Nissan VK56DE/VD 5.6L Engine Specs, Problems, Reliability. Nissan’s VK56DE/VD is a 5.6-liter V8 gasoline engine, first introduced in the 2004 Nissan Armada, which was available in the The United States and Canada market. The engine is made in the U.S.A. (in Decherd, Tennessee). The manufacturer offers this 5.6 L V8s for the huge and heavy trucks, SUVs, and full-size vans – Nissan Titan, Nissan Patrol, Infiniti QX56, Nissan NV2500, 3500 HD, and etc. The Nissan VK engine household also included smaller versions – 4.5-liter VK45DE and 5.0-liter VK50VE.
The VK56DE engine has an aluminum-alloy cylinder block with ductile iron cylinder liners, and it is similar to the VK45DE block but with some distinctions and measurements. The height of the engine block was increased to 232 mm, the bore size – from 93 mm to 98 mm. The Nissan 5.6 L engine has 154.2 mm long linking rods and the brand-new low-friction molybdenum-coated pistons, which also allows lowering the compression ratio to 9.8:1. In the result, the engine ended up being a conventional V8 with a lot of torque, that makes it suitable for pickup trucks and other heavy vehicles.
This 5.6-liter V8 has aluminum cylinder heads with 4 valves per cylinder (two consumption and 2 exhaust valves). The valvetrain is geared up by hydraulic lifters. The intake valve diameter is 37 mm, and the exhaust valves are 31.5 mm in size. The engine features chain-driven, double overhead camshafts for each cylinder bank (4 camshafts overall) and Continuous Variable Valve Timing Control system (CVTCS) for the consumption valve timing only. The VK56 camshafts have following specifications: duration – 232/230 degrees, lift – 8.8/ 8.8 mm. The headcovers and the consumption manifold are made from composite product for weight savings. The VK56DE is equipped with conventional multi-port fuel injection system, coil-on-plugs electronic ignition and electronic throttle body.
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The VK56VD 5.6 L Stamina (DIG) engine
The VK565DE was stopped in 2016 and completely changed in the production by a modified version – the VK56VD. The brand-new Nissan 5.6 L V8 DIG engine started its life in 2010 under the hood of the newest Infiniti M56 premium sport luxury sedan. It was developed in reaction to the growing demand for better fuel economy, improved performance, and cleaner emissions. The brand-new engine functions DIG innovation (Direct Injection Gas) – direct fuel injection system where fuel is injected directly into the cylinders through high-pressure direct injectors. That required a new cylinder head design. The engine also uses the Constant Variable Valve Event and Raise (VVEL) System on both intake and exhaust sides. Nissan’s engineers increased a compression ratio to 11.2:1 by installing pistons with a brand-new style. The cooling system has gone from a traditional thermostat to a Multi Control Valve (MCV) system.
The direct fuel injection on the Nissan 5.6 L engine enables to control injection process more exactly and, as the result, offers enhanced throttle performance, fuel economy, and emissions efficiency by decreasing engine knock and improving combustion stability.
Nissan 5.6 L VK56DE/VD Engine Problems and Reliability
The VK56 5.6 l V8 engine is sensitive to the quality of the fuel. The common problem connected with this resembles the one on the VQ35 V6 engine. Bad fuel ruins catalyst converters on these engines, and that process accompanies by small production of dust and little pieces. The dust from the driver converters is absorbed by the engine, permeates inside and grinds the cylinder walls, and after that, washed by oil after that. This triggers a fast ware of all internal parts (piston rings, cylinder walls, bearings). If it took place, well, you need a brand-new engine. Symptoms of that disaster are the next: high oil usage, loss of power, rough idle.
Timing chains are not reliable. For the most part, the right one is a weak point. It extends often even after just 30k miles. Aggressive driving with flour velocities decreases the life of timing chains obvious. The ideal chain likewise drives the high-pressure fuel pump, and in this case, the problem can be related to a failed pump. So, it is much better changing timing chain together with high-pressure fuel pump, otherwise, it may take place again. By the way, the VK56 has a quite unreliable high-pressure fuel pump, which rarely goes more than 50,000-60,000 miles of mileage (80,000-90,000 km).
That, keep an eye on the cooling system (radiator condition, level of coolant, and etc.), due to the fact that the engine is inclined to overheat, specifically the early designs. They were geared up with undependable air conditioning condenser radiator cooling fan, which might jam and trigger getting too hot. The engine suffers adequate damage from overheating – twisted heads, blown head gaskets.
In general, if you will keep it well preserved, utilize good quality parts, motor oil, and gas, the Nissan 5.6-liter engine last more than 250,000 miles (400,000 km).
you must see more engine detail in here: Engine – US Cars News or you can see on wiki here
Nissan VK56DE/VD 5.6L Engine Specs
| Manufacturer | Decherd Plant, Tennessee |
| Production years | 2003-present day |
| Cylinder block material | Aluminum |
| Cylinder head material | Aluminum |
| Fuel type | Gasoline |
| Fuel system | Multi-point fuel injection |
| Configuration | V |
| Number of cylinders | 8 |
| Valves per cylinder | 4 |
| Valvetrain layout | DOHC |
| Bore, mm | 98.0 mm (3.86 in) |
| Stroke, mm | 92.0 mm (3.62 in) |
| Displacement, cc | 5,552 cc (338.8 cu in) |
| Type of internal combustion engine | Four-stroke, naturally aspirated |
| Compression Ratio | 9.8 – VK56DE; 11.2 – VK56VD |
| Power, hp | 305-420 hp (227-313 kW)/4,900 |
| Torque, lb ft | 385-417 lb-ft (522-565 Nm)/3,600 |
| Engine weight | 496 lbs (225 kg) |
| Firing order | 1-8-7-3-6-5-4-2 |
| Engine oil weight | SAE 5W-30, 5W-40, 10W-30, 10W-40 |
| Engine oil capacity, liter | 6.5l (6.9 qt) |
| Oil change interval, mile | 9,000 (15,000 km) / 12 months |
| Applications | Infiniti M56/Q70, Infiniti QX56/QX80, Nissan Pathfinder, Nissan Patrol, Nissan Armada, Nissan NV2500 HD, Nissan NV3500 HD, Nissan NV Passenger, Nissan Titan, Nissan Altima, V8 Supercars Australia |