Making SR20 Reliable

[Skinny]

Hey guys,
i did a search, and couldn't find anything on this topic


But I wondering what are some of the weak points on a SR20?

I know the Oil pan, and pick up is one part of the motor

what about head stuff(studs, valve springs, valve rockers, etc)

I was going to start drifting this JDM Silvia i just got. I want to make the motor reliable for minimal down time. I am trying to keep the power down
to learn on at first. but once i get better i will start adding power.


So if anyone can point me in the right direction, that would be awesome!

[SpdElemts]

An sr20 is pretty much reliable in stock form...well mine was when stock. But if you want to make an sr20 reliable i would probably work on keeping the oil as cool as possible with a oil cooler and getting a bigger oil pan. sr20's are so oil dependent that keeping the oil cool will save you a lot of trouble. Also sr's tend to run hot so the next best thing to do is to get a bigger radiator like a koyo and a lower temp thermostat. Hope i helped good luck learning how to drift your JDM Silvia.

[yokotas13]

didnt know an SR20 was unreliable?

[mrmephistopheles]

yeah, this isn't like a rotary*, where they're unreliable by their very nature.

Regular oil changes, clean air & oil filters, change fuel filter and plugs every so often and you should be fine.


*I'm not bagging on rotaries here. I'm just saying, stick your head under the hood of an FC or FD at operating temperature and tell me that that's a conducive environment for reliability.

[blu808]

lol. weld the oil pickup, oil cooler, rocker arm stoppers, thermostat, rad. done.


If you are upgrading the turbo and plan to beat on the car.


Head studs. hg, and a right foot that knows every motor cant be run 100% all the time.

:ugh: :)

[Skinny]

I wont be upgradeing the turbo until i am deece at drifting, and i know i can handle the power. Plus i was just going to put on a T28 turbo.

Awesome guys, i was basically correct with what i needed to do!
well kinda.

[!Zar!]

A motor is only reliable as the tune that's on it. Rotaries included. =)

[StaticX27]

^ +1, except add owner's negligence as a determining factor in motor reliability.

[Skinny]

A motor is only reliable as the tune that's on it. Rotaries included. =)

I was going to go Rom tuning, and get a wide band to help with that.


EDIT:
do you guys suggest any places to get Rockerarm stoppers, and a Oil pan/pick up?
I was going to get the Greedy oil pan, but didnt quite know what brand of Pick up, and rockerarm stoppers i should get!

[BlackZenkiS14]

Sr20's are plenty reliable, as much as any motor is, if you take care of it.

Oil, coolant, airflow, the basics.

I've been daily driving my Sr20 at 17psi for almost 3 years now. 14 drift days, 35+ passes at the drag strip, and weekly street racing and drifting sessions. Not 1 single problem with the motor or anything ever. The turbo is just finalyl now on its way out. and it has almost 90k on it :D

[yokotas13]

fuck man
i ran diesel into my shit
drove for liek a mile
shit cut off
i drained the fuel
added some 103
started right up
no damage liek 6 months later

[bardabe]

fuck man
i ran diesel into my shit
drove for liek a mile
shit cut off
i drained the fuel
added some 103
started right up
no damage liek 6 months later

lol how that happen??? my sister did the same in her civic. dealership had to replace the injectors, fuel pump, fuel filter, spark plugs, and a whole other wad of shit.

back on topic, SR20 is relieable if maintained correctly and regularly. so is the RB and any other motor. yes even the VG

[yokotas13]

i didnt replace shit
same filters and plugs
ran like a champ
still does lol

Apparently the green handle is Diesel in japan guys

[!Zar!]

The green handle is diesel in america.

[jobestudios]

Yeah, thats pretty much universal, you're just a dumbass... ;)

[mrmephistopheles]

Apparently the green handle is Diesel in japan guys

The green handle is diesel in america.

Stupidity, like diesel handles, is universal.

[unicoladron]

I was going to go Rom tuning, and get a wide band to help with that.


EDIT:
do you guys suggest any places to get Rockerarm stoppers, and a Oil pan/pick up?
I was going to get the Greedy oil pan, but didnt quite know what brand of Pick up, and rockerarm stoppers i should get!

you should be able to find a few different RAS below, also i believe you can either cut a larger hole in your current oil pickup, or get yourself an OEM s14/s15 oil pickup. if you dropped your SR in DEF check the oil pan for dents, i was very close to neglecting hammering out mine because it apepared ok, but when i removed the lower oil pan, i noticed the oil pickup was making direct contact with the pan , yikes! just hamemred it out all is well.

your new best friends:
my personal favorite: frsport.com
phase2motorsports.stores.yahoo.net
enjukuracing.com


and if desperate
heavythrottle.com (prices are a tad high for me)

[daryl337]

alot of people believe that the RAS kit alone will help you safely rev an ungodly amount, but in actuality the entire valvetrain should be upgraded just like with any motor in stock trim. Upgrade to a solid lifter design and you automatically get rid of the mushy hydraulic ones. Retainers and springs help make sure you dont get valve float during high rpms.

As far as the bottom end goes, I think these motors are essentially tanks. Their crank walk keepers are sturdy, the oil lubricating systems (aside from the pick up and the pan) are great with the exception of the casting of the pump internally. In order to keep anything from frothing at super high rpms you might want to make an upgrade to the oil pump by either shaving some material off of the casting, or upgrading to the GTIR pump which require a little modification for the new timing cover to fit. Other than that, the motor kicks arse. Keep in mind you dont have to start thinking of this stuff until you are really making the motor scream, for midrange RPMS you dont have to worry as much. The SR is a warm running motor from the get go, so make sure you keep your baby cool with the proper fan and rad set up. I personally am going with an electric water pump myself. :)

[johngriff]

Proper range plugs help alot, I've pulled alot of bkr4's and 5's out of peoples cars as of late.

AT LEAST bkr6e for stock, and 7 if you can get it!

OIL COOLER. If you are going to last a long long time, and have a heavy foot in so-cal, you need an oil cooler.

Like this ice!
http://www.rpsportengineering.com/Pictures/oilcoolerzilvia.jpg (http://www.rpsport.net/product/RPS-PWROIL10ROW)

[Skinny]

Thanks a lot for the very thought out reply's guys.
Zilvia.net is one of the best forums i have visited!
I will for sure be coming back more and more!

All my questions were answered! I should be good!

[Skinny]

Sr20's are plenty reliable, as much as any motor is, if you take care of it.

Oil, coolant, airflow, the basics.

I've been daily driving my Sr20 at 17psi for almost 3 years now. 14 drift days, 35+ passes at the drag strip, and weekly street racing and drifting sessions. Not 1 single problem with the motor or anything ever. The turbo is just finalyl now on its way out. and it has almost 90k on it :D


What turbo are you running? and what other mods are you running?
Like fuel, and tuning?

[yokotas13]

Yeah, thats pretty much universal, you're just a dumbass... ;)
ive never used deisel

shit happens

[Grenade180sx]

on a side note with RAS 99 percent of the time they work, now i have seen a few times as where they break and cause super head damage. worst then a floating valve would. and they were greddy's ras.. nothing is safe just remember that :bigok:

[BlackZenkiS14]

What turbo are you running? and what other mods are you running?
Like fuel, and tuning?

T25, 255 walbro is the only fuel mod, stock ecu, stock maf.

I know people are going to say i am stupid and thats retarded...etc...but the fact is, i've more reliability out of my motor than anyone else on here almost, and i run the shit out of my car. I may run her hard but i never "put her away wet." She's been the daily for over 2.5 years. I just got a Daily civic a week or so ago to save on MPG and for more comfort.

[Skinny]

Do you have a Wide band to tell you if you are lean or anything?

[BlackZenkiS14]

Do you have a Wide band to tell you if you are lean or anything?

Yes, I do. and it does run a lil lean, but so far i have not had a single issue with it. cause even when i set the boost down to 7psi the ECU tried to make it run lean. I am installing my Nismo AFPR and Emanage within the next few weeks to fatten it up a bit. The car runs great and has for the past 3 years though:2f2f:

[Wahl 136]

The SR is reliable stock without using upgrades or after market items. First have it properly installed, properly wired and don't beat on it. Then maintain it the same way you would any other car.

[Sir]

I know that in US the diesel nozzle is bigger than regular gas one and it won't fit into the little hole in the gas tank - they do that to make it easy for people NOT to fill it up with diesel - I don't know how you guys managed to do so.

+1 on oil cooler

[Skinny]

The SR is reliable stock without using upgrades or after market items. First have it properly installed, properly wired and don't beat on it. Then maintain it the same way you would any other car.

I will be drifting it, so of course i will be beating on it.

[Skinny]

Does anyone know a good Oil pick-up?
an aftermarket one? i have been searching, can't find one

thanks guys

[MrD]

There is no aftermarket oil pickup, AFAIK.
Just make sure your oil pan isn't dented.

[unicoladron]

Does anyone know a good Oil pick-up?
an aftermarket one? i have been searching, can't find one

thanks guys

like i said, the s14/s15 pickup bolts on and is better than the s13, it was redesigned

[johngriff]

or just weld the s13 pickup so its not weak, and add a bracket.

[steve shadows]

^ eh its like 40 bucks for the newer model pickup. why waste time welding when Nissan engineers already made it better.


Head studs. hg, and a right foot that knows every motor cant be run 100% all the time.

:ugh: :)


really not necessary unless aiming for more than 400whp

most people cant even install them right anyways

[johngriff]

I guess its all about what resources you have around you onhand...

[slidingsky]

I read the Headline and think.....

Hah you ever owned an RX-7 ?

I was skiddish too coming from an non-turbo FC

-Gabe