Nissan QR20DE

The Nissan QR20DE is an inline 2.0 liter (1,998 cc, 121.92 cu in) four-cylinder, four-stroke cycle gasoline engine from Nissan QR-family.

The QR20DE engine has an aluminum block and cylinder head, dual overhead camshaft (DOHC), four-valve designs with continuously variable valve timing (CVTC) on the intake camshaft, individual ignition coils, electronic throttle, and multi-point fuel injection system.

An 89.0 mm (3.504 in) cylinder bore and 80.3 mm (3.161 in) piston stroke give the engine a total of 2.0 L of displacement. Compression ratio rating is 9.9:1.

The Nissan QR20DE produced from 96 kW (130 PS, 128 HP) at 5,600 rpm to 110 kW (150 PS, 147 HP) at 6,000 rpm of horsepower and from 178 N·m (131 lb·ft) at 4,400 rpm to 200 N·m (148 lb·ft) at 4,000 rpm of torque.

The breakdown of the engine code is as follows:

• QR – Engine Family
• 20 – 2.0 Liter Displacement
• D – DOHC (Dual Overhead Camshafts)
• E – Multi Point Fuel Injection

General information

Cylinder block

The QR20DE has an aluminium block, cylinder bore is 89.0 mm (3.504 in) and piston stroke is 80.3 mm (3.161 in), compression ratio is 9.9:1.

The pistons are each fitted with two compression rings and a single oil ring, connecting rods are 153 mm long. The crankshaft for the QR20DE engine has two balancer shafts and supported by five main bearings.

Lower cylinder block tightening procedure and torque specs:

• M8 bolts: 25.1 Nm; 2.6 kg·m; 19 ft·lb
• M10 bolts: 39.2 Nm; 4.0 kg·m; 29 ft·lb

Connecting rods torque:

• Step 1: 19.6 Nm; 2.0 kg·m; 14 ft·lb

Cylinder head

The engine has an aluminum cylinder head with two chain-driven overhead camshafts and variable valve timing (CVTC) on the intake camshaft. Intake valves are 35 mm in diameter, intake duration is 236 °, and the exhaust valves are 30 mm, exhaust duration is 212 °. The QR20DE does not have hydraulic lifters, so special valve lifters are used to adjust the valve clearance.

Head tightening procedure and torque specs:

• Step 1: 50.0 Nm; 5.1 kg·m; 37 ft·lb
• Step 2: Turn all bolts 60° clockwise
• Step 3: Loosen all bolts completely
• Step 4: 39.2 Nm; 4.0 kg·m; 29 ft·lb
• Step 5: Turn all bolts 75°
• Step 6: Turn all bolts 75° again

Camshaft brackets bolts procedure and torque specs:

• Step 1: 2.0 Nm; 0.2 kg·m; 1 ft·lb
• Step 2: 5.9 Nm; 0.6 kg·m; 4 ft·lb
• Step 3: 10.4 Nm; 1.1 kg·m; 8 ft·lb

Problems and malfunctions

The service life of the QR20DE engine is about 120,000 miles of mileage (200,000 km). The valve clearance needs to be adjusted every 60,000 miles of mileage (90,000 km).

Frequent problems and malfunctions:

1. Oil leaks from under the cylinder head cover. That problem fixes by installing the new gasket.
2. Idle problems, jerking. The problem in the stretched timing chain. It often happens on the first generation of the engines. A new timing chain will allow you to forget about any issues related to bad timing chain.
3. The QR20DE motor is difficult to start in the cold weather. (below -20° C)
4. If the engine was produced till 2004, the catalyst is not long-life part.
5. The thermostat is not an example of reliability and you can easily to overheat aluminum cylinder block.
6. High oil consumption. If your oil consumption exceeds 1 qt. per 1500 miles (0,5L per 1000 km), then the piston rings and valve oil seals need to be replaced.

Maintenance data

Valve clearance adjustment data

Calculate the thickness of new adjusting valve lifter so valve clearance comes within specified values.

R = Thickness of removed valve lifter
N = Thickness of new valve lifter
M = Measured valve clearance

Intake:
N = R + [M – 0.28 mm (0.011 in)]
Exhaust:
N = R + [M – 0.30 mm (0.012 in)]

Valve lifters are available in 26 sizes from 6.96 mm (0.2740 in) to 7.46 mm (0.2937 in), in steps of 0.02 mm (0.0008 in).

Example (intake valve):
R = 7.10 mm
M = 0.36 mm
N = 7.10 + (0.36 – 0.28) = 7.18 mm, so we need a valve lifter with code 718.

Whenever valve clearances are adjusted to cold specifications, check that the clearances satisfy hot specifications and adjust again if necessary.

Vehicle applications

Author: Sergei Wers
About: Co-founder and CEO of a multi-brand auto repair shop (engine repair, chassis repair, body repair and painting) for over 15 years. I have been developing internet sites with technical specifications for more than seven years.