Nissan VH Engine

The VH series consists of engines built from 1989 to 2001 by the Nissan Motor Corporation. The design consists of a 90-degree V8 with an aluminium cylinder block that features a closed upper deck and a deep skirt. The cylinder heads are also aluminium with a DOHC 4 valves design and pentroof combustion chambers. The production blocks and production head castings were used successfully in various forms of racing including the IRL.

VH45DE

The VH45DE is a V8 developed by Nissan for use in the Infiniti Q45 sport luxury sedan (G50 platform) which was released in November 1989. The engine was also used in the Japanese market Nissan President limousine (JG50 platform) which debuted in late 1990. The VH45DE typically generates at 6000 rpm and at 4,000 rpm with a redline of 6900 rpm.

Some of the pertinent features of the VH45DE are forged steel crankshaft, forged steel connecting rods, 6 Bolt main bearing caps with studs, full-length main bearing girdle, lightweight, floating pistons with molybdenum coating, sodium-filled exhaust valves, cross-flow cooling system, hydraulic lash adjusters, single-row silent timing chain, coil-on-plug ignition system, lifter buckets ride directly on cams to reduce friction, redline of 6900 rpm, compression ratio of 10.2:1, bore and stroke of , dimensions: (L) x (W) x (H).

The VH45DE featured variable valve timing, also known as VTC, from 1990 until 1995. This was during the time that the "Gentleman's Agreement" between Japan's automotive manufacturers was in effect, requiring all cars sold in their home market to (on paper, at least) produce no more than 280 PS. Due to tightening emissions regulations in the US market, the VTC feature was dropped from the 1996 Infiniti Q45. In the following year, the VH45DE was no longer available in any US market vehicles. The engine continued on in the Japanese market until 2002 in the Nissan President limousine; power was somewhat lower in the President to make it quieter and smoother.

VH45DEs made before 1994 used plastic timing chain guides, and over time these have been known to fail. This results in a noisy valve-train and parts of the plastic guides can end up in the sump and oil pickup, resulting in engine damage. Nissan changed to metal backed chain guides from 1994 onwards.

This engine was used in the following vehicle(s):
* 1990-1996 Infiniti Q45, at 6,000 rpm, at 4,000 rpm
* 1990-2002 Nissan President, at 5,600 rpm, at 4,000 rpm

The VH45DE became a relatively popular engine swap for other platforms due to being low cost to source and also able to be adapted to a Nissan manual transmission when using an aftermarket adapter plate. The VH45DE is also used in a variety of motorsports ranging from drifting to drag racing, boat racing, and dirt track sprint cars (Australia and New Zealand).

VH41DE

The VH41DE is a V8 that was based on the VH45DE. The bore of remained but the stroke was shortened to . Power output for this smaller engine is at 5600 rpm and at 4000 rpm.

The VH41DE also used a double row timing chain, compared to the VH45DE that used a single row timing chain. Its alternator is also located at the top of the engine which creates an overall narrower engine package which can be handy in engine conversions where it may otherwise foul on the chassis rails.

The VH41DE was used in the following vehicles:
* 1997-2001 Infiniti Q45 ,
* 1992-1996 Nissan Leopard, ,
* 1991-1996 Nissan Cima FY32, ,
* 1996-2001 Nissan Cima FY33, ,

See also

* Nissan VRH Racing Engines
* List of Nissan engines

References

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VH
V8 engines
Gasoline engines by model