Nissan CA engine

The CA engine is a series of 1598 to 1974 cc Inline-4 piston engines from Nissan. It is designed for a wide variety of smaller Nissan vehicles to replace the Z engine and some smaller, four-cylinder L series engines. The "CA" stands for Clean Air, due to the installation of Nissan emission reducing technology, called NAPS-X.

The CA is an iron block, aluminum head design with a timing belt, cheaper to make than the timing chain setup on the Z and L engines. Earlier versions featured SOHC and eight valves. The new CA block design was a scaled-up E series block with timing shaft and other ancillaries removed. The oil pump is fitted directly onto the crank nose and the distributor is driven by the end of the camshaft. Like the E series and the A block from which the E was derived, Nissan used a taller block for the largest stroked 2.0-litre engine. The CA was designed to be compact and light, with a CA16 requiring only 195 L of space (compared to 280 L for the earlier Z16), while weighing 23% less at 115 kg.

Later versions featured DOHC with 16 valves for increased efficiency at high engine speeds and a smoother power delivery. The hydraulic lifters are interchangeable between all DOHC RB and VG series engines excepting those with solid lifters. The Nissan CA would also be developed into a diesel engine, known as the CD, which replaced the four-cylinder LD series.

Production of the CA series ceased in 1994. The engine was deemed too expensive to produce due to its cast-iron block, while it also no longer met the ever-changing Japanese emission standards emerging at the time. The 1.8 L and 2.0 L versions were replaced by the all-aluminium SR series as Nissan's primary four-cylinder engine, while the smaller 1.6 L version was replaced by the GA series. Engines for the low volume European markets, such as the 200SX, were supplied by the overstock between Japanese and Australian markets.

CA16
The CA16 series of engines is a 1598 cc engine produced from 1985 through 1990. Bore and stroke is 78x83.6 mm and it was built either with carburetors or fuel injection.

CA16S
The CA16S is a 1598 cc water cooling serial 4-cylinder OHC engine. It produces 81 PS at 5200 rpm and 123 Nm at 3200 rpm.

Applications:
 * 1989 Nissan Bluebird U11 - 90 PS, 13.6 kgm
 * 1985-1990 Nissan Bluebird T12/T72
 * 1986-1990 Nissan Auster T12 "1.6Vc", "1.6Mc"
 * 1986-1990 JDM Nissan Stanza T12 "Supreme 1.6"
 * Yue Loong Feeling 101, 102. 88 PS, double-barrel carburetor

CA16DE
The CA16DE is a 1598 cc engine produced from 1987 through 1989. It produces 122 hp at 6400 rpm and 137 Nm at 5200 rpm. Bore and stroke is 78x83.6 mm. It was a 16-valve DOHC engine with multi-port fuel injection, for front wheel drive use. North American versions used Nissan's NICS (Nissan Induction Control System), which opened up the secondary intake ports to each cylinder via a butterfly valve in each port. Activated at 3,900 rpm, this improved flow and performance resultingly. Additionally, on activation of the secondaries under a heavy load the fuel injection also went from sequential mode to simultaneous-pulse mode. These features were also found on North American CA18DE engines.

Applications:
 * Nissan Pulsar NX SE (United States and Canada)
 * Nissan EXA (Australia and Japan)
 * Nissan Sunny B12
 * Nissan Sunny N13 (Europe)
 * Nissan Pulsar N13 Twincam

CA18S


The 1809 cc CA18(s) was a carbureted version of the CA engine available in Japan. It produces 66 kW and 149 Nm. Bore and stroke is 83x83.6 mm. It was used in the following vehicles:
 * 1984 Nissan Laurel (C32)
 * 1984 Nissan Skyline (R30)
 * 1985-1987 Nissan Skyline (R31)
 * 1988 Nissan Stanza (T12)
 * 1987-1988 Nissan Auster (T12)
 * 1985-1990 Nissan Bluebird (U11)
 * 1988-199? Nissan Bluebird (U12; export only)

CA18(i)
The CA18(i) is a naturally aspirated engine it delivers 91 hp at 5200 rpm. The fuel in this engine is not delivered via Multi Port Fuel Injection (E letter code on MPFI engines), it's instead delivered by Throttle Body Fuel Injection hence the (i) letter on the engine code. Bore and stroke is 83x83.6 mm, for a total displacement of 1809 cc.

Applications:
 * Nissan Skyline R31, R32 GXi (100 hp)
 * Nissan Laurel C33
 * Nissan Auster T12 series, "1.8Vi", 1.8Mi", 1.8Xi"
 * Nissan Bluebird RNU12
 * Yue Loong Feeling 101, 102, Arex With minor changes to lower engine displacement from original 1809 to 1796 cc by decreasing bore down to 82.7 mm. CA18 for Arex was delivered with Lucas multi port Fuel Injection.

CA18E
The CA18E is a naturally aspirated, 1809 cc, single-cam engine. It uses Multi Point Fuel Injection.

Applications
 * Nissan Bluebird 1.8 SSS-E (U11) - 115 PS at 5600 rpm, 16.5 kgm at 2800 rpm
 * 1983.08-1985.08 Nissan Skyline 1.8 TI (R30)

CA18DE


The CA18DE is a 1809 cc DOHC engine produced from 1985 through January 1991. It produces 131 hp at 6400 rpm and 159 Nm at 5200 rpm. It uses the same aluminium 16-valve head as the CA18DET, but it did not use the piston oil squirters that are found on the CA18DET. A crank girdle as found on all CA18DETs is fitted into some versions of the engine in some markets; Nissan's parts data system "FAST" has to be consulted or the sump removed to determine if it can be fitted.

Applications:
 * Nissan Pulsar NX SE (United States and Canada)
 * Nissan EXA (Australia & Japan)
 * 1985-1991 Nissan Skyline HR31 1800I (Japan)
 * 1989-1990 Nissan Silvia/180SX P/S13
 * Mid 1980s Nissan Sunny N13 (UK) 129 hp (no girdle)
 * Mid 1980s Nissan Sunny B12 Coupe (UK) 129 hp (has girdle)
 * Late 1980s Nissan Bluebird T72 (UK) 129 hp
 * Nissan Bluebird (Sept'87 - Oct'89) RNU12 (FWD & AWD)
 * 1985-1990 Nissan Auster "1.8Xt TwinCam" (has girdle)
 * 1988-1991 KN13 Nissan EXA (Australian market)

CA18ET


The 1809 cc CA18ET was produced from 1984 through 1992. It is a turbocharged version of the CA18E, which produces 99 kW and 183 Nm from a single Garrett T2 turbocharger which did not feature an intercooler. The low-pressure turbo has a 0.6 bar overcharge. The engine has fuel and air delivered via ECCS Multiport Fuel Injection, a system developed together with Hitachi.

It was used in the following vehicles:
 * 1984-1986 Nissan 200SX Turbo (US) (until 1988 in Canada)
 * 1984-1986 Nissan Bluebird U11 Turbo (Europe)
 * 1983-1985 Nissan Bluebird U11 SSS-X (Japanese Market) - 135 PS at 6000 rpm, 20 kgm at 3600 rpm
 * 1986-1988 Nissan Silvia (Japanese Market)
 * 1986-1990 Nissan Bluebird T12/T72 Turbo (Europe)
 * 1985-1990 Nissan Auster 1.8Xt
 * Mid 1980s Nissan Silvia S12 (Europe)
 * 1986-1990 Reliant Scimitar SS1 1800Ti
 * 1990-1992 Reliant Scimitar SST 1800Ti
 * 1992-1995 Reliant Scimitar Sabre 1800Ti

CA18DET


The 1809 cc CA18DET was the last version of the CA engine to be released, manufactured from 1985 to 1994. It is a turbocharged version of the CA18DE, producing 124 kW and 228 Nm. It has a brand new DOHC aluminum head with 16 valves. The turbocharger was also upgraded to a Garrett T25 (.48 A/R) unit for increased flow capacity, and as such, was fitted with an intercooler to help prevent the onset of pre-ignition and/or detonation. Fuel was delivered via Multiport Fuel Injection. Bore and stroke is 83x83.6 mm. An electronically controlled fuel injection system was used with 370 cc (flow capacity) injectors.

There were 2 versions of the CA18DET available, yet only one was produced for Japan. The late model Japanese CA18DETs received 8 port (low port) heads, with butterfly actuated auxiliary ports in the lower intake manifold which corresponded with 8 ports in the head.

Below c. 3,800 rpm, only one set (4 ports open, 1 per cylinder) of long, narrow ports would be open, accelerating the intake charge to the cylinder. This allowed for quick spool and good low-end tractability. At the 3800 rpm change over, not only would the ECCS shift into batch fire (as opposed to sequential) fuel injection, but it also opened the second set of short, wide ports (8 ports open, 2 per cylinder) which assisted in high RPM flow.

This engine is known for stronger torque characteristics, as well as faster spool at lower RPMs. However, due to displacement-based taxation and cost of emissions testing in Europe, the CA18DET was sold as the only available engine in the S13 chassis 200SX (Euro model) until replaced by the S14 in 1994. The Euro motors received the 4 port (high port) head and intake manifold, as well as revised ECCS ("Electronic Concentrated Control System") parameters.

It was used in the following vehicles:
 * 1987-1988 Silvia S12 RS-X
 * 1987-1989 Silvia S12 Grand Prix final edition in Europe
 * 1988-mid 1990 Nissan Silvia/180SX S13 (Japanese market)
 * 1987-1989 Nissan Bluebird RNU12 SSS ATTESA Limited (Japanese Market)
 * 1989-1994 Nissan 200SX RS13-U Europe.
 * 1985-1990 Nissan Auster "1.8Xtt" and "Euroform Twincam Turbo"

CA20
The CA20 is a series of SOHC 1974 cc engine produced from 1982 through 1991 (possibly longer for the CA20P). Bore and stroke is 84.5x88 mm.

CA20P
The CA20P is a carbureted, single overhead cam designed to run on LPG. It came in two claimed different power outputs, initially 90 PS JIS gross at 5,600 rpm and later 82 PS JIS net at 4,800 rpm. The respective torque figures are 15.5 kgm at 2,800 rpm and 15.2 kgm at 2,000 rpm. This engine was usually installed in professional cars and was not regularly available to private buyers. It was replaced by the NA20P engine in mid-1991.

Applications:
 * Nissan Cedric NJY30 (1983.06-1987.06)
 * Nissan Cedric NJY31 (1987.06-1991.06)
 * Nissan Gloria NJY30 (1983.06-1987.06)
 * Nissan Gloria NJY31 (1987.06-1991.06)

CA20S
The CA20S is an SOHC 1974 cc engine produced from 1982 through 1987, fed by a carburetor. It typically produces a peak power of 102 PS at 5,200 rpm and has a peak torque rating of 160 Nm at 3,600 rpm.

Applications:
 * Nissan Stanza
 * Nissan Prairie M11/M12 Europe
 * Nissan Auster
 * Nissan Bluebird Series 3 1985-1986 (Australia)
 * Nissan Bluebird U11 Estate 1985-1990 (Europe)
 * Nissan Bluebird T12 1985-1988 (Europe)
 * Nissan Laurel (C32) 1984-1990 (no twin spark)
 * Nissan Skyline GL and GLE (R31) (106 hp)
 * 1983–1987 Nissan Cedric/Gloria Y30 (110 PS at 5,600 rpm)
 * Nissan Vanette C22 / Vanette Largo GC22 Model, Japan

CA20E
The SOHC 1974 cc CA20E was produced from August 1981 to 1991. It produces 78 kW and 160 Nm. Fuel was delivered via Multiport Fuel Injection. Dual spark plugs per cylinder were used in some variants of this engine for enhanced combustion efficiency, called NAPS-X.

It was used in the following vehicles:
 * 1984-1988 Nissan 200SX (US & Canada) / Nissan Gazelle (Australia)
 * 1986-1992 Nissan Pintara R31/U12 (Australia)
 * 1984-1990 Nissan Stanza
 * 1982-1988 Stanza Wagon (US)/ Multi (Canada) M10
 * 1987-1989 Nissan Bluebird / Bluebird ATTESA U12 (and was replaced by the SR20DE in the Series 2 U12 Bluebirds)
 * 1988-1990 Nissan Bluebird T72
 * 1986-1991 Nissan Pintara

CA20DE/CA20DET/CA20ET
There was never a factory-produced twin-cam 2.0 L CA engine, nor there was a turbo version. However, the blocks are similar, and it is possible to fit the DOHC CA18DE/CA18DET twin-cam head into the SOHC CA20 block. However, the DOHC/SOHC manifolds are different and the timing pulley/belts are not compatible. Despite this, however, several examples of a CA20DET engine have been built.

Stroker kits
Tomei and JUN of Japan produced 2–litre stroker kits for the CA18. Also companies like Norris Designs and Spool Imports produces CA20 stroker kits as well as a CA20 engine.