Opel C18NZ engine specifications
| Characteristics | Value |
|---|---|
| Production | Kaiserslautern Plant |
| Engine make | C18NZ |
| Years of manufacture | 1988-1995 |
| Cylinder block material | Cast iron |
| Power system | Injector |
| Number of cylinders | 4 |
| Valves per cylinder | 2 |
| Piston stroke, mm | 79.5 |
| Cylinder diameter, mm | 84.8 |
| Compression ratio | 9.2 |
| Engine displacement, cc | 1796 |
| Engine power, hp/rpm | 90/5400 |
| Torque, Nm/rpm | 145/3000 |
| Environmental standards | Euro 1 |
| Oil consumption, gr./1000 km | Up to 600 |
| Engine oil | 0W-30, 0W-40, 5W-30, 5W-40, 5W-50, 10W-40, 15W-40 |
| How much oil in the engine, liters | 4 |
| Oil change is carried out, km | 15 000 (preferably up to 10 000) |
| Engine life, thousand km | Factory data: -, In practice: 300+ |
| Tuning, hp | Potential: -, Without loss of resource: – |
| Motor installed | Opel Astra F, Opel Vectra A, Opel Kadett E, Vauxhall Cavalier |
Design and repair of the Opel C18NZ engine
For the first time this motor appeared on Vectra A cars, launched in September 1988, such Vectras had the index 1.8i. The C18NZ engines belong to the GM Family II series of motors and used a cast iron cylinder block from the C20NE, where the cylinder diameter was reduced to 84.8 mm, also here was placed a short-stroke crankshaft with a stroke of 79.5 mm. The length of connecting rods remained unchanged – 143 mm, the height of pistons was increased to 33.65 mm. All this was installed in a block with a height of 216.3 mm, and the working volume of 1.8 liters was obtained.
The cylinder head with one camshaft and with 2 valves per cylinder is installed on top. The C18NZ camshaft lift is 6.01/6.39 mm. Valve diameter: intake – 41.8 mm, exhaust – 36.5 mm. The rod diameter is 7 mm.
A significant difference is the use of mono injection as opposed to distributed fuel injection on the C20NE. The control unit here is Multec IEFI-6.
A timing belt is used on this motor. The timing belt on C18NZ must be replaced after every 60 thousand kilometers or every 4 years. If it breaks, you will not be in danger – the motor does not bend valves.
Produced this engine until 1995, after which its place was taken by X18XE.
Problems and disadvantages of Opel C18NZ engines
This engine has no pronounced weaknesses, all its problems are from old age
- Most often failures occur in the ignition system or some sensors are glitchy
- The timing belt does not have a very long life, but if it breaks, the valves do not bend
- If you use cheap oil, then closer to 100,000 km hydrocompensators will knock
These motors did not have any design flaws, everything is very simple and reliable. Unfortunately, over the years these motors have completely exhausted their resource and now you can expect problems everywhere. Pour normal gasoline, normal oil, service the car on time and your motor will still serve.
Opel C18NZ engine tuning
C18NZ to C20NE
Quite a difficult step on the way to increase power will be boring the motor under 2-liter pistons C20NE or 20SEH, 86 mm in diameter. You will need connecting rods and crankshaft with 86 mm stroke – from C20NE/20SEH. Also don’t forget the C20NE or 20SEH cylinder head with all the accessories. You can also throw in all the internals from a C20XE into your block along with the head, intake, exhaust, electronics, and everything else that goes along with it. Along the way, there will be a good chance to completely rebuild the motor and replace what needs replacing. This will add power to your motor with only the cylinder block remaining. This step is justified only if there is a donor, in other cases it is more logical to replace the motor with a full-fledged contract C20NE or C20XE.
To build a turbo C18NZ or with a compressor is unreasonably expensive.
MOTOR RATING: 4