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

Engine Specifications
Engine code	QR20DE
Layout	Four stroke, Inline-4 (Straight-4)
Fuel type	Gasoline
Production	2000-
Displacement	2.0 L, 1,998 cc (121.92 cu in)
Fuel system	Multi Point Fuel Injection
Power adder	None
Power output	96 kW (130 PS, 128 HP) at 6,000 rpm 100 kW (136 PS, 134 HP) at 6,000 rpm 103 kW (140 PS, 138 HP) at 5,800 rpm 103 kW (140 PS, 138 HP) at 6,000 rpm 108 kW (147 PS, 145 HP) at 6,000 rpm 110 kW (150 PS, 148 HP) at 6,000 rpm
Torque output	178 N·m (131 lb·ft) at 4,400 rpm 192 N·m (142 lb·ft) at 4,000 rpm 198 N·m (146 lb·ft) at 4,000 rpm 200 N·m (148 lb·ft) at 4,000 rpm
Firing order	1-3-4-2
Dimensions (L x H x W):	–
Weight	330 lbs (150 kg)

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.

Cylinder block
Cylinder block alloy		Aluminium
Compression ratio:		9.9:1
Cylinder bore:		89.0 mm (3.504 in)
Piston stroke:		80.3 mm (3.161 in)
Number of piston rings (compression / oil):		2 / 1
Number of main bearings:		5
Block Height:		–
Cylinder inner diameter (standard):		89.010-89.020 mm (3.5043-3.5047 in)
Piston skirt diameter (standard):		88.990-89.000 mm (3.5035-3.5039 in)
Piston pin outer diameter:		19.989-19.995 mm (0.7870-0.7872 in)
Piston ring side clearance:	Top	0.045-0.080 mm (0.0018-0.0031 in)
	Second	0.030-0.070 mm (0.0012-0.0028 in)
	Oil	0.065-0.135 mm (0.0026-0.0053 in)
Piston ring end gap:	Top	0.21-0.31 mm (0.0083-0.0122 in)
	Second	0.32-0.47 mm (0.0126-0.0185 in)
	Oil	0.20-0.60 mm (0.0080-0.0240 in)
Connecting rod center distance:		152.85-152.95 mm (6.018-6.022 in)
Connectin rod small end inner diameter:		20.000 mm (0.7874 in)
Connectin rod big end inner diameter:		48.000 mm (1.8898 in)
Crankshaft journal diameter:		54.979-54.978 mm (2.1645-2.1645 in)
Crankpin diameter:		44.974-44.973 mm (1.7706-1.7706 in)

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.

Cylinder head
Cylinder head alloy		Aluminum
Cylinder head height:		–
Valve Arrangement:		DOHC, chain drive
Valves:		16 (4 valves per cylinder)
Intake/Exhaust duration:		236/212 °
Valve head diameter:	INTAKE	35.5-35.8 mm (1.398-1.409 in)
	EXHAUST	30.5-30.8 mm (1.201-1.213 in)
Valve length:	INTAKE	97.16 mm (3.8252 in)
	EXHAUST	98.82 mm (3.8905 in)
Valve stem diameter:	INTAKE	5.965-5.980 mm (0.2348-0.2354 in)
	EXHAUST	5.955-5.970 mm (0.2344-0.2350 in)
Cam height:	INTAKE	45.015-45.205 mm (1.7722-1.7797 in)
	EXHAUST	42.825-43.015 mm (1.6860-1.6935 in)
Outer camshaft journal diameter:	№1	27.935-27.955 mm (1.0998-1.1006 in)
	№2-5	23.435-23.455 mm (0.9226-0.9234 in)

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 (HOT)
Intake valve	0.304-0.416 mm (0.012-0.016 in)
Exhaust valve	0.308-0.432 mm (0.012-0.017 in)
Compression pressure
Standard	12.1 kg/cm2 (11.9 bar, 173 psi) / 250 rpm
Minimun	10.1 kg/cm2 (9.9 bar, 144 psi) / 250 rpm
Compression differential limit between cylinders	1 kg/cm2 (0.98 bar, 14 psi) / 250 rpm
Oil system
Oil consumption , L/1000 km (qt. per miles)	up to 0.5 (1 qt. per 1200 miles)
Recommended engine oil	5W-20 5W-30 10W-30 10W-40
Oil type API	API: SG, SH, SJ, SL ILSAC: GF-1, GF-2, GF-3
Engine oil capacity (Refill capacity)	With filter change 3.9 l (4.1 qt.) Without filter change 3.7 l (3.9 qt.)
Oil change interval, km (miles)	5,000-10,000 (3,000-6,000)
Oil Pressure, kPa (bar, kg/cm 2, psi)	Idle speed: More than 98 (0.98, 1.0, 14) 2,000 rpm: More than 294 (2.94, 3.0, 43)
Ignition system
Spark plug	Standard: PLFR5A-11 (NGK, Platinum type) Cold: PLFR6A-11 (NGK, Platinum type) Hot: PLFR4A-11 (NGK, Platinum type)
Spark plug gap	1.1 mm (0.043 in)
Spark plug torque	24.5 N·m (2.5 kg·m; 18 lb·ft)

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.

	For adjusting	For checking
	Cold	Hot
Intake	0.24 – 0.32 mm (0.009 – 0.013 in)	0.304 – 0.416 mm (0.012 – 0.016 in)
Exhaust	0.26 – 0.34 mm (0.010 – 0.013 in)	0.308 – 0.432 mm (0.012 – 0.017 in)

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

Vehicle applications

Model	Years Produced
Nissan X-Trail T30	2001-2007
Nissan Primera P12	2001-2007
Nissan Serena C24	2002–
Nissan Teana J31	2003-2008
Nissan Wingroad Y11	2001-2005
Nissan Avenir W11	2002-2005
Nissan Prairie / Liberty M12	2001-2004
Nissan Caravan E25	2007-2010
Nissan NV350 Caravan E26	–