The 3.0-liter Nissan VG30i engine was manufactured from 1985 to 1989, but it was soon replaced by more contemporary distributed-injection power units. Only pickup trucks and SUVs were equipped with this single-injection gasoline engine.
Internal combustion engines VG30E, VG30ET, VG30DE, VG30DET, and VG30DETT are also part of the VG30 family.
The engine was mounted on:
- Nissan Navara 1 (D21) in 1985 – 1989;
- Nissan Pathfinder 1 (WD21) in 1985 – 1989;
- Nissan Terrano 1 (WD21) in 1985 – 1989.
Specifications
| Production years | 1985-1989 |
| Displacement, cc | 2960 |
| Fuel system | single injection |
| Power output, hp | 130 – 140 |
| Torque output, Nm | 210 – 220 |
| Cylinder block | cast iron V6 |
| Block head | aluminum 12v |
| Cylinder bore, mm | 87 |
| Piston stroke, mm | 83 |
| Compression ratio | 9.0 |
| Features | no |
| Hydraulic lifters | yes |
| Timing drive | belt |
| Phase regulator | no |
| Turbocharging | no |
| Recommended engine oil | 5W-30 |
| Engine oil capacity, liter | 3.9 |
| Fuel type | petrol |
| Euro standards | EURO 1/2 |
| Fuel consumption, L/100 km (for Nissan Pathfinder 1989) — city — highway — combined |
15.6 10.6 12.8 |
| Engine lifespan, km | ~380 000 |
| Weight, kg | 220 |
Disadvantages of the VG30i engine
The primary failure is the crankshaft shank breaking off and the valves bending; pump leaks or hydraulic lifter failure come in second; frequent exhaust manifold gasket burnout is very inconvenient;
The fastening studs frequently break off when the release is removed, which is a problem. Other than that, this engine is very dependable and has a lot of resources.