Nissan Pathfinder Camshaft Replacement Parts

Yes, every Nissan Pathfinder engine has camshafts — they are a fundamental part of any internal combustion engine, controlling the opening and closing of the valves. The Pathfinder has been sold in the UK with both petrol and diesel engines across its generations, and all of them use camshafts; diesel engines typically use a different camshaft profile to petrol units, so fuel type matters when sourcing a replacement. You will need to confirm whether your engine is petrol or diesel before approaching a breaker.

Both the 2007 and 2010 Pathfinder fall within the R51 generation, which ran from 2005 to 2012, but this does not automatically guarantee camshaft interchangeability because engine specifications and ancillary details can vary within a generation. The most important thing to supply is your exact engine code, which you can find on your V5 or via a VIN check, as the camshaft must match the engine code rather than simply the model year. Take your registration and engine code to the breaker and ask them to confirm the part number matches before purchasing.

Trim level makes no difference whatsoever to which camshaft you need — the S, SE, and SVE grades of the Pathfinder are all purely cosmetic or equipment distinctions and share the same mechanical engine components within the same engine variant. What matters is your engine code and fuel type, not the badge on the tailgate. Give the breaker your engine code and they will match the camshaft to the engine rather than the trim.

Yes, petrol and diesel Pathfinders use entirely different engines and therefore different camshafts; a camshaft from a petrol engine will not fit a diesel unit and vice versa. The R51 Pathfinder was offered in the UK with a 2.5 dCi diesel as well as petrol variants, and the camshaft profiles, dimensions, and part numbers differ significantly between fuel types. Always confirm your fuel type and engine code with the breaker to ensure the correct part is sourced.

The R51 Pathfinder received a facelift around 2010, and while the generation boundary sits within the same 2005–2012 production run, ancillary and mounting changes can occur mid-production even when the basic engine family appears unchanged. The engine code remains the most reliable guide, so if a pre-facelift and post-facelift vehicle share the same engine code, there is a reasonable basis for compatibility, but you should confirm this directly with the breaker against your registration before buying. Do not assume compatibility solely because both vehicles are R51 generation.

Drivetrain layout — two-wheel drive versus four-wheel drive — has no bearing on camshaft fitment, as the camshaft is purely part of the engine and is unaffected by how power is delivered to the wheels. The factors that matter are the engine code, fuel type, and year within the generation. Confirm your engine code with the breaker and they will identify the correct camshaft regardless of your drivetrain configuration.