Nissan uses a straightforward method of naming their automobileengines.
The first few letters identify the engine family. The following digits are the displacement in deciliters. 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.
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 Nissan VG30DETT engine. It belongs to the VG 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 Nissan VQ35DE engine. It belongs to the VQ 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 the VQ30DET.
Not all features are necessarily described in the name. For example, the SR20VE 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 the VG30DETT, 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 the L28ET 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 example is the MR16DDT engine, which has feature designations that describe an engine with dual overhead camshafts, direct cylinder fuel injection and a single turbocharger.
Lastly, there are engines built specifically as power generators for electric motors, designated with the lowercase "e". The HR14DDe engine is a good example of this, as this engine was purposely built for use with the EM57 electric motor as a power generator. The feature letters describe it as an engine with dual overhead camshafts, direct cylinder fuel injection with variable valve timing (bear in mind that the "V" designation is not used here, as that is used for variable valve lift) and is used as a power generator for electric motors.
Gasoline engines
Straight-3
2010–present Nissan HR engine — 1.0/1.2/1.4 L — HR10DDT, HR10DE, HR12DE, HR12DDR, HR14DDe (See Straight-4 below for other HR engines)
1968–1986 Nissan 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 NAPSNissan Anti Pollution System, predecessor to Nissan ECCS
Nissan PLASMA (Powerful ＆ Economic, Lightweight, Accurate, Silent, Mighty, Advanced) is an acronym for the engine series designed to counter Toyota's Lightweight Advanced Super Response Engine (LASRE).
Nissan ECCS ("eltukusu") Electronic Concentrated Control System (ECCS), or Electronic Gas Injector (EGI), is an electronic fuel injection system designed to improve fuel economy and to reduce exhaust emission.
NEO, or Nissan Ecology Oriented, is an engine technology used to reduce fuel consumption and emission output while improving overall engine performance.
CVTCS or Continuous Valve Timing Control System, is a Nissan automobile variable valve timing technology. The engine technology is used by Nissan to reduce fuel consumption and emission output while improving overall engine performance.
e-POWER for its line of series 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 for Smart and Simple micro hybrid vehicle powertrain with an auxiliary electric motor
