Tuning Feature: Nissan VQ30DET Modified

"Comprehensive guide to performance parts and tuning the Nissan VQ30DET engine!"

We often are getting emails inquiring about getting more power from the VQ30DET and wanting to know what are the ultimate VQ30DET upgrades. So let us look into Nissan VQ30DET parts and outline the best upgrades on this great engine and point out some problems along the way.

This engine is a V6 and evolved considerably over it's production run and engine size ranged from 2 to 4 litres. Nissan produced a motorsport version the VQ30DETT showing what this platform is capable of. Some of the 3.5 liter engines have pretty strong internals and can withstand up to 1000hp in ideal conditions, and parts from these high spec engines are often sourced and fitted into others accross the range.

The Nissan VQ30DET have loads of potential and with the ultimate modified mods like remaps, turbo kits and camshafts you will definitely improve your driving pleasure.

Here we look into VQ30DET tuning and report on the best mods that work.

When talking about the optimum parts for your VQ30DET engine, we are going to concentrate on the parts that give the best power gain for you money.

Significant power increases can be made on engines, and the VQ30DET is no exception, through cam upgrades. Altering the cam profile alters the intake and exhaust durations on the engine and can dramatically change the bhp and power output.

NB: Fast road camshafts usually raise the performance throughout the rev band, you could sacrifice a little low down bhp but top end will be lifted.

Motorsport and race camshafts, raise the top end band but as a result the car will not idle smoothly and low end power nearly always suffers.

A Motorsport and race camshaft won't do well if driving around busy urban areas.

You should ideally match your bhp range to your preferences so for a daily driver stick with a shorter duration VQ30DET camshaft

Different VQ30DET engines respond better to mild camshaft durations so set your engine up on a rolling road.

The ECU mapping and injectors and fuel pump also will make differences on the power gains you'll hit.

Longer valve durations can alter the power band and on most engines the exhaust and intake durations do not need to match, although most cams and tuners use matched pairs there are some advantages to extending the intake or exhaust durations.

VQ30DET Tuning Stages

Stage 1 VQ30DET modifications: Sports exhaust manifold, Remaps/piggy back ECU, Fast road camshaft, Panel air filters, Drilled & smoothed airbox, Intake headers.

Stage 2 VQ30DET modifications: Fast road cam, Ported and polished head, fuel pump upgrades, Sports catalyst & performance exhaust, high flow fuel injectors, induction kit.

Stage 3 VQ30DET modifications: Competition cam, Adding or Upgrading forced induction (turbo/supercharger), Crank and Piston upgrades to alter compression, Internal engine upgrades (head flowing porting/bigger valves), Engine balancing & blueprinting, Twin charging conversions.

Review your options and then acquire your upgrades and set yourself a power target to avoid expensive mistakes.

ECU flashing will help to establish the full potential of all the parts you've done to your VQ30DET.

It will usually give around 30% more power on turbocharged vehicles and you can expect to see around 15% on NASP engines, but the outcome may differs on the parts you've fitted and the condition of your engine.

Pulling more air and fuel into your VQ30DET is the whole point to any engine upgrade job.

Intake manifold take the air from the filter and allow it to be fed into the engine and mixed with fuel.

Structure and rate of flow of the Intake manifold can make a large difference to to fuel atomisation and engine efficiency on the VQ30DET.

Most air intake manifolds are needing a performance upgrade, although some OEM provide well optimised air intake manifolds.

Adding a VQ30DET larger valve kit, doing a bit of 3 or 5 angle valve jobs and porting and head flowing will also increase bhp and torque, and importantly will allow you to get raising the bhp and torque increase on other upgrades.

Turbo upgrades for the VQ30DET

NASP engines need quite a lot of work when you add a turbo, so we have a separate guide to help you take into account the pros and cons of going this route on your VQ30DET

The more air you can get into an engine, the more fuel it can burn and uprating the induction with a turbocharger upgrade makes major power gains.

When your car is fitted with a turbocharger modifications are going to net you a larger power gain and turbo charged engines are built using stronger components.

However you will find an engines will have power limits

See where you'll find these restrictions and upgrade to stronger pistons, crank and engine components to utilize the power.

There are many mechanics spending a lots of money on turbocharger upgrades on the VQ30DET only to suffer the humiliation of seeing the car go up in smoke soon after it's completed.

Larger upgraded turbo chargers commonly experience a bottom end lag, and low capacity turbo chargers spool up really quickly but do not have the peak end bhp gains.

We are pleased that the range of turbo chargers is always developing and we are seeing variable vane turbo chargers, allowing the vane profile is altered according to speed to lower lag and increase top end power.

Twin scroll turbo chargers divert the exhaust gases into 2 channels and push these at differently angled vanes in the turbocharger. They also improve the scavenging effect of the engine.

It is not unusual that there is a limit in the air flow sensor (AFM/MAF/MAP) on the VQ30DET when considerably more air is being fed into the engine.

We see 4 bar air sensors coping with quite large power gains, whereas the OEM air sensor was restricting torque at a much lower level.

Adding a supercharger or additional turbo will make large torque gains, although more challenging to setup. We have this feature on twinchargers if you want to read more.

Uprating VQ30DET fuel injectors

When you raise the torque you will need to uprate to the fuel system.

More torque needs more fuel. Don't forget to be generous with your injector capacity.

The rule of thumb is to add 20% capacity when buying an injector, this accounts for injector deterioration and provides a bit of spare capacity should the engine require more fuel.

We think this one is common sense, but you'll need to match your fuel injector to the type of fuel your car uses as well.

Best VQ30DET performance exhausts

Only look to upgrade your exhaust if your current exhaust is creating a flow problem.

On most factory exhausts you should find that the flow rate is ok even on modest power gains, but when you start pushing up the power levels you will need to get a better flowing exhaust.

Sports exhausts can help balance the flow of gases through the engine.

But if your exhaust is too large, ie: over 2.5 inches bore, you will lose a great deal of your flow rate and end up sapping power and torque.

Usual exhaust restrictions are in the catalyst and filters installed, so adding a faster flowing race alternative will help avoid this restriction.

Problems and issues to look out for on the VQ30DET

The VQ30DET engines, if regularly serviced and maintained, are generally very reliable and have few issues. {But if neglected they can cost a small fortune|When neglected they get very expensive to run|They can however be quite expensive if neglected| }

Regular oil changes are vital on the VQ30DET, particularly when the engine has been modified and is putting down more power than the manufacturer intended.

For more information on Tuning your VQ30DET engine please join us in our friendly forum where you can discuss tuning options in more detail with our VQ30DET owners. It would also be worth reading our unbiased tuning articles to get a full grasp of the benefits and drawbacks of each modification.

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