The Nissan VQ30DE-K is a 3.0 l (2,988 cc, 182.33 cu.in.) natural aspirated V6 60° 4-stroke gasoline engine from Nissan VQ-family. The Nissan VQ30DEK is an improved version of the VQ30DE engine. It was used in the 2000–2001 Nissan Maxima and Infiniti I30.
The Nissan VQ30DEK engine used the same design as the VQ30DE, but it has dual-runner intake manifold for better high-end performance and other camshafts.
Cylinder bore and piston stroke are 93.0 mm (3.66 in) and 73.3 mm (2.886 in), respectively. Compression ratio rating is 10:1. The Nissan VQ30DEK engine produced from 225 PS (165 kW, 222 HP) to 230 PS (169 kW, 227 HP) at 6,400 rpm and 294 Nm (29.9 kg⋅m, 217 lb⋅ft) at 4,400 rpm.
The breakdown of the engine code is as follows:
- VQ – Engine Family
- 30 – 3.0 Liter Displacement
- D – DOHC (Dual Overhead Camshafts)
- E – Multi Point Fuel Injection
- K – kaizen which translates to “improvement”.
General information
| Engine Specifications | |
| Engine code | VQ30DE-K |
| Layout | Four stroke, V6 |
| Fuel type | Gasoline (petrol) |
| Production | – |
| Displacement | 3.0 L, 2,988 cm3 (182.33 cu in) |
| Fuel system | Multi Point Fuel Injection |
| Power adder | None |
| Power output | 225 PS (165 kW, 222 HP) at 6,400 rpm 227 PS (167 kW, 224 HP) at 6,400 rpm 230 PS (170 kW, 227 HP) at 6,400 rpm |
| Torque output | 294 Nm (29.9 kg⋅m, 217 lb⋅ft) at 4,400 rpm |
| Firing order | 1-2-3-4-5-6 |
| Dimensions (L x W x H): | – |
| Weight | – |
Cylinder block
The VQ30DEK has an aluminum cylinder block with a four-bearings crankshaft supported system, forged steel connecting rods, a micro-finished one-piece forged crankshaft. The crankshaft journal diameter is 60 mm (2.36 in), the crankpin diameter is 45 mm (1.78 in). The cylinder block height is 215 mm (8.46 in.)
The cylinder bore is 93.0 mm (3.66 in), piston stroke is 73.3 mm (2.886 in) and compression ratio rating is 10:1. The Nissan VQ30DEK motor has two compression and one oil control rings. The connecting rod’s length are 147.7 mm (5.81 in)
| Cylinder block | ||
| Cylinder block alloy | Aluminium | |
| Compression ratio: | 10.0:1 | |
| Cylinder bore: | 93.0 mm (3.66 in) | |
| Piston stroke: | 73.3 mm (2.886 in) | |
| Number of piston rings (compression / oil): | 2 / 1 | |
| Number of main bearings: | 4 | |
| Cylinder inner diameter (standard): | 93.000-93.010 mm (3.66141-3.6618 in) | |
| Piston skirt diameter (standard): | 92.979-92.988 mm (3.6606-3.6609 in) | |
| Piston pin outer diameter: | 21.989-22.001 mm (0.8657-0.8662 in) | |
| Connecting rod bushing inner diameter: | 22.000-22.012 mm (0.8661-0.8666 in) | |
| Connecting rod big end diameter: | 48.000 mm (1.8898 in) | |
| Connecting rod center distance: | 147.60-147.70 mm (5.8110-5.8149 in) | |
| Piston ring side clearance: | Top | 0.040-0.080 mm (0.0016-0.0031 in) |
| Second | 0.030-0.070 mm (0.0012-0.0028 in) | |
| Oil | 0.015-0.185 mm (0.0006-0.0073 in) | |
| Piston ring end gap: | Top | 0.22-0.32 mm (0.0087-0.0126 in) |
| Second | 0.32-0.47 mm (0.0126-0.0185 in) | |
| Oil | 0.20-0.69 mm (0.0079-0.0272 in) | |
| Crankshaft main journal diameter: | 59.975 mm (2.3612 in) | |
| Crankpin diameter: | 44.974 mm (1.7706 in) | |
| Crankshaft center distance: | 36.61-36.69 mm (1.4413-1.4445 in) | |
Main bearing cap bolts tightening procedure and torque specs:
- Step 1: 32-38 Nm; 3.3-3.9 kg·m; 24-28 ft·lb
- Step 2: Turn all bolts 90-95°
After securing bearing cap bolts, make sure crankshaft turns smoothly by hand.
Connecting rod bearing nut
- Step 1: 19-21 Nm; 1.9-2.1 kg·m; 14-15 ft·lb
- Step 2: Turn nuts 90-95°
Crankshaft pulley bolt
- Step 1: 39-49 Nm; 4.0-5.0 kg·m; 29-36 ft·lb
- Step 2: Put a paint mark on the crankshaft pulley
- Step 3: Again tighten by turning 60-65°, about the angle from one hexagon bolt head corner to another.
Flywheel (M/T) or Drive plate (A/T) fixing bolts
- 83-93 Nm; 8.5-9.5 kg·m; 61-69 ft·lb
Cylinder head
The cylinder head is made of strong, light aluminum alloy which gives it good cooling efficiency. The camshafts are driven by single primary and two secondary chains. The primary timing chain transmits the rotational movement from the crankshaft to the intake camshafts, the secondary chains connects intake and exhaust sprocket on each head respectively.
The intake valve diameter is 36.0 mm (1.41 in), the duration is 224° and the exhaust valve diameter is 31.2 mm (1.23 in), the duration is 232°. The VQ30DE-K motor does not have hydraulic lifters, so special valve lifters are used to adjust the valve clearance.
| Cylinder head | ||
| Block head alloy | Aluminium | |
| Valve Arrangement: | DOHC, chain drive | |
| Cylinder head height: | 126.3-126.5 mm (4.97-4.98 in) | |
| Valves: | 24 (4 valves per cylinder) | |
| Intake valve timing: | 224° | |
| Exhaust valve timing: | 232° | |
| Valve head diameter: | INTAKE | 36.0-36.3 mm (1.417-1.429 in) |
| EXHAUST | 31.2-31.5 mm (1.228-1.240 in) | |
| Valve length: | INTAKE | 97.32-97.82 mm (3.8315-3.8512 in) |
| EXHAUST | 94.85-95.35 mm (3.7342-3.7539 in) | |
| Valve stem diameter: | INTAKE | 5.965-5.980 mm (0.2348-0.2354 in) |
| EXHAUST | 5.945-5.960 mm (0.2341-0.2346 in) | |
| Valve spring free length: | INTAKE | 47.10 mm (1.8543 in) |
| EXHAUST | 47.10 mm (1.8543 in) | |
| Exhaust camshaft journal diameter: | №1 | 25.935-25.955 mm (1.0211-1.0218 in) |
| №2, 3, 4, 5 | 23.445-23.465 mm (0.9230-0.9238 in) | |
| Camshaft cam height: | INTAKE | 43.940-44.130 mm (1.7299-1.7374 in) |
| EXHAUST | 44.465-44.655 mm (1.7506-1.7581 in) | |
Head tightening procedure and torque specs:
- Step 1: 98 Nm; 10.0 kg·m; 72 ft·lb
- Step 2: Loosen all bolts completely
- Step 3: 34-44 kg·m; 3.5-4.5 kg·m; 25-33 ft·lb
- Step 4: Turn all bolts 90-95°
- Step 5: Turn all bolts another 90-95°
Camshaft sprocket bolts
- 119-128 Nm; 12.1-13.1 kg·m; 88-95 ft·lb
Problems and malfunctions
The Nissan VQ30DE-K is reliable and durable. The engine has three timing chains, their service life is about 150,000 miles of mileage (200,000-250,000 km). The valve clearance needs to be adjusted every 60,000 miles of mileage (90,000 km). The Nissan VQ30DEK life expectancy is 200,000 miles of mileage (300,000 km).
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 | 13.0 kg/cm2 (185 psi) / 300 rpm |
| Minimun | 10.0 kg/cm2 (142 psi) / 300 rpm |
| Compression differential limit between cylinders | 1.0 kg/cm2 (15 psi) / 300 rpm |
| Oil system | |
| Oil consumption , L/1000 km (qt. per miles) | up to 0.5 (1 qt. per 1200 miles) |
| Recommended engine oil | 5W-30, 10W-30, 10W-40 |
| Oil type API | SG,SH or SJ |
| Engine oil capacity (Refill capacity) | With filter change 4.0 L Without filter change 3.7 L |
| Oil change interval, km (miles) | 6,000 (3,000) |
| Oil Pressure, kPa (kg/cm 2, psi) | Idle speed: More than 98 (1.0, 14) 2,000 rpm: More than 294 (3.0, 43) |
| Ignition system | |
| Spark plug | Standard: PLFR5A-11 (NGK) Hot type: PLFR4A-11 (NGK) Cold type: PLFR6A-11 (NGK) |
| Spark plug gap | 1.1 mm (0.043 in) |
| Spark plug tightening torque | 20-29 Nm (2.0-3.0 kg⋅m, 14-22 ft⋅lb) |
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 – 0.30 mm (0.012 in)]
Exhaust:
N = R + [M – 0.34 mm (0.013 in)]
Valve lifters are available in 64 sizes range from 2.32 mm (0.0913 in) to 2.95 mm (0.1161 in), in steps of 0.01 (0.0004 in).
Example (exhaust valve):
R = 2.20 mm
M = 0.52 mm
N = 2.20 + (0.52 – 0.34) = 2.38 mm, so we need a valve lifter with identification mark 238.
| Cold | Hot | |
| Intake | 0.26-0.34 mm (0.010-0.013 in) | 0.304-0.416 mm (0.012-0.016 in) |
| Exhaust | 0.29-0.37 mm (0.011-0.015 in) | 0.308-0.432 mm (0.012-0.017 in) |
Vehicle applications
| Model | Years Produced |
| Nissan Maxima (A33) | 2000–2001 |
| Infiniti I30 (A33) | 2000–2001 |
Author:
great info. my 1996 maxima is the best running car I have ever had.
this does not apply to your car…. you have a VQ30de
What about a swap?