Hello people, I'm new to the forum and seek a simple answer about the SE-R (SR20 series) motors. I figure you all should know something here..

the SR20 is an all aluminum motor, or so i have been told.. but it does have steel cylinder sleeves.

Durability is my question here.. I'm looking at two SR20 cars, a 97 200SX SE-R and a 99 Sentra SE-R. Both have about 120k on them. I've heard the SR20 is only good for about 150k??!

Can you please give me the honest rundown on the SR20's durability? If the SR20 motors are not durable, I'd rather just get a car with the tried and true 1.6L steel-block motor, but the extra HP would be quite cool, and these two cars are good deals... Plus the SE-R's look very nice!

Thanks in advance! :D
-Meridian

They have cast iron sleeves.

My 91 SE-R has 277,000 miles on the original engine. It was autocrossed for about 8 years before I bought it.

It's all about maintence. If a steel block is abused in can fail just like the aluminum one. Plenty of sr20s go for over 120K. That is no big deal. Get a compression test and make sure the engine is warm. The numbers should be 170's or so with a warm engine and the throttle held wide open and all sparkplugs pulled out. Pop the Valve cover and look for buildup. SR20's that are babied sometimes get a buildup on the cam oilers.

Since this is an issue about durability, I'd recommend from here on(or whenever you get the car) you use Mobil1 5w30 full synthetic and the OEM oil filter. Although the Mobil1 oil filter is just as good, it can be VERY pricey. OEM Nissan oil filter $3-$7(depending on the dealer)or Mobil 1 oil filter for $12 at Autozone:eek: .
The SR20DE engine is strong and durable. My G20 has 120k miles on it and it still runs strong. I may well keep it till it gets to 250k+ miles or till I save up enough money to get the G35 coupe.:D

Pop the oil fill cap off the cam cover and check for sludge on the valve gear. This indicates poor maintenance and easy driving. The SR20 requires a visit to redline on a regular basis as the original cam oilers were a little undersized and gunk could easily clog to ports. Buying new tubes gets you redesigned oilers with larger squirt ports, or you can remove the originals and clean with Gunk or carb cleaner.

The engine can be prone to rod bearing failure if the oil level is not maintained.

Otherwise, a nearly bullet-proof engine.

The SR20 will last way past 150k if well maintained. Friend of mine has a 320,000 mile 91 SE-R that runs well and dynoed stock at 119hp, which is pretty damned good for that.

As far a durability, my 91ser had 160 before I took it swimming...:eek: who knew...it was still running strong couldn't keep the tires on the ground...now I have a jdm sr20 and that one runs stronger than the us version:D

ok so i guess that pretty much sums it up.. the SR20 is as durable as i'd expect from nissan :)

one other question that i thought of but cant find the answer to - is this an interference engine? (timing belt breaks, valves bend?)

-mer

yep, it's an interference motor. But timing chains pratically never go on these motors. Besides, if your motor ever does go, japan spec SR20E's are dirt cheap.

yep picked mine up for 700 and change...10-1 and runs great.

Originally posted by FastNX
yep, it's an interference motor. But timing chains pratically never go on these motors. Besides, if your motor ever does go, japan spec SR20E's are dirt cheap.

so it's a chain instead of a belt?! killer! :D

a japan spec motor would be fun too :cool:
-mer

SR20 is (arguably) one of the best 4 cylinder engines ever made.

Mine: '92 Sentra with 90,000 on it. Last 3 years can be best described as "abusive", with 3 seasons of autocross and over 25 track weekends. Zero engine problems. It tuns a 14.7 in the quarter and my compression is : 177, 177, 180, 181.

Originally posted by MaddMatt
SR20 is (arguably) one of the best 4 cylinder engines ever made.

Correction. It IS the best 4-cylinder engine ever made. It's just a crying shame that Nissan didn't know how to sell them successfully.:(

Tom Paule's se-r cup race car has over 200,000 on the motor he has been running all season! Mine has 165,000 and is still going strong. JDM motors can be had (in so cal at least) for less than $300!

Without the previous service records you could be buying a pile of junk. BUT depending on how much your paying and what they book for the availability and price of a replacement engine isnt all that bad. I have a 94 probe gt with a mazda engine that was pretty expensive and not alot of options it was$$$$$. Bought a jdm for cheap in about 1 day from 1 of many possibles for my sentra. (never checked the oil and it finally went kaput) So I have had three sr20 cars mileage in total on those three (412,000) Sold one 2 years ago still going Lady wrecked into me drove it to junkyard and got a 2k dollar check and this one just bought the engine put about 5k on it and still rollin strong. Anyways durability=good

My classic se-r has 312,000 miles on original engine and it is still running strong. The has held up really well to.