Here’s Everything You Need To Know About Nissan’s Short-Lived V8 Pathfinder

In the glory days of the late 2000s, manufacturers loved to turn out power-hungry and mostly truck-framed SUVs. Many of these examples had the perfect V8 engine within, although Nissan always seemed to favor the V6 in its Pathfinder flagship. However, this Japanese company also appeared to get the memo in 2008 when it decided to drop its brawny 5.6-liter Endurance V8 into a third-generation Pathfinder. For many in the know, that made all the difference, but even so, that particular engine only remained in the Pathfinder for a few brief years. What’s the story behind this game of shuffling engines, and what do you need to know about used V8 Pathfinders today?

For this article, we gathered information from the manufacturer’s website as well as trusted online resources and price comparison portals. The information in the table relates to a 2008 Nissan Pathfinder with a V8 engine. Any opinions in the article are those of the author.

The V8 Pathfinder’s Place In The Family Tree

Everyone seemed to want a purposeful mid-size SUV in the first decade of the new century, and most candidates had V8 engines. The Explorer from Ford had a 4.6-liter V8, while the 4Runner from Toyota had a 4.7-liter version. Jeep offered HEMI engines in its Grand Cherokee, but the Pathfinder only had the V6. Still, Nissan did push its robust VK56DE V8 engine into its Armada SUV and Titan pickup and, as the Pathfinder sat on the same fully boxed ladder frame, it only seemed sensible to add a V8 here as well. So that’s what the company did. In 2008, the Pathfinder now came with a 5.6-liter V8, turning out 310 hp and 388 lb.-ft of torque, with a five-speed automatic and either two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. Crucially for boat owners, it also had an extra 1,000 lbs. of towing capacity over the V6 models.

However, the V8 Pathfinder era was not long for the road. The number of V8 versions in the typical showroom gradually dwindled towards the end of the model run and then, the name plate pivoted to a car-based unibody as the decade ticked over. The new version also sported a V6 again and a CVT, tracing the market’s move towards greater efficiency. Nissan itself touted the replacement as a much lighter and more economical vehicle and, in this type of environment, a V8 was out of place. The Pathfinder’s heavy competition also seemed to melt away. The V8 in the 4Runner disappeared in 2010, while the Explorer crossed over to a unibody for 2011 and never looked back.

What The Pathfinder Was Like New – And What It’s Like Now

In its heady days, you could choose between two Pathfinder models with a V8 – the SE or LE – and both came in either two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive form. As you can imagine in this configuration, it wasn’t too economical, with EPA figures in the low to mid-teens, versus the V6 and its mid-teens to low twenties. Your properly-equipped V8 Pathfinder was certainly capable of out-towing most midsize crossovers, but it wasn’t overly bulky, and its 112-inch wheelbase meant that parking wasn’t that much of a pain.

From the driver’s point of view, the V8 engine was certainly torquey but not particularly exciting. Still, there was plenty of available grunt in the mid-range and the quick-shifting five-speed box made towing and Interstate merging relatively straightforward. The Pathfinder had an independent rear end, and the automatic drive system was particularly good in four-season states. You could set it automatically for wet commutes or fiddle with the rotary switch to select 4-HI in the slush or 4-LO for a gnarly uphill trail. So, all in all, the V8 Pathfinder was a good all-rounder with the type of practical hardware that ought to keep most category consumers happy.

Challenges To Consider

If you want to buy one of these today, remember that you are looking at a 13- to 17-year-old SUV – and there are also some well-documented challenges. Radiator and transmission cooler cross-contamination was a major issue in those Pathfinders, often referred to as the “strawberry milkshake of death”. This issue came down to a failed internal cooler which allowed ATF and coolant to mix together to the detriment of the transmission. So today, look for proof that a previous owner has addressed this issue with an updated radiator or bypass for the in-radiator ATF cooler. Vehicles at the end of the generation were not affected as badly. Then, inspect the frame and underbody carefully for signs of corrosion and poke around the frame rails and the towing points. Also, check to see that the spare tire frame lifts and lowers as it should and that all the tools and jack are present.

On a happier note, the V8 itself is very sturdy and should be able to run way past 200,000 miles with a normal amount of care. Be on the lookout for any ticking sounds from warped or cracked exhaust manifolds and look closely at all the perishable pieces of plastic and rubber that you might expect to degrade on an SUV of this vintage. As always, budget for new fluids, belts and hoses, and give the cooling system a refresh just to be on the safe side.

Costing The V8 Pathfinder

Hunting for a V8 Pathfinder today, you should be able to find a high-mileage, early-generation version for between $4,000 and $8,000, with those that have less than 160,000 miles on the clock and a decent history running into the low teens. Something exceptional that may have lived in the sunbelt all its life could stretch into the mid-teens. Meanwhile, you should certainly expect vehicles that have the V8 to command a modest premium over those that still have the V6.

If you want the full V8 and towing experience, be on the lookout for a 2008 to 2012 SE or LE model with that 5.6-liter motor. The LE V8 4×4 seemed to be the best with extra equipment, while the SE versions could be bargains. It’s always worth choosing a four-wheel-drive V8 if you live in more changeable parts of the country, as the low range is definitely worth it. Of course, fuel economy may leave you with a lump in your throat, but here again, you’re probably buying this type of vehicle for its torque and capability.

Putting A Pathfinder In Your Life

If you’re the type of person who likes to spend their weekends in the wilderness or loves to tow boats down to the seashore for some marine adventures, you can’t really go wrong with a V8 Pathfinder. It’s one of the last honest midsize SUVs that can do this type of work in its stride, but that doesn’t complain on the other five days of the week either. After all, it tows very confidently, can probably fit in your garage, and underneath, it relies on proven mechanicals. So, as long as you do your homework to watch out for that cooling system problem, listen out for those manifold ticks, and take your time, it could be worth the hunt. And if you do find one, you’ll be getting a very useful and, crucially, rumbly, piece of Nissan’s history that many people have just forgotten about.

Sources: Nissan.