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CA18DET whats the go?

Guest 87vlt

By Guest 87vlt,
in General Automotive Discussion

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Guest 87vlt

Guest 87vlt

Posted
Posted

In the future I'll be looking at getting a 180 of some sort. I know the SR20 get praises from everyone but is there major problems with a CA18DET? I have heard rumors that they tend to through the main bearing after about 100,000km and yet I know of people who have had their car since about 70,000 km and its now gone well past 100,000km without a problem. Can anyone confirm or disprove this? What about performance wise? I know the 0.2 of a litre would make a differnce but how much and what about modifying options are there as many as the SR? I do remember reading an article in Zoom about Dexter's CA18 180, it had a lot of work done to and fairly flew, so going by that they can't be that bad, are they?

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PSIKO Mentor

PSIKO

Posted
Posted

they're just getting on a bit mate, yeah the bearings will go, I think number 2 is that one which kicks it the most often (least oil)

the turbo can also be another worry since that'd be old too, so a split hose all the way to major shaft play etc can be seen (when you look at them and notice oil underneath it's not always the engine - could be the turbo oil drain pipe having a leak (check bov, if it has one, for large amounts of oil coming out, a little is fine; or else when you start it at the exhaust), checking the oil filler whilst engine is on, to see if it is bypassing the pistons (at least I think that's what its doing) - a large rev change isn't good haha

whats wrong with the vlt?? :P

personally I'd go for 2L out of the two

PSIKO Mentor

PSIKO

Posted
Posted

also the money you may have to put into the ca engine over the next 18 or so months to maintain/fix may be the same as getting a lower mileage sr in better nic

but as you say - some engines go a lot further than newer ones; it's all to do with how tough a life its had :P

turbo's don't generally have an easy one

Fitzpatrick Speed Works Mentor

Fitzpatrick Speed Works

Posted
Posted

i had a silvia b4 the gtr n it was a ca18det, i rekon they are a fantastic little engine. mine had a high flow turbo, front mount, remapped com.,ect. runnin 14psi it did 138kw at the wheels and a 13.75 quarter mile. It was nothing to sneeze at, and they rev so sweetly and sound way better than a sr, sr's to me sound horrible; so drouny but thats just personal taste. The ca's are pretty bullet proof if looked after??!!. The turbo is a weak link so are the coils if the motors got more than 100k on the clock. It is vital you change the oil every 5thou as the turbo return line on the ca is undersized and gets cloged with burnt or old oil which can in turn block oil from getting out of the turbo and boiling the oil!!! Dont think the main is a major fault with them it can happen to any car as much as another. They do tend to do head gaskets, especially no 1 if boosted with shit fuel, n let me tell you changin a head gasket on a ca is not fun( eccs makes it a bitch) With similar mods the ca to a sr will always be around 15rwkw down but the ca silvia especially in man form are about 25kgs lighter than the sr equiped cars so its always pretty close!! as with all s13's 180's always seem to of had a harder life, so id go and auto silvia turbo with low mile then change it to manual which is what i did with mine (easy as job to do the change took a day) If you get an auto you can be more certain it hasnt been some jap boys drift mobile or had its a.rse wrapped!! Ne way good luck theres heaps more i could go on about so if you have ne more q's let me know.

macka Veteran

macka

Posted
Posted
Originally posted by LoudBlueBMW

The CA18 is a technically more advanced engine than the SR20 just it's getting older. And the CA would have to be lighter as well.

Im with LoudBlueBMW

Dunno about the weight tho as SR is fully alloy while CA has an iron block, So the SR also Revs more.

PSIKO Mentor

PSIKO

Posted
Posted

the ca is a cast iron block, the sr is an alloy block and weighs heaps less, is newer, pulls more torque and power

basically it's technology vs tractor ahahah

I'm not sure about durability of the two, like the amount they can withstand, but is was tested and proven that the sr can hold 250rwkw without internal strengthening...

exhaust note is purely subjective: I prefer sr since it's a nice, lous throaty sound; the ca sounds more 'sportier' (that is, imho more like an rb note than an sr)

Guest 87vlt

Guest 87vlt

Posted
Posted
Originally posted by 2fardown

I have read a few websites comparing the SR vs CA.  They are both great engines but the CA gets the more votes in most debates.  Meggala is currently importing a 180 CA...send him a PM regarding the engines etc.  He would be more then happy to discuss.

I' think i'll have to do that.....

MrMayhem Mentor

MrMayhem

Posted
Posted

CA is a revvier engine than a sr

from my experience ca's bust head gaskets through age or over heating often caused by loosing coolant through a crack frail water line on the right rear side of the head/block. bucket and shim RB style and the short stoke allow it to rev and live

the sr is a torquier better responsive engine but has weakness at high rpm due to its rocker arm stud removing themselves. also they aquire bottom end knocks, not too sure why probably from using bad oil or slideways starvation

Ideal combo CA18 rev head and a 2L bottom end...... did somebody mention dexter.....

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