There are so many legendary engines when it comes to JDM sports cars: The 2JZ, B18, B16, 13B, and RB26ETT are just some examples.

However, one engine skyrocketed to prominence during the rise of drifting in the early 2000s, and that’s Nissan’s SR20DET engine.

When drifting first gained popularity and the masses knew the true potential of the 240SX, the SR20DET engine quickly became a hot commodity.

It went beyond just the 240SX for the purposes of drifting as well. The SR20DET engine swap became really popular in classic JDM cars like the Datsun 510 and the 240Z as it was an easy and street legal way to get a more powerful engine under the hood.

It could be argued that SR20DET engine swaps became more popular than B16 and B18 swaps in Hondas.

Given its popularity, it is kind of crazy that we haven’t talked about it a little more in-depth yet so this article aims to fix all of that. We’re going to discuss some of the most commonly asked questions about the SR20DET engine and what makes it special.

What is the SR20DET Engine?

The SR20DET is a four cylinder 2.0 liter, turbocharged engine that was first produced in 1989 and was used in 15 different Nissan vehicles through 2007. The SR20DE - a non-turbo variant - was used in the US versions of the 200SX, Sentra, and the Infiniti G20. However, any vehicles equipped with the SR20DET engine were ever officially sold in the United States. Nissan produced the SR20DE and SR20DET engines to replace the older and heavier CA18DE and CA18DET engines.

What does SR20DET Stand for?

The SR20DET engine code is split into five parts: engine family, engine displacement, cams, fuel injection, and the last part indicates forced induction. So to break it down this is what SR20DET stands for:

SR - Engine Code Name
20 - 2.0 Liter Displacement
D - Dual Overhead Camshaft
E - Electronic Fuel Injection
T - Turbocharged

As we mentioned before there is an SR20DE as well. Since that engine has no “T” on the end that indicates that it is not turbocharged. There is also an SR20E engine which is single over-head cam rather than dual hence no “D” in its name.

How much HP does a SR20DET have?

SR20DET grey notch top with an upgraded turbocharger

The SR20DET’s stock horsepower varies depending on what model of Nissan it was placed in throughout its production. For example, the SR20DET in the 1989 Nissan bluebird made about 202 horsepower. It seems that depending on the drivetrain of the vehicle, the SR20DET would be tuned for different power outputs. On front wheel and all wheel drive cars like the Pulsar or Avenir the power would be around 227 horsepower.

On rear wheel drive cars like the Bluebird, 180SX, and Silvia, SR20DET power output would generally be 200 to 206 horsepower. The exceptions are S14 Silvia which made 217 horsepower stock and the S15 Silvia which made 247 horsepower. The SR20DET in the S15 Silvia was the most powerful variant of the engine to come from the factory.

Is the SR20DET a good engine?

Is the SR20DET a good engine? As with many things the answer is “it depends”. Like with any other engine, the SR20DET has its strengths and weaknesses. The engine first gained popularity as a go-to swap for those looking to turn their 240SX into a drift car. However, many soon learned that the SR20DET doesn’t exactly enjoy the high-rendline abuse that comes with drifting. The engine can be fortified and tuned to better handle the demands of sideways driving but then it becomes a pricey prospect. So, in our opinion if you’re looking to go drifting on a budget then maybe this engine isn’t the best choice.

However, if your planned use for the SR20DET is for a street car or racing that doesn’t require constantly living on the high end of the tachometer, then the SR20DET can be a great choice.

SR20 engines also have tons of aftermarket support so finding parts will not be difficult. Though it may not be cheap either so keep that in mind.

Alright, I think by now we have covered all the most commonly asked questions about the SR20DET. Hopefully this knowledge will help you on your next project!

Is there another JDM engine you want to know more about? Let us know on Twitter at @GTChannel.

If we hear from you enough, we may just do another one of these articles about another iconic powerplant!

SR20DET engine: Everything You Need To Know