Tuning Feature: Nissan YD22DDT Modified

"Comprehensive guide to tuning the Nissan YD22DDT engine!"

We are always getting messages requesting info on the best YD22DDT upgrades. So let us look into Nissan YD22DDT parts and outline the best modifications on this great engine and point out some problems along the way.

Our aim here is to detail the best approach to YD22DDT tuning and report on the best modifications for your car. Nissan YD22DDT are good project engines and with carefully chosen modifications like remapping, turbo upgrades and camshafts you will substantially enhance the drivers fun of your car.

Just because particular mods are are common on YD22DDT it doesn't mean it is good, instead we'll focus on the top mods to provide your YD22DDT with the best value for money to power increase.

Significant power hikes can be made on engines, and the YD22DDT is no exception, from cam upgrades. Altering the cam profile alters the intake and exhaust durations on the engine and can dramatically change the torque and power output.

NB: Fast road camshafts usually boost the power through the rev range, you might lose a little low down torque but your high end rpm power will improve.

Competition camshafts, boost the high end rpm power band but as a result the car will not idle smoothly and low end power nearly always suffers.

A Competition camshaft makes it harder when driving in heavy traffic.

You should ideally match your bhp range to your driving style so for a road car stick with a shorter duration YD22DDT camshaft

Different YD22DDT engines respond better to extreme camshaft durations than others.

The map and fuelling also have an effect on the torque gains you'll get.

A longer valve duration can alter the torque 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.

YD22DDT Tuning Stages

Stage 1 YD22DDT modifications: Remaps/piggy back ECU, Drilled & smoothed airbox, Sports exhaust manifold, Intake headers, Panel air filters, Fast road camshaft.

Stage 2 YD22DDT modifications: high flow fuel injectors, Ported and polished head, Fast road cam, induction kit, Sports catalyst & performance exhaust, fuel pump upgrades.

Stage 3 YD22DDT modifications: Crank and Piston upgrades to alter compression, Twin charging conversions, Internal engine upgrades (head flowing porting/bigger valves), Adding or Upgrading forced induction (turbo/supercharger), Competition cam, Engine balancing & blueprinting.

A remap will help fully realize the full potential of all the upgrades you've done to your YD22DDT.

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

It is the aim to any engine upgrade project to push air into your YD22DDT

Headers flow the air from the filter and allow it to be fed into the engine cylinders.

The shape and flow rate of the Plenum can make a large change to fuel atomisation on the YD22DDT.

Many mass produced engine intake headers are in desperate need of aftermarket parts, although a few OEM provide fairly well optimized intake headers.

Adding a YD22DDT larger valve kit, carrying out port matching and head flowing will also lift performance, and more importantly will allow you to get a greater performance increase on other parts.

Turbo upgrades for the YD22DDT

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 YD22DDT

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

If the engine has forced induction mods are relatively easy and turbo engines are built with uprated components.

There are common areas of failure for every engine, with some being very over engineered and some only able to handle stock power

See where you'll find these limitations and install higher quality components to handle the power.

We see many mechanics spending a lots of money on turbo charger upgrades on the YD22DDT only to have the YD22DDT explode just after it's been enthusiastically driven.

Big upgraded turbochargers often suffer low end lag, and smaller turbochargers spool up more quickly but don't have the high rpm bhp gains.

In recent times the world of turbo chargers is always improving and we commonly find variable vane turbo chargers, allowing the vane profile is altered according to speed to lower lag and increase top end torque.

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

It is not unusual that there's a limit in the air flow sensor AFM/MAP on the YD22DDT when a lot more air is being drawn into the engine.

We note 4 bar air sensors coping with quite large power gains, whereas the OEM air sensor limited bhp and torque at a much lower level.

Adding a supercharger or additional turbo will make large torque gains, although more complex to get working. We have this in depth look at twinchargers if you want to read more.

Uprating YD22DDT fuel injectors

When you increase the bhp and torque you will need to ramp up to the fuel delivery.

More bhp and torque needs more fuel. Most tuners we speak with say to over specify your flow rate on the injectors.

The rule of thumb is to add 20% when specifying an injector, this allows for injector deterioration and gives a bit of spare capacity should the engine need 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 YD22DDT performance exhausts

Only look to upgrade your exhaust if your current exhaust is actually creating a restriction.

On most factory exhausts you'll find 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 air through the engine.

But if the exhaust pipe is too big, ie: it's over 2.5 inches bore, you will lose a great deal of the exhaust flow rate and end up lacking power and torque.

Usual exhaust restrictions can be located in the catalyst installed, so adding a faster flowing performance alternative will help avoid this restriction.

Problems and issues to look out for on the YD22DDT

The YD22DDT 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 YD22DDT, particularly when the engine has been modified and is putting down more power than the manufacturer intended.

For more information on Tuning your YD22DDT engine please join us in our friendly forum where you can discuss tuning options in more detail with our YD22DDT 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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This article is flagged for an update, so please pass on specific tips below that I can include. All articles, and content was written by me, Waynne Smith TorqueCars founder. Some outlines are just too general so I appreciate your feedback and suggestions. This entry was filed under Nissan. You can leave a response below or join our forum to discuss this article and car modification in detail with our members.

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