Reliability of the praised SR20DET. - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

NichiSan · 10-31-2002, 11:30 AM

Hi,

I have a 91 hb and am very happy with the reliability of the engine. In more than a year I didn't have ANY problems.

I have a question related to the SR20DET engine. I hear everybody talking about it and comparing it to turbo-ing the KA. I am not gonna go there. My question relates to the reliability of the SR in its stock form. Say, I buy the engine from some trusted vendor and correctly put it in the car. If I don;t do anything stupid, how reliable is the engine?

The second question is related to the first. If anything breaks, where will I find a replacement? How expensive? How long does it take?

I am just looking for some opinions from guys who experienced the SR first hand or have reliable information.

If this was discussed before, please direct me to the thread. I searched and couldn't find.

thanks

nrcooled · 10-31-2002, 11:42 AM

I have had my SR in my '91 HB for about a year now and the realiability of the engine has been great even running elevated boost levals as a daily driver.  It's the car that I have to fix most i.e. tie rods, t/c rods, suspension, brakes etc.  The extra power will cause you to have to replace this stuff and also reliability depends on the amount of HP you plan to run...the mo' HP the mo' problems <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/music.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':music:'>   Levels between 200hp and 275hp should be pretty reliable but anything over 300hp you can count on plenty of 240 downtime

Foxcolt · 10-31-2002, 11:49 AM

Reliability is directly related to the owner not the engine. Take care of your motor and it'll take care of you. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='

'>

A properly installed SR will be just as reliable as if it came from the factory. Assuming you don't get a lemon motor. Most people that have problems with their SR not relating to human error is mostly because their motors are old and worn. Turbo seals go bad etc etc...

Jed <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/devil.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':devil:'>
Nrcooled: I have a lot of s13 suspension parts if you need em, TC Rod rear lower control arm etc etc... Front struts.

HippoSleek · 10-31-2002, 03:07 PM

I agree w/ what they said.

The bottom line is that the SR is as reliable as any other well designed Japanese inline 4 turbo.  Actually, the SR has a reputation for being pretty bullet-proof, in the foregoing category.

Any turbo motor is less reliable (that's why they never caught on in the US).  But there is nothing specifically dangerous about a well cared for, street tuned SR.

uiuc240 · 11-01-2002, 10:03 AM

I've had mine for almost a year now.  Good motor, strong runner, nice.  Never lets me down.  I'm only running stock boost, though.  And I still need to get the idle perfect, but that's small potatoes.  Get one, you'll love it.

Eric

mbmbmb23 · 11-02-2002, 08:05 AM

I dont have an SR, but...from what I've heard upgrading your stock 240sx radiator might be a good idea due to "running hot" issues.

-m

xLSTONEx · 11-02-2002, 10:25 AM

alright heres my question, if something does break, where do you get the parts for an SR20? And how much do they cost?  I know it has to be a lot and asumming it would probably take a while to get the parts. I just want to know though two things before i by mine in about 2 years.

10-31-2002, 11:42 AM	#2
nrcooled Nissanaholic! Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Turn 8 'bout to get rolled by a SC'd ITR Age: 46 Posts: 1,849 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I have had my SR in my '91 HB for about a year now and the realiability of the engine has been great even running elevated boost levals as a daily driver.  It's the car that I have to fix most i.e. tie rods, t/c rods, suspension, brakes etc.  The extra power will cause you to have to replace this stuff and also reliability depends on the amount of HP you plan to run...the mo' HP the mo' problems <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/music.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':music:'>   Levels between 200hp and 275hp should be pretty reliable but anything over 300hp you can count on plenty of 240 downtime __________________ '91 hatch w/ SR Sold; '03 Evo Sold 401 HP; '03 MS Protege sold; '00 Evo 6.5 TME Sold 300HP

10-31-2002, 11:49 AM	#3
Foxcolt Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Northern VA Posts: 1,264 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Reliability is directly related to the owner not the engine. Take care of your motor and it'll take care of you. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> A properly installed SR will be just as reliable as if it came from the factory. Assuming you don't get a lemon motor. Most people that have problems with their SR not relating to human error is mostly because their motors are old and worn. Turbo seals go bad etc etc... Jed <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/devil.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':devil:'> Nrcooled: I have a lot of s13 suspension parts if you need em, TC Rod rear lower control arm etc etc... Front struts. __________________ Driftec www.midatlantic240sx.com

11-01-2002, 10:03 AM	#5
uiuc240 Nissanaholic! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Naperville, IL Age: 46 Posts: 2,093 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I've had mine for almost a year now.  Good motor, strong runner, nice.  Never lets me down.  I'm only running stock boost, though.  And I still need to get the idle perfect, but that's small potatoes.  Get one, you'll love it. Eric __________________ 2002 Mazda Protege5 1989 S13 w/SR20DET (sold)

11-02-2002, 08:05 AM	#6
mbmbmb23 Zilvia Contributor Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Charlotte, NC. Posts: 1,776 Trader Rating: (1) Rides Gallery: mbmbmb23 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	I dont have an SR, but...from what I've heard upgrading your stock 240sx radiator might be a good idea due to "running hot" issues. -m __________________ 400x200

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10-31-2002, 11:30 AM	#1
NichiSan Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 33 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Hi, I have a 91 hb and am very happy with the reliability of the engine. In more than a year I didn't have ANY problems. I have a question related to the SR20DET engine. I hear everybody talking about it and comparing it to turbo-ing the KA. I am not gonna go there. My question relates to the reliability of the SR in its stock form. Say, I buy the engine from some trusted vendor and correctly put it in the car. If I don;t do anything stupid, how reliable is the engine? The second question is related to the first. If anything breaks, where will I find a replacement? How expensive? How long does it take? I am just looking for some opinions from guys who experienced the SR first hand or have reliable information. If this was discussed before, please direct me to the thread. I searched and couldn't find. thanks

10-31-2002, 03:07 PM	#4
HippoSleek Nissanaholic! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: elsewhere Posts: 2,081 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I agree w/ what they said. The bottom line is that the SR is as reliable as any other well designed Japanese inline 4 turbo.  Actually, the SR has a reputation for being pretty bullet-proof, in the foregoing category. Any turbo motor is less reliable (that's why they never caught on in the US).  But there is nothing specifically dangerous about a well cared for, street tuned SR.

11-02-2002, 10:25 AM	#7
xLSTONEx BANNED Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Kennesaw, GA Age: 39 Posts: 390 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	alright heres my question, if something does break, where do you get the parts for an SR20? And how much do they cost?  I know it has to be a lot and asumming it would probably take a while to get the parts. I just want to know though two things before i by mine in about 2 years.