Nissan uses a straightforward method of naming theirautomobileengines.
The first few letters identify the engine family. The following digits are the displacement indeciliters. Finally, the trailing letters encode the main engine features, and are ordered based on the type of feature. Below is a list of encoded letters, and the engine features they represent. Make note, the first few letters in the engine name that identify the engine family have nothing to do with these encoded letters for the engine features, and should not be confused as such.
Engines specifically built as a power generator for electric motors
Special
The encoded letters that represent engine features follow a specific order and not all features are necessarily listed all of the time. The basic, common features follow this general order:
A good example to start with is the NissanVG30DETT engine. It belongs to theVG engine family, displaces 30 deciliters (3.0 liters), and the feature letters describe an engine with dual overhead camshafts, electronic port fuel injection and two turbochargers.
The next example is the NissanVQ35DE engine. It belongs to theVQ engine family and displaces 35 deciliters (3.5 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 (single) turbocharged version of the VQ displaces 30 deciliters (3.0 liters) and is logically called theVQ30DET.
Not all features are necessarily described in the name. For example, theSR20VE engine has dual overhead camshafts, but the variable valve lift design of the camshafts takes precedence in the naming scheme even though the "V" feature designation doesn't necessarily describe a DOHC arrangement. Many standard DOHC Nissan engines featured Variable Valve Timing, such as theVG30DETT, and as such do not use the "V" designation. The "V" designation is applied only if the engine has variable valve lift.
A good example of an engine where not all of the feature designation spots are used is theL28ET engine. The two features listed are 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.
Another useful example (because it repeats letters which have different meanings based on their order) is theMR16DDT engine, which has feature designations that describe an engine with dual overhead camshafts, direct cylinder fuel injection and a single turbocharger.
1968–1986Nissan L engine — 2.0/2.3/2.4/2.6/2.8 L — L20A, L20E, L20ET, L20P, L23, L24, L24E, L26, L26E, L28, L28E, L28ET, ,LD28 (diesel) (See Straight-4 above for other L engines)
Nissan NAPSNissanAntiPollutionSystem, predecessor to Nissan ECCS
Nissan PLASMA (Powerful ＆ Economic,Lightweight,Accurate,Silent,Mighty,Advanced) is an acronym for the engine series designed to counterToyota's Lightweight Advanced Super Response Engine (LASRE).
Nissan ECCS ("eltukusu")ElectronicConcentratedControlSystem (ECCS), or Electronic Gas Injector (EGI), is an electronicfuel injection system designed to improve fuel economy and to reduce exhaust emission.
NEO, orNissanEcologyOriented, is an engine technology used to reduce fuel consumption and emission output while improving overall engine performance.
CVTCS orContinuousValveTimingControlSystem, is a Nissan automobilevariable valve timing technology. The engine technology is used byNissan to reduce fuel consumption and emission output while improving overall engine performance.
e-POWER for its line ofseries hybrid vehicles using an electric traction motor derived from the one used in the Nissan Leaf, which draws power from a battery and generator driven by a gasoline engine.
S-HYBRID forSmart andSimplemicro hybrid vehicle powertrain with an auxiliary electric motor
