Why are KA24DE motors such piles of sh*t [Archive] - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

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91240sxhatch

07-26-2004, 04:32 PM

TokyoNights

07-26-2004, 04:41 PM

I say headgasket

nightwalker

07-26-2004, 05:53 PM

it's the owner's fault. My KA serves me just fine cause I take the extra measures like compression check, leakdown test, change water pump, etc.

SRs are not different. I'm sure there is a large number of people who will tell you SRs are ass. Once again, -->owner.

Live and learn

mrmephistopheles

07-26-2004, 07:24 PM

it's owners that suck, not engines. (generally)
I've put many a hard mile and drift event on the KA in my car with no apparent ill effect. If you take care of your motor/car they will take care of you.

EchoOfSilence

07-26-2004, 07:28 PM

I say you have a messed up piston ring. IT's exactly what happened to my sohc in my 1st s13. running on four with low compression, then one day i start up and it's running on 3. apparently it was spitting up oil onto my spark plug, and when it dried, it didn't let it fire. and the gap was severely tampered with because of the high level of heat cuz it was burning. and yes, the motor was already messed up when i bought the car. i was actually waiting for it to blow, but i got in an accident not too long after.

So i say you check your spark plugs for a clue.

BSeay

07-26-2004, 07:45 PM

Sounds like the owner of the motor and not the motor itself... proper care prevents poor performance... :naughtyd:

thx247

07-26-2004, 09:49 PM

Mine works fine...

Salty_X

07-26-2004, 10:11 PM

i just put a new KA (100k miles)
What everybody else said. A lot can happen to an engine in 100,000 miles.

nissantuner22

07-26-2004, 10:12 PM

a well taken care of engine with 240,000 will outperform an engine with 30,000 that was never broken in properly, or abused.

andrave

07-26-2004, 10:34 PM

my ka engine gives great head and runs strong and gets good gas mileage even though I'm pretty sure the head gasket is leaking when it gets hot. My last one ran good too. And I have a DE downstairs I'm rebuilding and putting back together.
I love the ka.

ryan hagen

07-26-2004, 10:36 PM

mine was very durable at 154K it had 20psi oil pressure max, 15 at idle, it ran decent until oil pressure hit 6 psi then spun a rod bearing and still made it 4 miles with about 0 oil pressure. i beat it alot but changed the oil at 2500 and always added and my motor was severly beat and not taken care of by the last owner, when i bought it the oil looked like tar.........159K R.I.P.

Bbandit

07-26-2004, 10:44 PM

my old KA had leaking valve seals. I bought it at 150k and drove the living shit out of it until 174k.. (bunch of autoX and other events). at 174k before I swapped a 95 KA, it still ran like a champ! prolly because I took care of it like it was my first born. :)

Check for the compression on that motor and see if you have even numbers all the way... If you do.. then one of your injector might die on you.

sykikchimp

07-27-2004, 09:28 AM

White smoke = Burning coolant. - head gasket.

Blue smoke = oil
Black smoke = Fuel

Dream240

07-27-2004, 09:47 AM

I'm trying to redeem my self from last night's blunder.

KA motors are excellent durable engines that will run as long as you take care of them. Along with the B series motors and the 2JZ motor, all built like brick houses. The main factor is abuse and neglect. Also it's easy to trash ANY motor if your running high boost and not using the proper cooling methods and maintenance schedules.
As was previously mentioned, it's all about the owner.
Don't mis-understand, there are ALOT of POS motors out there. (Dare I say most domestics....?) It's not the engine itself really but the design put into the engines. Just poor engineering really. For example I did maintenance on a 91' Cavalier with 40,000 miles on it for....get this....freeze plugs!! I mean when I pulled the plugs I found that it was extremely poor in craftsmanship and design (too thin). I mean how many times have you ever found a freeze plug in an import to be leaking after 40,000 miles? Not alot. that's just one example.

So really your KA motors aren't crap, they're just in a crappy state due to lack of maintenance, not necessarily from you.

Wei240

07-27-2004, 10:02 AM

apparently it's just your motor that's crap, unlucky you

as you can see, people can attest to how durable the ka is... mine is still running strong nearing 200k.

kandyflip445

07-27-2004, 11:35 AM

I swear it's the magazines putting those ideas in to peoples' heads.

Steeles

07-27-2004, 11:55 AM

ha the KA I pulled form my S14 at 130,000 miles is still running strong nin the S13 we put it in last I heard., and thats after my moronic brother tortured it for two years.

Dream240

07-27-2004, 12:30 PM

I swear it's the magazines putting those ideas in to peoples' heads.

Yeah that's true. Everytime I read something about the KA it always includes the words, "Anemic, underpowered, outdated, etc." But let's face it, it was originally designed for a truck! Also I don't think it's that bad for an NA engine. And the potential is there for boost especially with the displacement advantage. I think alot of these magazines are just feeding peoples desire to ride the JDM bandwagon. But on the contrary, in the past I've seen a couple of articles on a turbo KA pushing 400rwhp. So yeah there are some occasional props given.

phrozen

07-27-2004, 12:57 PM

just hit 210k and still runs strong. the tranny on the other hand is another story....

Eternal_240Sx

07-27-2004, 01:58 PM

my ka engine gives great head

im sure it does. lol

AN89HATCH

07-27-2004, 03:54 PM

my kae is close to 190k and will be at 5lbs of boost and still runs fine

stinky_180

07-27-2004, 05:19 PM

260,000 miles on my KA24DE and still runinng strong.. on a 92'

mutkung

07-27-2004, 09:25 PM

swap my at 200k still running but had a valve cover gasket leak.
got a new engine with 19k from 96 run great... :D

orion::S14

07-27-2004, 09:26 PM

But let's face it, it was originally designed for a truck!

Not so...

It just so happens that it is used in Nissan pickup trucks, but:

1) There are many differences between the truck KA and the 240SX KA.

2) The 240SX utilized the KA first.

Nissan D21 pickups didn't start using the KA24E until Aug 1989 production
date...they used the L series before that.

http://www.datsuns.com/modelguide/truckcodes.htm

- - - - -

This is a misconception or internet myth...it's false.

- Brian

kandyflip445

07-28-2004, 12:37 AM

I was actually going to say that, about the KA being used in a car first. The "truck motor" thing came from magazines also..... :doh:

nightwalker

07-28-2004, 12:57 AM

FUCK magazines!

except fuck magazines. They're cool

idlafie

07-28-2004, 02:41 AM

i just put a new KA(100k miles) in my s13 to go get it smogged, and the last one i had died too. i was going up a hill and it just lost a lot of power and i pulled over.

it was still idling, but it sounded like it was on 3 cylinders, and there was a lot of white smoke coming out the back, but it almost smelled like gas, and when i turned off the car it would not start again.

what do you guys think it is. i hate this motor, i want my SR back. headgasket? fuel pump? pls help. thanks guys.

Hahahah.....okay think about this one for a minute....

I just put a NEW KA, (100K miles).......

Okay...that tells me one of two things....1). that you replaced your other motor with a used KA that had a 100k miles on it OR 2). that you bought a rebuilt motor with 0 miles on it

Okay...so which is it??

If you bought a used KA motor with 100K on it, what makes you think it's gonna run better than the one you are replacing?? Used motors don't usually come with a guarantee...you take your chances when you buy it. Best bet is take it back to the place you got it from & tell them they sold you a bad motor.....IF you're lucky they might give you a replacement for dirt cheap...or maybe even for free...depends on how generous the shop is feeling. If you bought it from a private party, then you're probably screwed.....Just out of curiousity, did you do a compression test BEFORE you took delivery of the motor? Cuz if you didn't, shame on you!!! Consider this a lesson learned.

Now if you bought a rebuilt motor with 0 miles on it, then what makes you think they did a good job rebuilding it?? If you're lucky the place that sold it to you will exchange it under warranty. Most places that rebuild motors will warranty for a time.

Anyhow, good luck...you're gonna need it!!!
ID
'95 SE

BlackS14

07-28-2004, 06:24 AM

White smoke = Burning coolant. - head gasket.

Blue smoke = oil
Black smoke = Fuel

Not exactly always true.....a couple of weeks ago I wouldn't have stated this, but after my incindent I believe otherwise. After getting my motor back together after being down for about a month and a half.....I went for a drive and while sitting in traffic, the car started to miss, sputter, and started billowing white smoke out the back. I figured I too had lost a headgasket, but after talking to a few folks that had the same thing happen, I was told it might have been in injector seal that went.

So I pulled all the injectors and sure enough one of the lower seals had bulged creating a huge leak dumping gas in my number one cylinder.....weird I know, but I replaced all the seals, changed my oil, and did a quick compression check and got 182 across the board. Since then I have put 2,000 miles on her and she runs stronger than ever before.....

Morral of story...check injector o-rings first.

-Bill

Dream240

07-28-2004, 07:16 AM

Not so...

It just so happens that it is used in Nissan pickup trucks, but:

1) There are many differences between the truck KA and the 240SX KA.

2) The 240SX utilized the KA first.

Nissan D21 pickups didn't start using the KA24E until Aug 1989 production
date...they used the L series before that.

This is a misconception or internet myth...it's false.

- Brian

Ha! You're right! I didn't even consider this but yeah the old L series was the truck engines before the KA workhorse. And with that info yes the truck came second because the 240 started production in 88'. And one of the biggest differences between the two are the intake setups used. Interesting factoid....thanks!! I love reading about shit like this.

Startours7

07-28-2004, 03:45 PM

FallbrookS13

08-02-2004, 10:01 AM

black s14 i had a similar event occur to me. when i first bought my 93 fastback it was running like shit. was only running on 3 cylinders. i would pull the spark plug wire while the motor was running and it wouldn't change anything. i could also unplug the injector and wouldnt change how it was runing either. what ended up happening was the injector was stuck open and pissing gas into the cylinder. too much fuel for the spark to ignite. i pulled the spark plug and unplugged the inject and turned the motor over and gas was shooting out of the cylinder. did that for a lil while to try and get all the extra fuel out of there. replaced the spark plugs and got a new injector. now it runs like a champ. when you say that it was white smoke and smells like gas...sounds to me like one of your cylinders isnt firing and the excess gas is going right out the exhaust. if you keep running the car like this your going to bend a rod.

G_Fish240

08-02-2004, 12:26 PM

you guys get baited by trolls too easy

91240sxhatch

09-03-2004, 01:41 AM

whoa! you guys rule. yeah, i take it back KA's arent bad, but SR's rule

brianglawson

09-03-2004, 07:56 AM

Unless yours looks like this quit wining, and this one was from an extremely abusive owner with 207k and hewas at like 4-5 grand in 4th and downshiftted to 2nd and blew it...ka's are tough motors, period
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid92/p1edd5581e84f7eec357f7f9f758ab464/fa555650.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid112/p91bfe0e6401a826d4206f53be9a1345d/f8f71fdb.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid112/pceabe8fe7ef388e46ed7cffaaf56838e/f8f71fd4.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid112/p8c3fdb8234c77bd0344c77206a38504d/f8f7202b.jpg

Red

09-03-2004, 09:02 AM

whoa! you guys rule. yeah, i take it back KA's arent bad, but SR's rule

Great another SR20 fool.

mrmephistopheles

09-03-2004, 09:59 AM

whoa! you guys rule. yeah, i take it back KA's arent bad, but SR's rule

STFU troll.

theicecreamdan

09-03-2004, 10:26 AM

there are ALOT of POS motors out there. (Dare I say most domestics....?) .

Well I have had 2 high mileage Chevys so far, and still have a big block ford in my 84 f250 and I'll stand by those engines anyday. my first car had 200k+ miles on it when I got it and had been trashed by the previous owner, I drove it for a year and trashed the hell out of it, never changed the oil and always drove around like a 16 year old kid with a v8. That engine is still in the car and if I had'nt used it for a parts car then that high output 305 would still be running strong today.

Same with the 460 in my ford, I'll talk shit about fords all day but when it comes down to it that truck will start up any day of the week and still run strong with a spun bearing due to somebody running it too long 3 quarts low, one easy fix.

only shitty thing about V8s is how much they use gas... but :gives:

Red

09-03-2004, 11:15 AM

I put engines in the same boat as computers.

Its the users that end up screwing it up. :)

180fan

09-03-2004, 11:49 AM

Did you compression test it? Do a plug read? There has to be something more concrete than just "it's running like poo" to be able to figure out a poorly running motor.

drift freaq

09-03-2004, 12:32 PM

Nissan trucks used the Z24 and the z24i IIRC.
I know the patrols used the "L" mabey some of the 720's

Anyway...I have two KA's
A DE with 189,000 in a 92 240 (runs like a champ, beat like a step child, taken care of like a baby.)

and an E with 82,000 in a 97 Hardbody (runs even better, also beat like a step child and taken care of like a baby.)

Don't you be talking shit about my motors. They might kick your ass.

Ha Ha my sohc is younger then my dual.

z24 and z24i are both L series derived engines as is the KA as was FJ and the RB. The CA is a 4 cylinder RB and is also related to the L series.
all of these engines lines are directy descendants from the L series which was a mercedes all aluminum design that Nissan bought off Mercedes in 1962. If You don't believe me go look at a 62 mercedes 220 it will have a little 4 cylinder in it that looks amazingly familar because it is.
Nissan remade the block in steel because Mercedes was having problems with the aluminum bottom end.
The SR came from a completely different line of engine family.

I am running a 92 KAde with 205 thousand miles and it pulls like a mother and passes socal smog II . Proof the engines are stout well built and not pieces of shit like all the bashers would like to have people beleive.

brianglawson

09-04-2004, 07:56 AM

except for the fact that prince(it wasnt nissan who design the l series it was prince) didnt actually buy it.... the story was that they copied the design of the benz motor, i know they didnt buy it..

240sxconversion

09-04-2004, 08:20 AM