VQ37VHR 2008 10 best Engine of the Year

AK370Z · 10-02-2008, 01:41 AM

http://wardsauto.com/reports/2008/te...ssan_3-7l_v-6/

Quote:

By now, Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.’s all-conquering VQ V-6 architecture needs no introduction.

The 3.7L variant’s 2008 10 Best Engines award marks the 14th consecutive win for the VQ, and it is the only engine to win every year of the competition’s history.

The VQ “brand” was established in 1995 on the pillars of landmark refinement and ultra-low noise, vibration and harshness levels.

Like many rivals, however, Nissan has not resisted the temptation to increase displacement, and over the years it grew into three distinct iterations: the original and oh-so-smooth 3.0L, the 3.5L introduced in 2002 (and still powering the majority of models from Nissan and its premium Infiniti brand) and the new 3.7L DOHC V-6 (VQ37VHR), which wins the 10 Best Engines award for 2008 and for now is available exclusively in the ’08 Infiniti G37 Coupe.

In the quest for punchier power and torque numbers, the move to 3.5L was, to our senses, a tradeoff that peeled back on the VQ’s signature refinement. But when the company’s engineers unleashed the HR (High Rev) generation last year, many of the design changes – a structural ladder frame in the block, larger crank journals and asymmetric piston skirts, to name a few – had the tertiary effect of improving NVH while enabling higher, more satisfying engine speeds.

Now the stroked 3.7L variant of the VQ’s HR design enjoys the same, only moreso. Our favorite: the sweet sting of 330 hp, a power improvement of almost 10% compared with the VQ35HR.

A little perspective helps, too. The latest VQ V-6’s 330 hp is 30 horses stronger than Ford Motor Co.’s standard 4.6L Mustang V-8.

A prime goal was permitting engine speeds even higher than the 3.5L HR variant. Here, Nissan’s octane-crazed engineers didn’t mess around. The hair-raising new redline of 7,500 rpm is effortlessly and smartly accessed with almost no adverse auditory or tactile sensations.

Nissan says about 35% of the parts are unique to the 3.7L VQ, and the major new addition is the electronically adjusted variable valve lift (Variable Valve Event and Lift), imparting a “throttleless” effect not unlike BMW AG’s Valvetronic, which also markedly reduces pumping losses by essentially throttling the engine with the intake valves.

Even with the efficiency claims for VVEL, we believe fuel economy, at 17 mpg (13.8 L/100 km) in the city and 26 mpg (9 L/100 km) on the highway is hardly encouraging, and is one of our few complaints about the 3.7L DOHC V-6.

But this latest 3.7L variant of Nissan’s special VQ V-6 may be the best in 14 years and is a magnificently focused engineering effort.

FABG37 · 11-21-2008, 04:04 AM

whats the other engines on the list?

Slidefox · 11-21-2008, 09:28 AM

Very Nice!!

I know of a few companies that are about to start a "Built Motor" Program for the VQ37VHR!!

AK370Z · 11-21-2008, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FABG37

whats the other engines on the list?

2008 Ward’s 10 Best Engines

IVGotaBDreamN · 01-07-2009, 08:41 AM

So ur sayin that it's actually a good motor that will last? Unlike it's predecessor, 3.5L? lol I sure hope so...

drmike · 01-07-2009, 08:47 AM

^^^ harsh for a first post

Ryan@IP · 01-07-2009, 10:11 AM

Somewhat OT, but the VQ37 was not on 2009's list of best engines..

2009 Ward's 10 Best Engines

Nismo 370z · 01-07-2009, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IVGotaBDreamN

So ur sayin that it's actually a good motor that will last? Unlike it's predecessor, 3.5L? lol I sure hope so...

Ouch. The VQ35DE/HR are designed to last 220,000 miles in stock form. I dont know where ur getting ur info from. Its a VQ not a ford motor...

Lug · 01-07-2009, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nismo 370z

Ouch. The VQ35DE/HR are designed to last 220,000 miles in stock form. I dont know where ur getting ur info from. Its a VQ not a ford motor...

Being on the Ward's top ten list the previous 14 years obviously means nothing.

Nismo 370z · 01-08-2009, 01:32 PM

^ +1

IVGotaBDreamN · 01-08-2009, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drmike

^^^ harsh for a first post

Well my cousin had a g35 a few years back, Nissan had to buy his car back from him (ordered to in court) because he had 3 brand new motors and they all burnt oil... He said he would be putting about a quart a week in them when they got bad, no spots on his driveway. Him nor the Nissan dealership knew why this was happening. He's in his thirties, didn't race the car period, and doesn't speed much if at all. He said he's driven it hard sometimes but isn't that what it's supposed to be able to handle? The dealer did all the work on it... I dunno but ever since he told me that I've thought badly about the 3.5

Excalibur · 01-08-2009, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IVGotaBDreamN

So ur sayin that it's actually a good motor that will last? Unlike it's predecessor, 3.5L? lol I sure hope so...

What were the issues with that one?

RDGR12 · 01-09-2009, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IVGotaBDreamN

Well my cousin had a g35 a few years back, Nissan had to buy his car back from him (ordered to in court) because he had 3 brand new motors and they all burnt oil... He said he would be putting about a quart a week in them when they got bad, no spots on his driveway. Him nor the Nissan dealership knew why this was happening. He's in his thirties, didn't race the car period, and doesn't speed much if at all. He said he's driven it hard sometimes but isn't that what it's supposed to be able to handle? The dealer did all the work on it... I dunno but ever since he told me that I've thought badly about the 3.5

Hmm... it's interesting that you pointed that out. I dunno what you're here for. It's same VQ engine but with slightly bigger displacement... someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Sorry for your cousin's mishap.

Nismo 370z · 01-10-2009, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IVGotaBDreamN

Well my cousin had a g35 a few years back, Nissan had to buy his car back from him (ordered to in court) because he had 3 brand new motors and they all burnt oil... He said he would be putting about a quart a week in them when they got bad, no spots on his driveway. Him nor the Nissan dealership knew why this was happening. He's in his thirties, didn't race the car period, and doesn't speed much if at all. He said he's driven it hard sometimes but isn't that what it's supposed to be able to handle? The dealer did all the work on it... I dunno but ever since he told me that I've thought badly about the 3.5

Nissan had this problem in the 05-06 Z's and G35's witht the revup engines. They had oil consumption issues. They had a fix with the v2 motor i think. Revup guys can give u more insight. But these issues dont make a motor crappy. They has a tsb fix for it.

klubbheads · 02-04-2009, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IVGotaBDreamN

Well my cousin had a g35 a few years back, Nissan had to buy his car back from him (ordered to in court) because he had 3 brand new motors and they all burnt oil... He said he would be putting about a quart a week in them when they got bad, no spots on his driveway. Him nor the Nissan dealership knew why this was happening. He's in his thirties, didn't race the car period, and doesn't speed much if at all. He said he's driven it hard sometimes but isn't that what it's supposed to be able to handle? The dealer did all the work on it... I dunno but ever since he told me that I've thought badly about the 3.5

As someone else mentioned the 05-07 6MT g coupes and 05-06 G sedan have the "rev-up" engine which nissan messed up on. Some of those engines had oil consumption issue. Experimenting with something that in my opinion wasn't done a lot of research on was bad move by nissan. Other than those 2 years those engines have been bulletproof.

11-21-2008, 04:04 AM	#2 (permalink)
FABG37 Base Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: BROOKLYN, NY Posts: 25 Rep Power: 16	whats the other engines on the list? __________________ G37S 6MT MODS HERE AND THERE

11-21-2008, 09:28 AM	#3 (permalink)
Slidefox Previous Moderator Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,534 Drives: A Pony Rep Power: 213	Very Nice!! I know of a few companies that are about to start a "Built Motor" Program for the VQ37VHR!! __________________ Forum Rules: Click Here Before Posting Click Here to Become a Premium Member Go Turbo or Go Home!!//Cowboys 2012 Superbowl Champs// Suns 2012 NBA Champions

01-07-2009, 08:47 AM	#6 (permalink)
drmike Enthusiast Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Kern Co., California Age: 53 Posts: 356 Drives: '03 Mini S+'94 Miata Rep Power: 16	^^^ harsh for a first post __________________ txwerks.com (side biz) xcor.com (main biz)

01-07-2009, 08:41 AM	#5 (permalink)
IVGotaBDreamN Base Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: SC Age: 37 Posts: 2 Drives: 92 civic hatch Turbo Rep Power: 16	So ur sayin that it's actually a good motor that will last? Unlike it's predecessor, 3.5L? lol I sure hope so...

01-07-2009, 10:11 AM	#7 (permalink)
Ryan@IP Base Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 187 Drives: 04 BMW 330i ZHP Rep Power: 282	Somewhat OT, but the VQ37 was not on 2009's list of best engines.. 2009 Ward's 10 Best Engines

01-08-2009, 01:32 PM	#10 (permalink)
Nismo 370z Base Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: LA, California Posts: 91 Drives: 2012 GM Nismo 370z Rep Power: 481	^ +1