1999-2009 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
Devloped by Oldsmobile, it was used during the 1990s on a lot of their domestic compacts. The only relation to the Saab engine is the displacement, number of cylinders, and their arrangement (all in a row). It was a nasty, thrashy sounding engine, but had pretty good power until they tried to smooth it out by sticking some balance shafts in the sump, which meant they had to limit the RPMs.
The origin of the Saab 4 cylinder engine goes back to the 1960s, when Saab hired an English consulting company (Ricardo) to design it for them. Triumph had also enquired of Ricardo for an engine with similar specifications, plus the addition of being made both as an in-line 4 and V-8. The two companies shared the design, and Triumph built the engine. Once Saab saw what they were getting, they prevailed upon Scania (the truck company, which at that time was also owned by the Swedish indstrialist family, the Wallenbergs) to build it for them. At that time, a number of modifications were made for more power and better reliability. Since then the design had major updates in 1981 (removed auxiliary shaft), 1985 (16 valve head variant), 1990 (balance shafts), 1994 (made shorter), and 1997 (detail design changes for better fuel efficiency). It is still being made at a facility leased from Scania AB.
The 2009 model year will probably mark the end of the line for this engine. The 2.0 "ecotec" with direct fuel injection produces the same power and better fuel economy, has been less trouble prone than even the very most reliable version (B202, available in C900 models from 1985 on, and 9000s from 1985 through 1990). A close look at the 2.0 ecotec shows design details from the Saab motor that have never been seen on a GM motor before (such as the themostat arrangement, timing and balance chain design, combustion chamber layout), some typical GM details (such as roller tappets, "lost foam" cast aluminum block), and some truly innovative details (very high quality shrouded impeller water pump driven from the balance shaft chain, streamlined counterweighs on the cranck shaft).
posted by 204.210.179...
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