Parts for your 2019 Nissan Pathfinder-Egr valve

2019 Nissan Pathfinder EGR valve — what’s fitted and what’s not

For the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder (R52, 3.5‑litre VQ35DD direct‑injection V6), an external EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) valve isn’t used. Emissions control on this petrol model relies on variable valve timing (CVTC) to provide internal EGR, direct injection, three‑way catalytic converters, wide‑range A/F sensors, and an EVAP/PCV system. There’s no EGR valve or EGR cooler fitted from factory on this engine.

Technical sources that point to this include: the Nissan Electronic Service Manual (ESM) for the 2019 Pathfinder (R52) in the Engine Control (EC) section for the VQ35DD, which details component locations and system descriptions without listing an EGR valve, Nissan parts catalogues for the R52 VQ35DD that don’t show an EGR valve assembly under the emissions group, and common workshop information systems used in AU/NZ that don’t provide EGR diagnostic routines or DTC trees (you won’t see P0401/P0403 procedures for this engine). These sources consistently show the model meeting Euro/ADR emissions targets without external EGR hardware.

Why it’s not used on this petrol V6 comes down to design strategy. With precise cam phasing, the engine achieves the “internal EGR” effect by controlling valve overlap, cutting NOx and pumping losses without the extra plumbing. Direct injection improves charge cooling and combustion control, and the three‑way cat cleans up NOx effectively when the mixture is held near stoichiometric. The upshot is fewer moving parts, better packaging, and one less soot‑prone component to maintain.

What does that mean for servicing? There’s no EGR valve to replace or clean on a 2019 Pathfinder. If someone’s chasing an “EGR fault” on this model, it’s usually a misdiagnosis. Similar symptoms (pinging, rough idle, hesitation, higher NOx) are more often tied to: intake valve deposits typical of DI engines, MAF/MAP contamination, vacuum leaks, PCV concerns, or outdated ECM calibration. Good preventative steps include quality fuel, periodic intake/MAF cleaning, timely air filter and PCV replacement, and software updates where applicable. If a scan tool flags emissions‑related trims or efficiency issues, focus diagnostics on A/F sensors, catalytic converter efficiency, fuel quality, and valve timing control rather than looking for an EGR that isn’t there.

• Nissan Electronic Service Manual (2019 Pathfinder R52, EC section – VQ35DD): lists CVTC, A/F sensors, catalysts, no external EGR system.
• Nissan parts catalogues for R52 VQ35DD: no EGR valve/cooler assemblies shown.
• Workshop data (AU/NZ): no EGR‑specific DTC workflows provided for this engine.

Popular questions

Does a 2019 Nissan Pathfinder have an EGR valve?

No. The VQ35DD petrol V6 uses variable valve timing, direct injection, and three‑way catalysts to meet emissions, so there’s no external EGR valve or cooler fitted from factory.

Why did Nissan not use an EGR valve on the 2019 Pathfinder?

Because the engine’s cam phasing provides an internal EGR effect, and with DI plus efficient catalysts, it hits NOx targets without the extra hardware. That improves reliability and trims maintenance.

I’m getting “EGR‑type” symptoms — what should I check instead?

On this model, look at intake valve cleanliness (DI deposits), MAF/MAP contamination, vacuum leaks, PCV function, A/F sensors and catalyst efficiency, and that cam timing control is behaving. A scan of trims, fuel quality, and ECM updates is also worthwhile.