I thought the 2k's engine was still a VQ30DE and the K was a mistake. Does a VQ30DE-K exist? Wouldn't it be labeled such under the hood? Anyone got a pic?

What's your thoughts - Fact or Fiction?

Wizeguy

 

Why would it be labeled under the hood? The engine in my 99 doesn't have a VQ30DE label under the hood. In fact, I don't think you'll ever see an engine with it's engine code visible once the hood is open, in any car. The "K" extension stands for "Kaizen", rougly japanese for "improved" (correct me if I'm wrong!). It means just that - that it's an enhanced version of the original VQ30DE. I suppose the modifications to the engine were too extensive to simply leave the name as VQ30DE. Ex: the Corvette Z06's engine has the same displacement as the bog-standard LS1, yet boasts another 35hp and 35lb-ft. All its improvements are internal. And is it labeled LS1? Nope, it's the LS6.

 

La Jolla Max


uhhh, try looking under your hood a lil better. Youll see a stamping for your engine code, tranny code, Chassis code also i think. Youll see this under the hood of every car nowadays.

 

Like I said, correct me if I'm wrong. Thank you, turboMax. I still think the official engine code for it has the "K" extension, tho.

 

will be a stamp telling you what engine your max has.....i think the "k" is on the 2000...

 

there was a post a while ago about the motors.. i thot the "k" was suppose to be new and improved?? the 5th gen i heard is still vq30de. check back a few posts..

 

or so I've heard.

The engine is the same basic layout. I think they maybe tried some different coatings/finishings on some of the internals, but that's nothing that significant.

The main improvement is the intake. The manifold is totally different and pretty trick (variable capacity). The intake filter box is different just as a larger filter is required for the higher motor output. All the hardware that bolts to the manifold is different, too...from what I can tell, different throttle body and idle mechanisms and cannister purge hardware.

The fuel system is a little different, too. Looks like there's two pressure regulators instead of one...probably to promote higher fuel flows. I've heard there's no fuel return to the gas tank but that doesn't sound right to me.

The cams were tweaked slightly, too, but it's almost a negligible difference. Intake duration was reduced from 232 deg to 229 (or close - not much) and the lift was increased by only ~0.002" or so, about what you'd get by using tighter lifter clearance...barely anything. The cam changes are probably what result in the slightly higher peak torque but lower peak rpm...little less duration, probably from sooner intake valve closure.

I noticed that the front valve cover is a little different (taller oil filler cap mount), but that's not really a significant difference.

 

"K" designation is fiction, IIRC. I have pics of a 2k Max at home on the dealer lot, including the sticker under the hood....

I think, anyway.

 

Mine doesn't have the 'K' in the engine code that is under the hood. It simply says VQ30DE.