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GM Family 1 engine

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Manufacturer
  
Configuration
  
Straight-4

Cylinder head alloy
  
Production
  
1982–present

Cylinder block alloy
  
GM Family 1 engine

Also called
  
E-TECFamily ISmall-block

The Family 1 is a straight-4 piston engine that was developed by Opel, a subsidiary of General Motors to replace the Opel CIH engines for use on mid-range cars from Opel/Vauxhall. Originally produced at the Aspern engine plant, production was moved to the Szentgotthard engine plant in Hungary with the introduction of the DOHC version. GM do Brasil at São José dos Campos, GMDAT at Bupyeong and GM North America at Toluca also build these engines.

Contents

The Family 1 engines are inline-4 cylinder engines with belt-driven single or double overhead camshafts in an aluminum cylinder head with a cast iron engine block. GM do Brasil versions were also capable of running on ethanol. These engines are sometimes referred to as "Small-block" engines by enthusiasts; in contrast to the larger Family II engines which are sometimes referred to as the "Big-block" engines.

GM do Brasil specializes in SOHC, petrol-powered and FlexPower (powered with ethanol and/or petrol, mixed in any percentage) engines. GM Brasil also made 16-valve versions of the 1.0 engine. The 1.0 L 16v was available in the Corsa line-up from 1999 to 2001.

1.0

The 999 cc (61.0 cu in) version has a 71.1 mm (2.80 in) bore and a 62.9 mm (2.48 in) stroke.

1.2

The 1,195 cubic centimetres (72.9 cu in) version was used in the Opel Corsa.

1.3

The 1,297 cc (79.1 cu in) version has a 75.0 mm (2.95 in) bore and a 73.4 mm (2.89 in) stroke.

1.4

The 1,389 cc (84.8 cu in) version has a 77.6 mm (3.06 in) bore and a 73.4 mm (2.89 in) stroke.

1.6

The 1,598 cc (97.5 cu in) version has a 79.0 mm (3.11 in) bore and a 81.5 mm (3.21 in) stroke.

1.8

The 1,796 cc (109.6 cu in) version has a 80.5 mm (3.17 in) bore and a 88.2 mm (3.47 in) stroke.


Applications:

  • Chevrolet Corsa
  • Chevrolet Montana
  • Opel Meriva
  • Fiat Palio
  • Fiat Siena
  • Fiat Strada
  • Fiat Idea
  • Fiat Punto
  • Fiat Stilo
  • SPE / 4

    The SPE / 4 or (Smart Performance Economy 4 cylinders) engines are an evolution of the Econo.Flex engines and are produced at the Joinville engine plant. There are to two variants the 1.0 L and 1.4 L. They feature a SOHC with 2-valves per cylinder, multi-point fuel injection and can run on either ethanol or gasoline. Major differences between previous engines include reduced friction, lowered weight, individual coil-near-plug ignition, and a new cylinder head..

    Pre-Ecotec

    This was the first engine in this family, featuring a Lotus-developed 16-valve cylinder head and a cast-iron cylinder block which was essentially the same as in Opel's 8-valve engines. C16XE was available only in Corsa GSi, model years 1993 and 1994. C16XE was not yet badged Ecotec, and for later model Corsas and Opel Tigras it was replaced with X16XE Ecotec engine. The main difference between C16XE and X16XE Ecotec is emission control, C16XE lacks EGR and AIR-system, although the cylinder head is designed to enable these features. Other differences between C16XE and later versions of the engine include intake manifold, C16XE has a plastic upper intake manifold, which was replaced with a cast aluminium manifold, and fuel injection system, C16XE uses Multec fuel injection with MAF sensor and later models used Multec fuel injection with MAP sensor. Also, while C16XE had its own exhaust front section design, for X16XE it was replaced with a front section used also in Opel Astra, probably as a cost-saving measure.

    Applications:

  • 1993–1994 Opel Corsa GSi
  • Ecotec

    The first generation Ecotec engines are belt-driven 16-valve DOHC engines, with cast-iron cylinder blocks and aluminum cross-flow cylinder heads. They feature sodium-filled exhaust valves, a cast steel crankshaft, and a spheroidal graphite flywheel. They also feature exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), secondary air injection, and Multec M engine control with sequential multiport fuel injection. The 1.6 L version was also exported for use in the Brazilian Corsa GSi.

    Applications:

  • 1994–2000 Opel Corsa
  • 1994–2000 Opel Tigra
  • 1999–2005 Opel Zafira using Siemens Simtec ECU
  • Opel Astra
  • Opel Vectra
  • 2004–2008 Chevrolet Viva
  • Fiat Stilo
  • Chevrolet Corsa GSi/GLS
  • Electronic throttle

    Updated version introduced from 2000, with lighter cast-iron cylinder block and camshaft driven by toothed belt. Features EGR valve and electronic throttle for reduced emissions.

    Ecotec TwinPort Family 1 engine is used in:

  • Opel Zafira
  • E-TEC

    Daewoo Motors licensed and produced a variant of the Family 1 engine. These engines were built exclusively at Bupyeong engine plant and marketed as E-TEC. Like all Family 1 engines they feature a toothed belt driven valvetrain, a cast iron engine block and an aluminum cylinder head. Most models feature Euro III-compliancy, and the 1.4 L (1399 cc) and 1.6 L (1598cc) versions employ variable intake geometry. With the release of Chevrolet Cruze, the factory has been converted to produce the Ecotec Family 1 Gen III block.

    SOHC

    Applications:

  • Daewoo Lanos
  • Daewoo LeMans
  • Daewoo Espero
  • Daewoo Nexia
  • Chevrolet Lacetti
  • Chevrolet Nubira
  • Chevrolet Aveo
  • DOHC

    The E-TEC II 16V is an updated version of the E-TEC engines with DOHC.

    Applications:

  • Chevrolet Aveo
  • Daewoo Lacetti
  • Daewoo Lanos
  • Daewoo Espero
  • Daewoo Nexia
  • Daewoo Tacuma
  • Generation III

    The new Generation III or Gen III engine entered production in Spring 2005. These engines replaced both the previous generation Ecotec engines as well as Daewoo's E-TEC 16V engines. These engines are manufactured at Szentgotthárd, Hungary, Bupyeoung, Korea, Toluca, Mexico and Yantai, PRC (SGM).

    In contrast to their predecessors, the Gen III engines feature lighter cast-iron blocks, as well as higher compression ratios. These engines also implement DCVCP (Double Continuous Variable Cam Phasing technology, a variant of VVT), piston cooling by oil jets, and an integrated catalytic converter. Non-turbocharged variants feature the TwinPort (Variable-length intake manifold) technology. The drive belt for the camshafts is wider and stronger than before, and water pump is not driven by it anymore which improves reliability.

    The LDE engine meets Euro VI and KULEV emission standards. With the addition of secondary air injection to the LUW engine, the LWE achieves PZEV status.

    These engines like their DOHC predecessors feature bucket tappets in contrast to the roller finger followers found on GM's other 4-cylinder engines.

    Applications:

  • 2005–present Opel Zafira
  • 2005–present Opel Astra
  • 2008–present Chevrolet Cruze (1.8L LUW/2H0/LDE/LWE)
  • 2009–present Opel Insignia
  • 2009–present Chevrolet Aveo (1.6L in Europe, 1.6L LXV and 1.8L LUW/LWE in North America)
  • 2011–present Chevrolet Orlando
  • 2007–2009 Holden Astra (AH)
  • Alfa Romeo 159
  • Fiat Croma
  • Opel Mokka
  • Turbocharged Gen III engines are used in:

  • Opel Meriva
  • 2007–present Opel Corsa
  • 2008–2012 Opel Insignia
  • 2011–2012 Saab 9-5
  • 2007–2012 Opel Astra
  • 2011–present Chevrolet Cruze (China) and Holden Cruze (Australasia)
  • 2016-present Chevrolet Malibu
  • References

    GM Family 1 engine Wikipedia