GM 54 ° V6 engine
The 54 ° V6 engine was developed by GM in the early 1990s. The specifications included a light gasoline engine that was supposed to replace the six-cylinder in-line engine that had been used until then . In addition, it had to be so compact that it could be used in front - wheel drive vehicles as well as in the familiar rear-wheel drive vehicles .
The result of the development was a V6 with the unusually small bank angle of only 54 ° instead of the usual 60 °. This makes it a very compact engine.
Basic technical data
- 54 ° V6 (instead of the usual 60 °) for a particularly compact design
- Aluminum - cylinder heads , each having two overhead camshafts ( DOHC ), through a toothed belt driven
- four valves per cylinder
- Heat exchanger between the cylinder heads to regulate the engine oil temperature via the cooling water
- Bosch ignition modules (DIS) and spark plugs
- Bosch Motronic M2 8.X including individual knock sensors for each bank
- the same cylinder angle and spacing even with different displacement levels
- Secondary air injection (except early models, see table below)
- by means of vacuum-controlled valve in the Ansaugweglänge adjustable intake tract ( Multiram ) to optimize the torque characteristic (except early models, see table below)
The engine was manufactured in Ellesmere Port until 2005 .
Expansion stages
L81
The L81 was first introduced as a 2.5 V6 in 1993 in Opel Vectra A and Calibra . A revised version with secondary air injection and Multiram soon followed , supplemented by a further expansion stage with 3.0 liter displacement in the Opel Omega B 1. It was available in an equipment variant called " MV6 " based on the Multiram V6 used .
The L81 was continuously improved over its long construction period. For the 1998 model year, the oil pump was revised, the oil channels in the cylinder head were enlarged and the valve train was modified. A year later, the oil filter was finally changed and got a paper element.
LA3
The LA3 was the fundamentally revised version of the L81. Its production started in July 2001. The following innovations were introduced:
- Reduction of the compression ratio to 10: 1
- Installation of pre-catalytic converters with four lambda sensors instead of secondary air injection
- electronic accelerator pedal
- Displacement expansion from 2.5 to 2.6 and from 3.0 to 3.2 liters by enlarging the bore and - only with the 3.2-liter engine - a different crankshaft .
operation area
The first 54 ° V6 were installed in Europe in 1993 in the Opel Vectra and Calibra . Opel Omega B and Opel Signum followed later . The engine was also used by other corporate brands, such as Cadillac , Chevrolet , Holden , Alfa Romeo , Saab and Saturn .
brand | model | Engine identification | Opel engine code |
Displacement in [cm³] |
Power [PS] at 1 / min |
Torque [Nm] at 1 / min |
Construction period | Emission standard | particularities |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Opel | Omega B1 | L81 | X25XE | 2,498 | 170 @ 6,000 | 227 @ 3,200 | 1994-1998 | D3 | |
Opel | Omega B1 / B2 | L81 | X25XE | 2,498 | 170 @ 6,000 | 227 @ 3,200 | 1998-2001 | D3 | Revision for model year 1998 |
Opel | Vectra B1 / B2 | L81 | X25XE | 2,498 | 170 @ 5,800 | 230 @ 3,200 | 1998-2000 | D4 | Revision for model year 1998 |
Opel | Vectra B1 / B2 | L81 | X25XEI | 2,498 | 195 @ 6,500 | 240 @ 3,500 | 1998-2000 | D3 |
Improved performance by Irmscher sales designation i500 |
Opel | Vectra B1 | L81 | X30XEI | 2,962 | 220 @ 6,200 | 300 @ 3,600 | 1998-1998 | D3 |
Increased performance from Irmscher sales designation i30 |
Opel | Omega B1 | L81 | X30XE | 2,962 | 211 @ 6,000 | 270 @ 3,600 | 1994-1998 | D3 | |
Opel | Omega B1 / B2 | L81 | X30XE | 2,962 | 211 @ 6,000 | 270 @ 3,400 | 1998-2001 | D3 | Revision for model year 1998 |
Cadillac | Catera | L81 | - | 2,962 | 204 @ 6,000 | 260 @ 3,600 | 1996-2001 | - | Compared to the X30XE , compression is reduced to 10: 1 |
Opel | Omega B2 | LA3 | Y26SE | 2,597 | 180 @ 6,000 | 240 @ 3,400 | 2001-2003 | Euro 3 | |
Opel | Omega B2 | LA3 | Y32SE | 3,175 | 218 @ 6,000 | 290 @ 3,400 | 2001-2003 | Euro 3 | |
Cadillac | CTS 1 | LA3 | - | 3,175 | 220 @ 6,000 | 296 @ 3,400 | 2002-2004 | Euro 3 | |
Opel | Vectra C1 | LA3 | Z32SE | 3,175 | 211 @ 6,200 | 300 @ 4,000 | 2002-2005 | Euro 4 | |
Opel | Signum 1 | LA3 | Z32SE | 3,175 | 211 @ 6,200 | 300 @ 4,000 | 2003-2005 | Euro 4 | |
Opel | Vectra C1 | LA3 | - | 3,175 | 302 @ 5,800 | 370 @ 4,800 | 2004-2005 | Euro 3 |
Increased performance from Irmscher sales designation i35 |
Opel | Signum 1 | LA3 | - | 3,175 | 302 @ 5,800 | 370 @ 4,800 | 2004-2005 | Euro 3 |
Increased performance from Irmscher sales designation i35 |
performance increase
Ex works
The Irmscher company offered numerous performance enhancements for the 54 ° V6, most of which were also available ex works. In addition, there were also vehicles directly converted by Opel (Opel Special Vehicles), primarily for the police.
- Irmscher
-
Vectra B1 / B2 i500
- L81 with 2.5 V6
- Increased performance through sports camshafts , rear silencers and control unit optimization
-
Vectra B1 / B2 i30
- L81 with 3.0 V6
- Increased performance through sports camshafts , rear silencers and control unit optimization
- Installation of a specially graded gearbox to maintain the emissions standard
- Sports clutch
-
Vectra B2 is3
- L81 with 3.0 V6
- Increased performance through sports camshafts , rear silencers and control unit optimization
- Vectra C1 i500 / Signum I i500
-
Vectra C1 i35 / Signum I i35
- LA3 with 3.2 V6
- Increased performance through compressor , manifold, chip tuning and exhaust
- List price of the option ex works € 18,900
-
Vectra B1 / B2 i500
- OSV
equipment
There were many options here too. Be it through classic engine tuning such as manifolds, camshafts and much more, or through charging.