Engine Nissan SR20De

The Nissan SR20De engine is a representative of a large family of gasoline power units of a Japanese company, united by the SR index. The volume of these engines ranged from 1,6 to 2 liters.

The main technical feature of these motors is an aluminum cylinder head and a steel, in fact, cylinder block. These internal combustion engines (ICE) were produced from 1989 to 2007.

The numbers in the marking of the power unit indicate the engine size. That is, if the brand of the motor is SR18Di, then its volume is 1,8 liters. Accordingly, for the SR20De engine, the engine displacement is equal to two liters.

The SR series engines and, specifically, the two-liter engines of this series, were installed on a very large list of passenger cars manufactured by Nissan in the 90s "zero" years.

History of the Nissan SR20De engine

Among all the power units of the SR series, the SR20De is the most famous, and one might even say famous in our country. These motors were installed on the eighth generation Nissan Bluebird model, which was very actively imported, first to the USSR, and then to Russia, by gray dealers or simply distillers.

Before the advent of these engines, in the sector of 2-liter power units, the Japanese produced CA20. This engine was quite heavy, in terms of mass, since its block and head consisted of cast iron. In 1989, lighter, aluminum SR20s were installed on Bluebirds, which had a beneficial effect on both the dynamic characteristics of cars and their efficiency. Also, for the sake of economy and higher performance, these internal combustion engines had a multi-point injector and four valves per cylinder.

From the very beginning of production, a red valve cover was installed on these power units. For this, the motors received the name SR20DE Red top High port. These ICEs stood on the assembly line until 1994, when they were replaced by SR20DE Black top Low port engines.

From its predecessor, in addition to the black valve cover, this power unit was distinguished by new inlet channels of the cylinder head (cylinder head). A new 240/240 camshaft (predecessor had a 248/240 camshaft) and a new exhaust system with 38mm pipes (the SR20DE Red top High port had 45mm exhaust pipes). This engine stood on the assembly line until 2000, although not in an unchanged state, in 1995, a new 238/240 camshaft appeared on the motor.

In 2000, the SR20DE Black top Low port was replaced by an upgraded SR20DE roller rocker ICE. The main features of this power unit were roller rockers and new valve return springs. Other changes worth noting are slightly modified pistons, a lighter crankshaft and a shortened intake manifold. This modification was in production until 2002. After that, the SR20DE atmospheric engines were discontinued. However, turbocharged versions of this engine continued to be produced and their history will be discussed below.

History of turbocharged SR20DET engines

Almost simultaneously with the naturally aspirated engine, its turbocharged version appeared, bearing the name SR20DET. The first version, by analogy with the naturally aspirated engine, was called the SR20DET Red top. This ICE was produced, like its atmospheric version, until 1994.

This motor had a Garrett T25G turbine, which produced a pressure of 0,5 bar. This forcing made it possible to develop a power of 205 hp. at 6000 rpm. The torque of the internal combustion engine was 274 Nm at 4000 rpm.

In order to save the engine life, the compression ratio was reduced to 8,5 and the connecting rods were reinforced.

In parallel with this power unit, in 1990 an even more powerful version of it appeared, with a power of 230 hp. at 6400 rpm and a torque of 280 Nm at 4800 rpm. It differed from its predecessor by a different Garrett T28 turbine, which produced a pressure of 0,72 bar. Also, in addition to this, the following changes were made to the power unit. He received a different camshaft 248/248, other fuel injectors with a capacity of 440 cm³ / min, other oil nozzles, the crankshaft, connecting rods and cylinder head bolts were reinforced.

Like the atmospheric version, the next generation of this power unit appeared in 1994. She received the name Nissan SR20DET Black top. In addition to the black valve cover, which became the hallmark of this engine, it also had a new lambda probe and pistons. In addition, the inlet and outlet channels were changed, and the on-board computer setting was also changed.

A slightly different, more powerful version of this engine was released for the Nissan S14 Silvia sports car. This car had a 220 hp engine. at 6000 rpm and a torque of 275 Nm at 4800 rpm.

However, the most advanced version of the power unit was installed on the next, seventh generation Sylvia, which bore the S15 index. The engine on this car had a Garrett T28BB turbo with an intercooler that developed a pressure of 0,8 bar. In addition, it was equipped with a mono nozzle with a capacity of 480 cm³ / min. After this modernization, the internal combustion engine developed a power of 250 hp. at 6400 rpm and had a torque of 300 Nm at 4800 rpm.

Two more versions of the SR20DET were on the little-known Nissan Avenir station wagon. For this machine, two power, two-liter units with a capacity of 205 and 230 hp were developed at once. These motors were named Nissan SR20DET Silver top. The main distinguishing detail of these units was a gray valve cover.

However, the most powerful version of the Nissan SR20 engine was installed, already in the 21st century, on the well-known Nissan X-Trail GT crossover. True, this version of the crossover was not officially sold in Russia.

So, this version was called SR20VET and was installed on the first generation X-Trails for the Japanese market. This version, like the first generation of the crossover, was produced from 2001 to 2007. This ICE developed a power of 280 hp. at 6400 rpm and had a torque of 315 Nm at 3200 rpm. Of the design features of this power unit, it is worth noting the 212/248 camshafts and the Garrett T28 turbine, with a boost pressure of 0,6 bar.

In conclusion of the story about the history of the Nissan SR20De engine, it must be said that it has become the most common among the entire SR series.

Technical specifications

Features	Indicators
Years of issue	1989 to 2007 years
Engine displacement, cc	1998
Cylinder block material	aluminum
Supply system	injector
Fuel	Gasoline AI-95, AI-98
Number of cylinders	4
Number of valves per cylinder	4
Engine power, hp / rpm	115/6000 125/5600 140/6400 150/6400 160/6400 165/6400 190/7000 205/6000 205/7200 220/6000 225/6000 230/6400 250/6400 280/6400
Torque, Nm / rpm	166/4800 170/4800 179/4800 178/4800 188/4800 192/4800 196/6000 275/4000 206/5200 275/4800 275/4800 280/4800 300/4800 315/3200
Fuel consumption, l/100 km:
Urban cycle	11.5
Track	6.8
Mixed cycle	8.7
Piston group:
The piston stroke, mm	86
Cylinder diameter, mm	86
Compression ratio:
SR20DET	8.3
SR20DET	8.5
SR20DET	9
SR20DE/SR20Di	9.5
SR20VE	11

Motor reliability

Separately, it must be said about the resource of this motor, as most of the power units of that time, produced in the land of the rising sun, are almost eternal. Their piston group, easily, goes half a million kilometers or more. In other words, these internal combustion engines have a resource that is much longer than the resource of the car bodies on which they were installed.

Of the less serious problems on these power units, premature failure of the idle speed controller and the mass air flow sensor is noted. These problems arise mainly due to the low quality of fuel in our country.

Well, in addition to the exceptional reliability of the piston group, the advantage of these motors is the absence of a belt in the timing mechanism drive. These motors have a camshaft chain drive, and the chain, in turn, has a resource of 250 - 300 kilometers.

What kind of oil to pour

Like all motors of the corporation, the Nissan SR20 is very unpretentious to the oil used. The following API oils can be used in this engine:

• 5W-20
• 5W-30
• 5W-40
• 5W-50
• 10W-30
• 10W-40
• 10W-50
• 10W-60
• 15W-40
• 15W-50
• 20W-20

As for the oil manufacturer, the Japanese company recommends using their own oils. And it makes a lot of sense to use them. The fact is that Nissan oils are not available for free sale, they are available only to official dealers of the company and their use guarantees that you will fill in really original oil, the marking of which on the canister corresponds to its contents.

Well, as for the information that is on the canister, then:

• Strong Save X - the name of the oil;
• 5W-30 - its classification according to API;
• SN - the first digit in this marking indicates which engines this oil is for;

1. S - indicates that this is oil for gasoline engines;
2. C - for diesel;
3. N - indicates the time of development of the oil. The further the letter is from the first letter "A", the more modern it is. For example, oil "N" appeared later than oil with the letter "M".

List of cars on which this engine was installed

The Nissan SR20De engine was one of the most common power units of the Japanese corporation. It was installed on a long list of models:

• Nissan Almera;
• Nissan Primera;
• Nissan X-Trail GT;
• Nissan 180SX/200SX
• Nissan silvia
• Nissan NX2000/NX-R/100NX
• Nissan Pulsar/Saber
• Nissan Sentra/Tsuru
• Infiniti G20
• Nissan Future
• Nissan bluebird
• Nissan Prairie/Liberty;
• Nissan Presea;
• Nissan Rashen;
• in Nissan R'ne;
• Nissan Serena;
• Nissan Wingroad/Tsubame.