Closed Deck V. Open Deck

A General Discussion forum for cars and other topics, and a great place to introduce yourself if you are new to NICO!
User avatar
Hijacker
Posts: 14373
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2003 4:57 am
Car: '92 240sx Convertible
'94 F-150
Location: Fredericksburg, VA

Post

I hear these terms thrown around all the time, and I act like I know what they really are, but that's a lie. What's the difference?


navysnail
Posts: 3335
Joined: Wed Feb 11, 2004 1:33 pm
Car: 1990 Nissan 240SX fastback

Post

in refference to what?

User avatar
Mr1der
Posts: 36020
Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2003 8:35 am
Car: It's still not a Nissan...
Location: Lebanon TN

Post

pools man, pools

I run the closed deck cuz I've got retarded dogs and a small child running around my house.

User avatar
Megaseth
Posts: 3863
Joined: Wed Aug 14, 2002 5:00 pm
Car: 2002 Pathfinder SE
Contact:

Post

head design. the new QR uses a closed deck design, while the SR used an open deck. if im not mistaken, it deals with how they are cast. they're cast differently, and perform different because of it.

User avatar
Hijacker
Posts: 14373
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2003 4:57 am
Car: '92 240sx Convertible
'94 F-150
Location: Fredericksburg, VA

Post

well, what really got me thinking about the differences was this article by mike kojima i was reading. He was talking about block boring and honing. And when boring a block, it's best to do it with a deck plate on it, because it simulates having the head installed. But on an open deck block it's not necessary because of "the free standing cylinders".

MaineExport
Posts: 3784
Joined: Tue Jul 23, 2002 3:27 pm
Car: 95 Nissan 240SX FAL fans AEM intake Hot Shot header Apexi N1 dual Exhaust VLSD ABS NX 50 shot

Post

It is the construction of the coolant lines in the block. There was a great thread about a year ago that Adam (daunttless) took the time to answer this question in depth. Do a search in the 240 General or technical section.

BuudWeizErr
Posts: 4745
Joined: Tue Sep 24, 2002 11:35 am

Post

Megaseth wrote:head design. the new QR uses a closed deck design, while the SR used an open deck. if im not mistaken, it deals with how they are cast. they're cast differently, and perform different because of it.


Umm, I was always under the impression that SR had closed deck design, and that honda b/d series engines had open deck designs:

SR:

B16:

IvoryJ30t
Posts: 3076
Joined: Sun Aug 17, 2003 1:36 pm
Car: 95 Maxima GLE, 95 Maxima GXE

Post

ok, its simple.

when you pull the head on an open deck motor, the cylinder liners are free standing. another words, the cylinders are attached to the bottom of the block, and the coolant circulates around the cylinder liners. the top of the liners are not attached to the deck of the block. they seal against the head/headgasket directly.

a closed deck motor has the cylinder bores and block deck "closed" with just passages for the water and oil, not just free cylinder liners.

open deck blocks are almost always made out of aluminum or an alloy.

an american iron V8 will be closed deck.

IvoryJ30t
Posts: 3076
Joined: Sun Aug 17, 2003 1:36 pm
Car: 95 Maxima GLE, 95 Maxima GXE

Post

exactly. the top pic is closed deck and the bottom pic is open.

BuudWeizErr
Posts: 4745
Joined: Tue Sep 24, 2002 11:35 am

Post

IvoryJ30t wrote:when you pull the head on an open deck motor, the cylinder liners are free standing. another words, the cylinders are attached to the bottom of the block, and the coolant circulates around the cylinder liners. the top of the liners are not attached to the deck of the block. they seal against the head/headgasket directly.


Is this why my friends Turbo B18C runs great with a radiator half the size of my stock radiator, and I still have cooling problems with my aluminum Koyo?

Seems taht would be the case if the coolant is able to completely surround the piston wall.. does it come down to open: cools better, closed: stronger ?

User avatar
Megaseth
Posts: 3863
Joined: Wed Aug 14, 2002 5:00 pm
Car: 2002 Pathfinder SE
Contact:

Post

ah, Chunki you're right. i had the two backwards. i think the QR is open deck.

and i think maybe the displacement helps with the cooling too for the honda.

IvoryJ30t
Posts: 3076
Joined: Sun Aug 17, 2003 1:36 pm
Car: 95 Maxima GLE, 95 Maxima GXE

Post

i like closed deck blocks because i think there stronger, and i think there a better design.

also, some cars with open deck blocks can begin to develop headgasket problems after a while because the liners resonate with the combustion and cause the headgasket to wear.

IvoryJ30t
Posts: 3076
Joined: Sun Aug 17, 2003 1:36 pm
Car: 95 Maxima GLE, 95 Maxima GXE

Post

as far as the b18 having better cooling, i cant say if it because of the open deck design, or if it because the motor has a relatively small displacement.

my girlfriends old integra would hardly warm up in the winter. maybe its the extra surface area of the jackets in an open deck block, or the motor just doesnt retain heat.

BuudWeizErr
Posts: 4745
Joined: Tue Sep 24, 2002 11:35 am

Post

1.8 vs 2.0? I'm doubt a 10% difference in block size is going to have such a huge difference in cooling.

IvoryJ30t
Posts: 3076
Joined: Sun Aug 17, 2003 1:36 pm
Car: 95 Maxima GLE, 95 Maxima GXE

Post

thats true. would need both cars side by side to see what the difference in cooling is caused by.

User avatar
C-Kwik
Moderator
Posts: 8070
Joined: Thu Aug 01, 2002 9:28 pm
Car: 2013 Chevy Volt, 1991 Honda CRX DX

Post

They each have advantages, but open deck designs are weaker at higher power levels. There are options on many open deck motors to basically close the deck. The advantages are that the cooling towards the top of the piston are better and according to some sources, helps reduce some emissions as well as the knock threshold. And the cylinder bore roundness is not effected by torquing the head down on an open deck block.

The reason for the different design is in the manufacturing process. Open deck designess are the result of die casting as opposed to the sand or foam casting in closed deck designed. In open deck blocks, they use dies and basically the die for the water jacket must be pulled out of the top of the motor. Die cast motors are more precisely cast and can be made smaller overall for the same internal dimensions. This results in a lighter and smaller package. Closed deck designs are a bit more crudely cast so it requires more tolerance is built into the casting so more metal is poured in and this results in an overall larger and heavier casting. Sand casting also creates an issue where sand can be lodged inside a cooling or oil passage and dislodged at a later time. It's a minor concern, but still a concern.

User avatar
Hijacker
Posts: 14373
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2003 4:57 am
Car: '92 240sx Convertible
'94 F-150
Location: Fredericksburg, VA

Post

thankfully, most modern sand cast engines are cleaned out to such a degree that the sand really isn't an issue anymore.


Return to “General Chat”