Nissan has released video footage demonstrating the engine's condition after 100 hours of continuous operation at maximum RPM. The Japanese automaker's specialists conducted a series of endurance tests, during which the powertrains were subjected to extreme loads.

Technical details of the tests were revealed by representatives of the Tennessee engine plant.
Naturally-aspirated 3.8-liter V6 engines designed for Frontier pickup trucks are being randomly selected from the assembly line for testing. The engine produces 310 hp and 281 Nm of torque.

In the lab, the engines are mounted on a rig and run in the "red zone" of engine speeds. The most intensive cycle lasts 300 hours, which equates to over 200,000 kilometers under real-world conditions.

"We start the engine, bring it to the red zone, and hold it there for hours. Then we completely disassemble it and examine what's broken," explained Brandon McClain, Quality Assurance Manager.

During testing, exhaust manifolds are heated to red-hot temperatures. In addition to mechanical testing, the facility uses X-ray scanning. The machine inspects every hundredth cylinder block, making 1.2 mm-thick slices to verify the integrity of the cooling channels and component walls.