2015 Nissan Pathfinder Spark Plug Replacement Guide

There’s a likely chance you will need to replace your old and worn out spark plugs several times over the course of owning a 2015 Nissan Pathfinder. Spark plugs are one of the most important parts inside your engine as they begin the entire combustion process that starts and keeps your engine running for many thousands of miles. Like most engine components, spark plugs experience wear over time and eventually need to be replaced, but fortunately this is a repair you can do on your own. Chances are, if you’ve found yourself here, you have no idea how to do that, or perhaps you’d just like to know what kind of spark plugs you need to buy. The complete process of changing your spark plugs should take roughly 20-45 minutes. This article will go over everything you’ll need to know about your Nissan Pathfinder’s spark plugs, whether you need some baseline information or a full, step-by-step guide to performing a spark plug change.

Correct spark plugs on a 2015 Nissan Pathfinder

For any 2015 Nissan Pathfinder, you can use NGK 93501 spark plugs. These will be an exact fit and will match the required specifications of your engine. As this 2015 Nissan Pathfinder features a 3.5L V6 engine, ensure you purchase 6 spark plugs. We always try to recommend the best possible spark plugs for the money, and these spark plugs are either a factory recomendation or an equivalent replacement available in today’s market at an affordable price.

How often should I change my spark plugs?

Very generally, it is advised that you replace spark plugs once every 20,000 to 40,000 miles. Of course, please make sure to check your owner’s manual to determine the specific interval determined by Nissan for the 2015 Pathfinder. Of course, if you drive your vehicle more aggressively or own a Nissan Pathfinder with some modifications, you may want to consider changing your spark plugs closer to the 20,000 miles end of that spectrum.

However, there are also classic signs of a car that may need a spark plug replacement prematurely, such as:

• Engine misfiring
• Problems starting your engine
• Rough idle

Note that this list is absolutely not comprehensive, and these problems on their own do not definitively point to the spark plugs being the solitary culprit. However, the best way to prevent any issues with your vehicle is to take care of it with organized maintenance, and you are definitely doing so with the responsible decision to replace your 2015 Nissan Pathfinder’s spark plugs on a regular basis.

Changing spark plugs on a 2015 Nissan Pathfinder

This is a process you should be able to do on your own with some standard garage tools. Of course, consult your owner’s manual, as well as a factory service manual (FSM for short) or an equivalent Haynes or Chiltons manual. The video shown below does a good job of outlining the process.

Helpful Tools

As noted before, you should be able to complete a spark plug change with some regular tools you most likely already have. However, there are a few tools that are specific to this job that you may not have, and we also want to recommend some commonplace tools that you should definitely have in your toolbox if you don’t already.

• A spark plug tester – this is definitely a niche tool, but it can save you a ton of time. Although we’ve discussed spark plug replacement being a good thing to replace regularly and not just when issues occur, you may also be replacing your spark plugs because of something going wrong. This tool can help you diagnose the exact problem.
• A spark plug gap tool. This allows you to check the gap of your spark plugs and increase or decrease it if necessary. Most plugs will come pregapped, but if not, you should absolutely have one of these.
  • I also highly recommend you have a feeler gauge as it makes it a bit easier to check the exact gap, and it comes in handy for countless other jobs.
• A set of spark plug sockets – These come in extremely handy because many standard sockets are not deep enough for spark plugs. In addition, some spark plug holes are a bit smaller, so it requires a thinner wall like the one featured in the product here to fit. The linked product also features a magnet to keep a good hold of the spark plug so you do not drop it into your engine bay!
• A torque wrench is a vital tool to have in your toolbox. You will want to check your factory service manual to determine the correct torque rating to use when putting in the new spark plugs for your 2015 Nissan Pathfinder to be confident they are installed properly.

Tips for changing spark plugs on your 2015 Nissan Pathfinder

Ensure you review the video above before you attempt to repair the spark plugs on your 2015 Nissan Pathfinder, as well as review your factory service manual. Additionally, we have some tips below here to help you as you do this repair.

• One of the most important things to remember is to avoid overtightening the plugs or worse, cracking them due to overtightenting. Use a torque wrench capable of lower, more precise torque ratings to be sure that you don’t make this mistake.
• You should replace spark plugs on a cold engine. Ensure you wait at least 30 minutes after any kind of operation before attempting to replace the spark plugs on your 2015 Nissan Pathfinder
• First, disconnect the negative terminal of your battery. You should always disconnect the battery anytime you work on the electrical system of your Nissan Pathfinder or any other vehicle.
• It isn’t a bad idea to use dielectric grease when installing new spark plugs. You can apply a a little bit to the inside of the boot and the ceramic part of your spark plugs. It lessens the chance of voltage leak and helps avoid the misfortune of the boot fusing to the spark plug over time.
• This is not official advice as many spark plug manufacturers advise against the use of anti-seize. However, I have heard from numerous old-school mechanics that they always apply a tiny amount of anti-seize to the threads of their spark plugs, especially on older vehicles.