SD 33
SD 33
SD 33
Nissan Motors uses a straightforward method of naming their automobile engines. The first few
letters identify the engine family. The next digits are the displacement in deciliters. The
following letters identify features added and are order specific based on the type of feature.
Letter
Feature
Feature type
DOHC
Camshaft
Camshaft
Carburetor
Fuel delivery
Fuel delivery
Fuel delivery
Fuel delivery
Fuel delivery
LPG fueled
Fuel delivery
Supercharged
Power adder
Turbocharged
Power adder
Ti
Power adder
TT
Twin-Turbocharged
Power adder
HR
Special
Special
The features/letters follow a specific order and not all features are necessarily listed all of the
time. The basic, common features follow this general order:
[Engine family character(s)] [two-digit engine displacement in deciliters] [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
1 = Camshaft
2 = Fuel delivery
3 = Power adder
4 = 2nd power adder
5 = Special
A good example to start with is the Nissan RB26DETT engine. It belongs to the RB engine
family, displaces 26 deciliters (2.6 liters), and the feature letters describe an engine with dual
overhead camshafts, electronic port fuel injection and two turbo chargers.
The next example is the Nissan SR20DE engine. It belongs to the SR engine family and
displaces 20 deciliters (2.0 liters). The feature letters describe an engine with dual overhead
camshafts and electronic port fuel injection but leaves off any power adder descriptors because
it is a naturally aspirated engine. The popular, (single) turbocharged version of this engine is
logically called the SR20DET.
Not all features are necessarily described in the name. For example, the SR20VE engine has
dual overhead camshafts but the variable valve lift (and timing) design of the camshafts takes
precedence in the naming scheme even though the "V" feature designation doesn't necessarily
describe a DOHC arrangement.
A good example of an engine where not all of the feature designation spots are used is
the CA18ET engine. The two features listed being electronic port fuel injection designated with
the "E" and the presence of a turbocharger designed with the letter "T". The engine has a
single overhead camshaft so there is no "D" listed in the name; the camshaft type designation
place being left out completely. Nissan does not have a letter designation for the SOHC
configuration so the camshaft configuration type is assumed as SOHC if no letter is present.
Lastly, the MR16DDT engine has feature designations that describe an engine with dual
overhead camshafts, direct cylinder fuel injection and a single turbocharger. This engine also
has variable valve timing, but Nissan does not currently have a letter designation for that
feature.
Contents
[hide]
1 Straight-3
2 Straight-4
3 Straight-6
4 V6
5 V8
6 V12
7 Diesel engines
8 Wankel engine
9 Glossary
Straight-3[edit]
Straight-4[edit]
Nissan's Straight-4 engines include:
Straight-6[edit]
Nissan's Straight-6 engines include:
19651976? Nissan H engine 3.0 L H30 (See Straight-4 above for other H
engines)
19801988 Nissan SD engine - Series Two Diesel 3.3 L SD33, SD33T (See
Straight-4 above for other SD engines.)
V6[edit]
Nissan's V6 engines include:
V8[edit]
Nissan's V8 engines include:
V12[edit]
Nissan's V12 engines include:
Diesel engines[edit]
12CY,
Wankel engine[edit]
Nissan showed a prototype Wankel rotary engine at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1972, but it
never reached production. [1]
Glossary[edit]
VVL or Variable Valve and Lift is a Nissan automobile variable valve timing technology.
VVEL or Variable Valve Event and Lift is a Nissan automobile variable valve
timing technology.