Nissan GA16DE engine is one of the most famous and reliable powertrains manufactured by Nissan at Yokohama Plant from 1987 to 2011. This engine was widely used in various Nissan car models such as Almera, Primera, NX1600/100NX, Pulsar/Sabre, Sentra/Tsuru, Avenir, Exalta, Presea, Sunny and Wingroad/Tsubame.
Main Features
Materials and construction
The GA16DE engine has a cast iron cylinder block for high strength and durability. It is an inline 4-cylinder engine with different options for the number of valves per cylinder: 2, 3 or 4. This design achieves a good balance between performance and economy.
Technical parameters
- Cylinder bore: 76 mm
- Piston stroke: 88 mm
- Compression ratio: 9.5
- Engine displacement: 1597cc
- Engine power: varies from 90 to 115 hp at 6000 rpm
- Torque: from 123 to 150 Nm at 3200-4000 rpm
- Environmental standards: Euro 1/2
Fuel and oil consumption
For the Nissan 100NX with GA16DE engine, fuel consumption is:
- City cycle: 9.6 l/100 km
- Highway: 6.3 l/100 km
- Mixed cycle: 8.0 l/100 km
Oil consumption does not exceed 500 grams per 1000 km. The following viscosities are recommended for the engine: 5W-30, 5W-40, 10W-30, 10W-40. The volume of oil in the engine is 3.2 liters, and oil change is carried out every 15000 km, although the interval of 7500 km is considered more optimal.
Resource and reliability
Factory data on the resource of the GA16DE engine is not specified, but in practice it is able to pass more than 300 thousand kilometers with proper care. The engine has a good tuning potential, allowing you to increase the power up to 200+ hp. However, there may be difficulties with a significant increase in power without loss of resource.
Application and distribution
The GA16DE engine was installed on a wide range of Nissan models, which indicates its versatility and reliability. It was popular both in Europe and America, and was in demand among car owners due to its simplicity and durability.
Car models equipped with this engine:
- Nissan Almera
- Nissan Primera
- Nissan NX1600/100NX
- Nissan Pulsar/Sabre
- Nissan Sentra/Tsuru
- Nissan Avenir
- Nissan Exalta
- Nissan Presea
- Nissan Sunny
- Nissan Wingroad/Tsubame
History and design features
In parallel with the GA15DE engine, a larger 1.6-liter GA16 was produced. The main difference between them is the increased cylinder diameter from 73.6 mm to 76 mm and the use of new pistons. The compression ratio of this engine is 9.5. The first versions of GA16 were equipped with a carburetor and 12-valve single-shaft cylinder head (GA16S), 8-valve versions were less common. There were modifications with and without catalytic converter. There was also a version with distributed injection and 12-valve head – GA16E.
At the end of 1990, the most famous model GA16DE was presented, equipped with a DOHC head with 16 valves and multipoint injection. The first version of GA16DE had a variable valve timing system on the intake camshaft (NVCS) and 110 hp. In 1995, the engine received new camshafts and modified intake, which added 5 hp. The European version without NVCS system developed 102 hp. Also in 1995, a version GA16DS with 16-valve cylinder head and carburetor was released.
The GA16DE engine is equipped with a chain timing drive, consisting of two chains. The chain resource is 200-250 thousand kilometers, but this value may vary depending on operating conditions. There are no hydrocompensators on GA16DE, so every 40-50 thousand kilometers it is necessary to adjust the valves. Valve clearances on cold are: inlet valves – 0.25-0.33 mm, exhaust valves – 0.32-0.4 mm.
Typical faults and problems
Swimming RPMs
One of the common problems with GA16DE engines is floating revs, stalling and jerking. These symptoms are usually caused by a clogged idle valve or malfunctioning mass air flow sensor (MAF) readings. In most cases, the problem is solved by simply cleaning these elements, but sometimes they need to be replaced, which can be quite expensive.
Oil leaks
Another common problem is oil leaks. This can be due to warping of the crankcase ventilation gasket. As a result, engine oil gets under the valve cover, which can be noticed by the presence of oil in the air filter. Regularly checking the condition of the gasket and replacing it if necessary will help avoid this problem.
Excessive oil consumption (oil build-up)
At mileage over 200,000 km, the problem of increased oil consumption can occur. In some cases, replacing the piston rings or oil caps is sufficient, but more often a complete engine overhaul is required.
Stretching the timing chain
Around 200,000 km mileage, a noise may appear in the area of the timing mechanism. This indicates that the timing chain is stretched. If the chain is not replaced in time, the timing may be off, fuel consumption will increase, the engine will not run smoothly and there is a risk of the chain jumping with serious consequences.
Tuning the Nissan GA16DE engine
Tuning an old 1.6-liter GA16DE engine is not always the best idea because of its age and limited potential. However, if there is a desire, you can improve its performance in the following ways:
- Installing a throttle body from an SR20 and cold intake.
- Installing a 4-2-1 exhaust manifold and 51mm exhaust system.
- Using JWT brains and porting the cylinder head.
- Milling the head by 2mm to increase the compression ratio to 11-11.3.
- Installation of tuning camshafts with phase 263-272.
After this modification the power can increase to 140-150 hp, but it will require significant financial investment.