partial to inline 6'er's from BMW.
This thing was built out as far as it could've been from the factory; 328hp/269tq/revs for days/amazingly robust/responds very well to bolt-on mods.
It's an engine that embarrassed the LS1 and I'm sad that they don't make them like this anymore.
This thing was built out as far as it could've been from the factory; 328hp/269tq/revs for days/amazingly robust/responds very well to bolt-on mods.
It's an engine that embarrassed the LS1 and I'm sad that they don't make them like this anymore.
Last edited:
What is VCM? Does my 2013 Accord have that?
I had a 1998 SE automatic, would have been happier with the 5-speed for sure. Great motor, not insane power but my automatic was right at 3000 pounds, lighter than a modern compact.I had the 1998 VQ30DE. The engine was too much for the chassis, hey I was young lol I took her up to 137 mph as it was a 5-spd SE. Just junked the car this year, owned it for what 25 years? And it started with a jump pack after sitting for more than 2 years. Funny thing is I was listening to the Bose stereo and thought dang this sounds better than the 3 cars that are still on the road
Didn't Toyota have a 3.5 liter in this era? Are they problematic for some reason, or why is nobody mentioning them?
Do you think there is a relationship between the use of cam phasers and timing chain vs. belt, or just coincidence?
I think the Nissan VQ came out with timing chains in 1994 or 1995?
The VG 3.3? UGH. I owned one in a Pathfinder and it was SLOW, NOISY and thirsty to boot! Don't think I ever saw 20 even on the highway and we're talking Texas here. Thankfully gas was cheap in the late 90s, cost me about $15-17 to fill it up with prices below $1 per gallon, those were the days. The one saving grace of that vehicle was that it was great offroad.
The Chrysler 3.3s were reliable but they were also slow and thirsty. Rented a few of them and climbing mountains with 5-7 people on board was tedious.
"Car Wizard" is a whiny . Can't stand him. Not one of my subsciptions and I subscribe to quite a few car channels on the youtubes.