Like with the outgoing CA18DET, the SR20DET was a turbocharged intercooled engine in top form. It was Nissan's popular four-cylinder turbocharged engine fitted into a wide variety of cars, most notably the S13-chassis Nissan Silvia and 180SX. It also came in the Pulsar GTI-R and the Nissan Bluebird.
Both the SR20DE and SR20DET engines replaced the CA18DE and CA18DET engines that originally powered the Silvia and 180SX from the S12-chassis and prior. The previous CA18DE and CA18DET engines were deemed too expensive to produce (due to its cast-iron block) and no longer met Japanese emission standards, and so they were replaced with the SR20DE and SR20DET respectively.
The SR20DET is a popular choice as an engine swap in North American 240SXs (more specifically the USDM and Canadian models), as they use the SOHCKA24E for earlier models, or the DOHCKA24DE for later models. Both are naturally aspirated engines and are often less-powerful than the CA18DET and SR20DET engines, producing about 140 hp (100 kW) and 155 hp (116 kW) respectively. SR20DET engine swaps are becoming more commonplace due to the many aftermarket forced induction options available for the SR20DET. There are many tuning shops around the world that exclusively specialize in SR20DET swaps.
The Garrett T25G turbo used on most SR20DET engines.
The SR20DET was first introduced in the U12 Nissan Bluebird 2000SSS ATTESA Limited in a transverse-mounted front-wheel drive/four-wheel drive form in October 1989. The first revisions of the rear-wheel drive S13 Nissan Silvia and Nissan 180SX produced in 1991 were built with a longitudinally-mounted SR20DET, with some models using the naturally aspirated SR20DE. The engine then went on to be used in a number of Nissan vehicles, including the Nissan Avenir in 1995, the Nissan R'nessa in 1997 and the Nissan Liberty in 1999. The SR20DET (along with the naturally-aspirated SR20DE) was retired in most Nissan vehicles in August 2002 (which included the S15 Nissan Silvia as it used the SR20DE/SR20DET engines), and were replaced with the QR20DE engine in most applications.
Out of all the Nissan models produced with the SR20DET engine, the Silvia was the longest-running model to use it, starting with the S13 series in 1991 and ending with the S15 series in 2002. The S14 and S15 series used a bigger turbocharger than the S13 series.
Valve cover colors
The colors of the valve covers seem to relate to the year the engine was produced:
Color
Model
Years
Red
S13/180SX/Bluebird/Pulsar
1989–1994
Black
S13/180SX
1994–1998
Black
S14/S15
1994–2002
Silver
Avenir/R'nessa
1995–2002/1997–2001
1989–1994 "Red top" - Came from U12/13 Bluebird, S13 Silvia and 180SX pre-94 (Garrett T25G turbo) 370cc injectors were used.
1994–1998 "Black top" - Came from 180SX's post-94 (Garrett T25G turbo)
1994–1998 "Black top VCT" - 94–98 Silvias - Variable Cam Timing or VCT was introduced on the intake cam (Garrett T28 journal bearing turbo for Australian and European markets and Garrett T28 Ball Bearing turbo for the Japanese market)[2] 370cc injectors were used.
1995–2002 "Silver top" - 95-02 Avenirs and 97-01 R'nessas.
1999–2002 "Black top" or "Notch top" - 99–02 Silvias. Same VCT as above, 6-speed manual transmission (Garrett Journal Bearing T28 for Europe and Australia and Ball Bearing T28 turbo for Japan) 480cc injectors were used and the intake manifold was redesigned.[1]
Bore × Stroke of 86 mm (3.39 in) × 86 mm (3.39 in)
Displacement of 1,998 cc (2.0 L; 121.9 cu in)
1990–1994 RNN14 Pulsar GTI-R
Compressor Flow: 33 lb/MIN
Throttle Body: Quad
Injector Flow: 440cc/min
Ignition Timing: 20º BTDC
1991–1994 S13 Silvia & 1991–1998 180SX
Throttle Body Bore: 60 mm
Injector Flow: 370cc/min
1995–1999 S14 Silvia
Throttle Body Bore: 50 mm
Injector Flow: 370cc/min
1999–2002 S15 Silvia
Throttle Body Bore: 50 mm
Injector Flow: 444cc/min
Comparison table
Car
Engine
Compression
Power
Torque
Turbos
Stock boost
Turbine
Compressor
'89 U12 Bluebird Ltd
Redtop
8.5:1
150 kW (201 hp) @ 6000 rpm
202 lb⋅ft (274 N⋅m) @ 4000 rpm
T-25g
14psi
'91–'95 U13 Bluebird Ltd
Redtop
8.5:1
154 kW (206 hp) @ 6000 rpm
202 lb⋅ft (274 N⋅m) @ 4000 rpm
T-25G
7psi
'95–'97 W10 Avenir Salut
Silvertop
8.5:1
154 kW (206 hp) @ 6000 rpm
202 lb⋅ft (274 N⋅m) @ 4000 rpm
T-25G
7psi
'97–'01 W11 Avenir GT4
Silvertop
8.5:1
169 kW (227 hp) @ 6000 rpm
203 lb⋅ft (275 N⋅m) @ 3600 rpm
T-25BB
9psi
'90–'94 RNN14 Pulsar GTI-R
Redtop
8.3:1
169 kW (227 hp) @ 6400 rpm
210 lb⋅ft (280 N⋅m) @ 4800 rpm
T-28
10.6psi
79 Trim 53 mm (2.1 in) (Inconel), .86 A/R housing
60 trim 60 mm BCI-1 in T-3 housing
'90–'95 EGNN14 Sunny GTI-R
Redtop
8.3:1
164 kW (220 hp) @ 6400 rpm
196 lb⋅ft (266 N⋅m) @ 4800 rpm
T-28
10.6psi
79 Trim 53 mm (2.1 in) (Inconel), .86 A/R housing
60 trim 60 mm BCI-1 in T-3 housing
'91–'93 S13 Silvia, 180SX
Redtop
8.5:1
151 kW (205 hp) @ 6000 rpm
203 lb⋅ft (275 N⋅m) @ 4000 rpm
T-25G
7psi
62 trim 53.8 mm (2.1 in), .80 A/R housing
60 trim 56mm BCI-1
'94–'98 S13 180SX
Blacktop
8.5:1
151 kW (205 hp) @ 6000 rpm
203 lb⋅ft (275 N⋅m) @ 4000 rpm
T-25G
7psi
62 trim 53.8 mm (2.1 in), .80 A/R housing
60 trim 56mm BCI-1
'95–'99 S14 Silvia, '95-'99 200SX (Australia, New Zealand)
Blacktop (Notchtop)
8.5:1
162 kW (217 hp) @ 6000 rpm
205 lb⋅ft (278 N⋅m) @ 4800 rpm
T-28
7psi, 14psi BB
62 trim 53.8 mm (2.1 in), .64 A/R housing, BB if from the JDM
60 trim 60 mm BCI-1 in T-04B housing
'99–'02 S15 Silvia, '00-'02 200SX (Australia, New Zealand)
Blacktop (Notchtop)
8.5:1
184 kW (247 hp) @ 6400 rpm
203 lb⋅ft (275 N⋅m) @ 4800 rpm
T-28BB
7psi stock
62 trim 53.8 mm (2.1 in) (Inconel), .64 A/R housing, cast divider wall between turbine discharge and wastegate, ball bearing center section
60 trim 60 mm BCI-1 in T-04B housing
Twin-turbo modifications
While all factory manufactured SR20DET's featured only a single turbo unit, some aftermarket tuners have engineered working twin-turbo configurations. One such kit was produced by ENDLESS Japan in 2008 and featured two GReddy TD05-16G turbines in parallel. They were mated to a custom exhaust manifold and downpipe. Major reworking of the engine bay was required in order for the twin-turbo setup to fit in correctly, as the new setup would not be able to fit properly on an unmodified engine bay. This twin-turbo setup achieved its peak power at 2.2 bar between 5,500–6,000 RPM, and costs ¥300,000.[3]
Applications
The 1999 Nissan Silvia Spec-R (S15) is powered by the SR20DET.
The SR20DET was used in a number of Nissan vehicles produced from 1989 to 2002, including the Nissan Silvia line of small compact sports cars. Below is a list of these.
