Opel Z22SE/Chevrolet L61 engine

Opel Z22SE engine characteristics

The Opel Z22SE engine was produced at the Kaiserslautern, Tonawanda and Spring Hill plants between 2000 and 2007. This inline 4-cylinder engine features an aluminum cylinder block and an injector feed system. Piston stroke is 94.6 mm and cylinder bore is 86 mm.

Power

The volume of the Z22SE engine is 2198 cc, and the compression ratio varies from 9.5 to 10.0. Depending on the modification, the engine output can reach from 135 to 147 horsepower at different rpm, namely:

• 135 hp at 5200 rpm
• 137 hp at 5800 rpm
• 140 horsepower at 5,600 rpm.
• 143 hp at 5600 rpm
• 145 hp at 5600 rpm
• 147 hp at 5800 rpm

Torque also varies depending on the modification and can reach from 183 to 210 Nm at different rpm:

• 183 Nm at 4400 rpm
• 193 Nm at 4400 rpm
• 203 Nm at 4000 rpm
• 210 Nm at 4000 rpm

Environmental regulations and fuel

The engine complies with Euro 4 environmental standards and is designed for use with 95 grade fuel. The weight of the engine is 138 kg.

Fuel and oil consumption

Fuel consumption for Opel Vectra C is 12.0 liters per 100 km in the city cycle, 6.7 liters on the highway and 8.6 liters in the mixed cycle. Allowed oil consumption is up to 600 grams per 1000 km. Recommended engine oil: 0W-30, 0W-40, 5W-30, 5W-40, 5W-50, 10W-40. The volume of oil in the engine is 5.0 liters, and oil change should be carried out every 15000 km (better every 7500 km).

Resource

Factory information about the resource of the engine is not available, but in practice, the Z22SE engine is able to overcome more than 300 thousand kilometers. Engine tuning is possible, but exact data on the potential and allowable parameters without loss of resource are not provided.

Application

The Z22SE engine has been installed in a wide range of vehicles including Opel Astra G/Holden Astra, Opel Vectra B/C, Opel Zafira A, Opel Speedster, Chevrolet Alero, Chevrolet Cavalier, Chevrolet Cobalt, Chevrolet HHR, Chevrolet Malibu, Fiat Croma, Pontiac Grand Am, Pontiac Sunfire, Saturn L, Saturn Ion and Saturn Vue.

Opel Z22SE engine troubleshooting and repair

This dvs began production in 2000, and it replaced the 2-liter X20XEV. Here was used an aluminum cylinder block with cast iron liners and with two balancer shafts, the height of the block is 221 mm. Inside it is a crankshaft with a piston stroke of 94.6 mm, the length of the connecting rods Z22SE – 146.5 mm, compression height of the piston 26.75 mm, piston diameter 86 mm. As a result, we have a working volume of 2.2 liters.

This block is covered with an aluminum head with 2 camshafts and 16 valves. The diameter of the inlet valves is 35.2 mm, the exhaust valves – 30 mm, the thickness of the valve stem – 6 mm. The characteristics of camshafts are as follows: phase 245/245 degrees, lift 9.5/9.5 mm.

In North America, the Z22SE engine is known as the Chevrolet L61 and was used in a number of Chevrolet, Saturn and Pontiac cars. The weakest versions of the L61 engine were used in the Saturn L, where due to the puddle pistons the compression ratio was reduced to 9.5 and camshafts with a different cam profile were installed.

The engine is controlled by ECU GMPT-E15. Performance of injectors is 240 cc.
Unlike most Opel models, the Z22SE timing mechanism is driven by a single-row chain. Serves the timing chain differently, on average 250 thousand kilometers, often more, sometimes less. It is important to pour normal oil and monitor its level.

In 2007, the production of Z22SE was completed and Z22YH was used instead.

Problems and disadvantages of Opel Z22SE engine

1. Diesel sound. There is a high probability that your timing chain tensioner has died and the chain is stretched. You can try to replace the tensioner, but it is better to change the timing chain and balancer shaft chain with everything related (sprockets, tensioners, calipers, etc.) after which you will drive another 150 thousand kilometers without thinking about the chain. Naturally, it is necessary to monitor the oil level and its quality.
2. Oil burn. The main cause of this phenomenon on Z22SE is the valve cover, replacing it with a plastic one brings everything to normal. If the problem has not disappeared, then the motor is worn out and needs overhaul.
3. Antifreeze in the plug wells. When screwing the plugs exceeded the recommended tightening torque, and a crack was formed in the cylinder head. The head is ruined, you need to replace it with a working one, and its price is quite high. It is very common to replace it with a SAAB head, which is installed with a number of modifications.

Otherwise, the motor is ordinary, like everywhere else, it should be regularly serviced, use original spare parts, quality oil and gasoline.

Tuning Opel Z22SE engines

Budget tuning for Z22SE does not exist, so immediately prepare to spend money. You can raise the power of your 2.2-liter motor extremely cheaply by removing the balancer shafts, as well as installing an intake manifold from Chevrolet LE5 and a damper from the same. On the exhaust it is desirable to put the manifold 4-2-1 and under all this it is necessary to adjust the control unit.

To get much more power you need to put cold intake, intake manifold from Chevrolet LE5, throttle valve bigger (for example, from LSJ), injectors Z20LET, camshafts Piper 266 with springs and plates, you need to do porting of the cylinder-head and put valves +1 mm (inlet 36 mm, outlet 31 mm), remove balancer shafts, put a light flywheel, exhaust manifold 4-2-1, direct exhaust on 63 mm pipe. Under all this you need to adjust the control unit and you can get under 200 hp at the flywheel.

Making more power is unprofitable – turbo kits with installation cost more than the car.

MOTOR RATING: 4