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Nissan RB20DET
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Nissan RB20DET
Verdict
RISKY · 47/100
Est. cost /3yr
€4,500-10,000 over 3 years depending on condition at purchase and extent of deferred maintenance, higher if turbo or internal engine work is required
Oil interval
5,000 km
Recalls
0
Worst issue
Chronic Overheating and Cooling System Degradation
CRITICAL
Nissan RB20DET
R32 · R32 GTS-T
Chronic Overheating and Cooling System Degradation
€400-1,800
CRITICAL
Cylinder Compression Loss
€800-3,000
HIGH
ECU Wiring and Grounding Issues
€150-800
HIGH
EGR System Faults and Carbon Buildup
€100-600
MODERATE
Turbocharger Wear and Oil Feed Issues
€500-2,000
MODERATE
Aged Rubber and Seals Throughout Engine
€200-900
MODERATE
Clogged or Restricted Radiator
€150-600
MODERATE
Nissan RB20DET
R32 · R32 GTS-T
•Perform a full cold-start compression test on all six cylinders — reject any cylinder reading more than 10% below others
•Pressure-test the entire cooling system and inspect coolant colour — brown or rusty coolant indicates decades of neglect
•Check turbocharger shaft play by hand and look for blue smoke on start-up and hard deceleration
•Scan the ECU for fault codes and inspect the wiring loom for brittle insulation, poor repairs or non-standard modifications
•Inspect all rubber boost hoses, intake couplings and coolant hoses for cracking — replace the full set if in doubt
•Verify full service history or at minimum confirm recent oil changes with receipts — oil starvation destroys these turbocharged engines quickly
Nissan RB20DET
R32 · R32 GTS-T
Coolant hoses and radiator
Replace all coolant hoses, thermostat and flush or replace radiator before first long drive
Immediate on purchase
Turbocharger oil feed and return lines
Inspect and replace braided or rubber oil lines to turbo; check shaft play
Immediate on purchase
Valve cover gasket and cam seals
Replace gasket and both cam end seals to stop oil weeping onto hot surfaces
Immediate on purchase
All boost and intake hoses
Inspect all rubber boost pipes and intercooler hoses for cracks; replace as a set
Immediate on purchase
ECU wiring and earth straps
Inspect loom condition, clean and re-earth all ECU ground points
Immediate on purchase
Nissan RB20DET
R32 · R32 GTS-T
No recalls on record
Nissan RB20DET
R32 · R32 GTS-T
✓Strong tuning and modification community with decades of documented knowledge
✓Inline-six architecture is inherently smooth and relatively robust when maintained
✓Extensive aftermarket support for turbo upgrades, ECU tuning and cooling upgrades
✓Parts sharing across RB engine family (RB25DET components often used as upgrades)
Nissan RB20DET
R32 · R32 GTS-T
Real consumption
12.6 L/100km
Official consumption
Not available
Oil interval
5,000 km
Oil spec
10W-40 or 15W-50 semi/full synthetic meeting API SN or higher; community strongly recommends 5,000 km intervals given turbocharger heat soak on a 30+ year old engine
Est. cost /3yr
€4,500-10,000 over 3 years depending on condition at purchase and extent of deferred maintenance, higher if turbo or internal engine work is required