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L850/Ecotec (2.0L)
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Posted by dchmiele1992 [Email] (more from dchmiele1992) on Tue, 19 Jul 2005 10:23:12 Share Post by Email
In Reply to: 9-3 engine durability, Therion, Tue, 19 Jul 2005 09:14:57
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The L850 engine program at GM (which was eventually branded the Ecotec) was designed to be a Universal block for 4 cylinder GM passenger cars. Short note: I worked for a few years for a Tier 1 supplier of internal engine components for GM, so I have some knowledge/background on the L850 engine program, though by no means extensive. It was planned for all of the GM brands at the time (late 90's) including Saab, Opel, and Lotus, along with Chevy, Saturn, Olds, and Pontiac to use this basic L850 block (yes it is cast Al, and I believe it is also lost foam cast, which was/is a Saturn innovation). Because this block was designed from the beginning to be used in robust applications, it benefited from relatively high design limits. It was engineered for turbocharged/supercharged applications at the get go (with handy features like passages for oil jet cooling of pistons, rather than splash lubrication).

I believe cast blocks are shipped from the US to Trollhatten where Saab machines the blocks, fits cranks, bearings, heads (Al) and pistons (Al) of their own spec.

No, this is not the old Saab iron block engine, but it is also dramatically lighter in the front end of your car (better balance and mileage) and crate engines of the Ecotec have been seen in the 300-500 hp range, so there appears to be quite a bit of headroom in the design.

My impression of this design is that it is one of GM's better developed and implemented designs, even if it is not of purely swedish design and manufacture.

My $0.02

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