# 2011 Nissan Xterra - big money question **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** nissan\ **Created:** [January 29, 2023, 10:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-nissan-xterra-big-money-question/188838 "2023-01-29T22:43:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BeachGirl39](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/47e85d/32.png) [@BeachGirl39](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BeachGirl39)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2023, 10:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-nissan-xterra-big-money-question/188838/1 "2023-01-29T22:43:41Z")
95000 miles. Timing chain, tensioners, etc. replacement necessary. $2700 quote. Reasonable? Really necessary? ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2023, 10:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-nissan-xterra-big-money-question/188838/2 "2023-01-29T22:49:01Z")
> [@BeachGirl39](#): > > Reasonable? Really necessary? Reasonable , could be for your area where ever that is . Really necessary , probably but a second opinion will set your mind free. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2023, 11:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-nissan-xterra-big-money-question/188838/3 "2023-01-29T23:08:49Z")
I’m seeing no info for 2011 xterra, but for 370Z, looks to be nearly an 8 hour job. For 8 hours labor, and presuming labor vast majority of total fee, hmmm … $2700 seems a little on the high side for inde shop, but about right for dealership. Shop inspection required to know if job is needed or not. What are the symptoms? Timing chain kaput at 95K? Most common cause would be oil-related. Any problems like that in the past? ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2023, 11:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-nissan-xterra-big-money-question/188838/4 "2023-01-29T23:29:58Z")
> [@George\_San\_Jose1](#): > > I’m seeing no info for 2011 xterra, but for 370Z Apples to oranges . ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 9:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-nissan-xterra-big-money-question/188838/5 "2023-01-30T21:45:15Z")
> [@BeachGirl39](#): > > Really necessary? Was your oil always changed on time? Was it always kept at the proper level? If the answer to both questions is yes, this would be a somewhat unusual repair at that mileage. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 9:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-nissan-xterra-big-money-question/188838/6 "2023-01-30T21:58:54Z")
I wouldn’t replace the timing chain unless the Check Engine light came on with a P0016 DTC. > **[P0016 – Meaning, Causes, Symptoms, & Fixes](https://www.fixdapp.com/blog/p0016-code/)** > > Check engine light code P0016 means correlation of the camshaft & crankshaft positions on bank 1 is incorrect based... Tester ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2023, 6:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-nissan-xterra-big-money-question/188838/7 "2023-01-31T18:50:30Z")
I agree with @Tester on this. Unless you have seriously neglected oil changes and I don’t mean being a little late on one or two but completely skipping oil changes completely, this is a 200k+ mile maintenance. You would hear a pretty loud rattling sound from the front of the engine if this was needed. However, even if you were negligent on oil changes and you are getting a little rattling sound, that is often just the tensioner. The plunger on the tensioner is known to stick on this engine if the oil changes were neglected long enough to start forming any sludge or thicken the oil beyond the allowable limits. If you are lucky, an oil change may loosen up the plunger, but that is rare because of the design. Once it sticks, it blocks fresh oil from getting to it. It can be removed and cleaned and reused though, but there is no need to replace the timing chain. ---
**Author:** ![FoDaddy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/fodaddy/32/717_2.png) [@FoDaddy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FoDaddy)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2023, 7:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-nissan-xterra-big-money-question/188838/8 "2023-01-31T19:00:12Z")
> [@VOLVO-V70](#): > > Apples to oranges . Not as much as you’d think. Both use variants of the same engine, and both have their engines longitudinally mounted. Probably more room to work with in an Xterra, but I doubt if the estimate for the 370z are that far off. ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2023, 7:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-nissan-xterra-big-money-question/188838/9 "2023-01-31T19:58:10Z")
> [@FoDaddy](#): > > Not as much as you’d think Much more than you would think. The Xterra engine is pretty conventional as far as the timing chain is concerned. The 3.7 does not have a throttle body, instead it uses a complex variable valve lift and duration arrangement where the cam is raised off the lifters so that at idle, the valves barely open. As you press the pedal, the cams are lowered down to the lifters, increasing lift and duration. The cam also has to rotate relative to the crankshaft so that the correct valve timing is achieved. It is far more complex, so would take more time and require more training for the mechanic. Note" I don’t think the new Z uses that system any more. ---
**Author:** ![FoDaddy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/fodaddy/32/717_2.png) [@FoDaddy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FoDaddy)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2023, 8:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-nissan-xterra-big-money-question/188838/10 "2023-01-31T20:32:16Z")
That’s interesting. I didn’t know that the VQ in the 370z was that exotic. Sounds like a lot of added complexity for not a huge amount of power increase (given the extra displacement alone). And yes, that would almost certainly cause the price of a timing chain job to increase substantially. ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2023, 10:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-nissan-xterra-big-money-question/188838/11 "2023-01-31T22:12:38Z")
Yeah, that was only used on the 370Z and one of the Infinity models with the 3.7 engine. I think the cost outweighed the benefit on that one. Nissan does like to experiment, they have/had a variable compression engine out that uses a very complicated crankshaft and pushrod design. I think that the GDI probably works just as good for a lot less $$$. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2023, 10:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-nissan-xterra-big-money-question/188838/12 "2023-01-31T22:56:16Z")
I’d be surprised if a 2011 Xterra w/v6 v4.0L engine timing chain replacement would be significantly different in labor hours than a '11 370Z w/v6 3.7 L engine. Engines appx same size & both presumably have have two camshafts to drive. ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2023, 12:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-nissan-xterra-big-money-question/188838/13 "2023-02-01T00:47:02Z")
> [@George\_San\_Jose1](#): > > Engines appx same size & both presumably have have two camshafts to drive. Yes but the difference ends there. > **[Nissan VQ37VHR: Engine Specs, Design & Common Issues | Low Offset](https://low-offset.com/nissan/vq37vhr-engine/)** > > The VQ37VHR engine is a testament to Nissan’s ethos of overengineering and affordable performance. Find its specs, design info, & common issues in this guide. ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2023, 12:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-nissan-xterra-big-money-question/188838/14 "2023-02-01T00:51:00Z")
@BeachGirl39, most important question. Did you take the vehicle to a mechanic because you felt something was wrong or did you take it in for a regularly scheduled service I.e. oil change and someone there told you that you need this? If it is the latter, 99.999% you don’t. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2023, 10:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-nissan-xterra-big-money-question/188838/15 "2023-02-01T22:37:54Z")
> [@keith](#): > > Yes but the difference ends there. No dispute, but the pertinent question seems to be: how many labor hours is spec’d for a timing chain(s) replacement job, 3.7L vs 4.0L engine ? 3.7L in the 370Z vs 4.0L in the Xterra. Time for trial by fire. Anybody with access to mechanics’ P&L info, please post. I’m guessing about the same number of hours. Anybody else have a guess? ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2023, 10:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-nissan-xterra-big-money-question/188838/16 "2023-02-01T22:47:53Z")
Well that maybe the pertinent question to you, but to me the pertinent question is: Does she really need it? I don’t think so. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2023, 10:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-nissan-xterra-big-money-question/188838/17 "2023-02-01T22:58:54Z")
If the customer doesn’t notice the timing chain noise, then they don’t need the repair. Is that the correct approach at customer service? ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2023, 11:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-nissan-xterra-big-money-question/188838/18 "2023-02-01T23:24:38Z")
> [@keith](#): > > Does she really need it? I don’t think OP is even reading this thread. So it is sort of academic at this point. OP, should you come back, suggest to tell us why you or your shop thinks the engine timing chain has a problem? Usually there would be a noise, or an engine performance issue. ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2023, 11:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-nissan-xterra-big-money-question/188838/19 "2023-02-01T23:33:09Z")
> [@Nevada\_545](#): > > If the customer doesn’t notice the timing chain noise, then they don’t need the repair. Is that the correct approach at customer service? If the customer didn’t notice the timing chain noise, then the service writer or mechanic should be able to make them aware. If they just come into the waiting area and tell the customer they need this, then do they? When I took my Subaru in for an air bag replacement, they tried to convince me that I needed a bunch of other maintenance, none of which was true. I heard them give the same list to every customer in the waiting area. ---
**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2023, 1:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-nissan-xterra-big-money-question/188838/20 "2023-02-02T01:58:00Z")
It’s more important than ever to use the exact oil recommended by the carmaker, in part because of the complexities of valve timing mechanisms. Look for the fine print in the owners manual and on the bottle of oil. There may be an updated recommendation. See if the Nissan dealer or website has it. On my 1999 Honda, for example, 5W30 was recommended when new but years later Honda retro recommended 5W20. I haven’t checked in years, but there may be a still newer recommendation.