The Family 0 is a family of
inline piston engine
A reciprocating engine, also often known as a piston engine, is typically a heat engine that uses one or more reciprocating pistons to convert high temperature and high pressure into a rotating motion. This article describes the common featu ...
s that was developed by
Opel
Opel Automobile GmbH (), usually shortened to Opel, is a German automobile manufacturer which has been a subsidiary of Stellantis since 16 January 2021. It was owned by the American automaker General Motors from 1929 until 2017 and the PSA Grou ...
, at the time a subsidiary of
General Motors
The General Motors Company (GM) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It is the largest automaker in the United States and ...
, as a low-displacement engine for use on entry-level subcompact cars from
Opel
Opel Automobile GmbH (), usually shortened to Opel, is a German automobile manufacturer which has been a subsidiary of Stellantis since 16 January 2021. It was owned by the American automaker General Motors from 1929 until 2017 and the PSA Grou ...
/
Vauxhall
Vauxhall ( ) is a district in South West London, part of the London Borough of Lambeth, England. Vauxhall was part of Surrey until 1889 when the County of London was created. Named after a medieval manor, "Fox Hall", it became well known for ...
.
These engines feature a light-weight
cast-iron
Cast iron is a class of iron–carbon alloys with a carbon content more than 2%. Its usefulness derives from its relatively low melting temperature. The alloy constituents affect its color when fractured: white cast iron has carbide impuriti ...
semi-closed deck
engine block
In an internal combustion engine, the engine block is the structure which contains the cylinders and other components. In an early automotive engine, the engine block consisted of just the cylinder block, to which a separate crankcase was atta ...
with an
aluminum
Aluminium (aluminum in American and Canadian English) is a chemical element with the symbol Al and atomic number 13. Aluminium has a density lower than those of other common metals, at approximately one third that of steel. It has ...
cylinder head
In an internal combustion engine, the cylinder head (often abbreviated to simply "head") sits above the cylinders and forms the roof of the combustion chamber.
In sidevalve engines, the head is a simple sheet of metal; whereas in more modern ov ...
. The
valvetrain
A valvetrain or valve train is a mechanical system that controls the operation of the intake and exhaust valves in an internal combustion engine. The intake valves control the flow of air/fuel mixture (or air alone for direct-injected engines) ...
consists of
chain
A chain is a serial assembly of connected pieces, called links, typically made of metal, with an overall character similar to that of a rope in that it is flexible and curved in compression but linear, rigid, and load-bearing in tension. A c ...
-driven
hollowcast
Permanent mold casting is a metal casting process that employs reusable molds ("permanent molds"), usually made from metal. The most common process uses gravity to fill the mold, however gas pressure or a vacuum are also used. A variation on the ...
dual overhead camshafts (DOHC) that actuate
4-valves per cylinder via roller finger followers with
hydraulic tappet
A hydraulic tappet, also known as a hydraulic valve lifter or hydraulic lash adjuster, is a device for maintaining zero valve clearance in an internal combustion engine. Conventional solid valve lifters require regular adjusting to maintain a sma ...
s. These engines also feature a bore spacing and fracture-split
connecting rod
A connecting rod, also called a 'con rod', is the part of a piston engine which connects the piston to the crankshaft. Together with the crank, the connecting rod converts the reciprocating motion of the piston into the rotation of the cranksh ...
s.
Later versions also incorporate a
variable length intake manifold
In internal combustion engines, a variable-length intake manifold (VLIM),variable intake manifold (VIM), or variable intake system (VIS) is an automobile internal combustion engine manifold technology. As the name implies, VLIM/VIM/VIS can vary ...
(VLIM) and
variable valve timing
In internal combustion engines, variable valve timing (VVT) is the process of altering the timing of a valve lift event, and is often used to improve performance, fuel economy or emissions. It is increasingly being used in combination with varia ...
(VVT).
Originally debuting as either a
straight-3
A straight-three engine (also called an inline-triple or inline-three) is a three-cylinder piston engine where cylinders are arranged in a line along a common crankshaft.
Less common than straight-four engines, straight-three engines have nonethe ...
or
straight-4
A straight-four engine (also called an inline-four) is a four-cylinder piston engine where cylinders are arranged in a line along a common crankshaft.
The vast majority of automotive four-cylinder engines use a straight-four layout (with the ...
; a I4 variant was added with the introduction of the second generation, replacing the 1.4 L
Family 1 engine
The Family 1 is a straight-four piston engine that was developed by Opel, a former subsidiary of General Motors and now a subsidiary of PSA Group, to replace the Opel cam-in-head engines for use on mid-range cars from Opel/Vauxhall. Originally ...
. The ''Family 0'' engines were produced by
Opel Wien
Opel Wien GmbH (formerly GM Powertrain Austria GmbH) is an Austrian manufacturing company based in Vienna / Aspern, Austria and was a subsidiary of General Motors. Currently a subsidiary of the Dutch-based multinational automotive manufacturer Ste ...
in
Vienna
en, Viennese
, iso_code = AT-9
, registration_plate = W
, postal_code_type = Postal code
, postal_code =
, timezone = CET
, utc_offset = +1
, timezone_DST ...
/
Aspern
Aspern () is part of Donaustadt, the 22nd district of Vienna, Austria.
History
The area is known because of the Battle of Aspern-Essling, which was fought in the nearby Lobau on 21 and 22 May 1809. In that battle, the Austrian army, led by A ...
(Austria), by GM in Bupyeong (Korea) and Flint (Michigan, USA).
Generation I
The engine was first introduced in the 1996
Opel Corsa
The Opel Corsa is a supermini car engineered and produced by the German automobile manufacturer Opel since 1982. Throughout its existence, it has been sold under a variety of other brands owned by General Motors (most notably Vauxhall, Chev ...
, either as a
three-cylinder or as a
four-cylinder
The engine configuration describes the fundamental operating principles by which internal combustion engines are categorized.
Piston engines are often categorized by their cylinder layout, valves and camshafts. Wankel engines are often categorize ...
version. This was Opel's first three-cylinder engine.
Applications:
* 2000-2004
Opel/Vauxhall Agila
* 1998-2003
Opel/Vauxhall Astra G
* 1996-2000
Opel/Vauxhall Corsa B
* 2000-2004
Opel/Vauxhall Corsa C
Generation II
The second generation Family 0 began production in November 2002. It is an updated version of the Family 0 engine and features
TwinPort
In internal combustion engines, a variable-length intake manifold (VLIM),variable intake manifold (VIM), or variable intake system (VIS) is an automobile internal combustion engine manifold technology. As the name implies, VLIM/VIM/VIS can vary ...
technology – twin intake ports with a choke closing one of the ports at low RPM, providing strong air swirl pattern for higher torque levels and better
fuel economy. The
crankshaft
A crankshaft is a mechanical component used in a piston engine to convert the reciprocating motion into rotational motion. The crankshaft is a rotating shaft containing one or more crankpins, that are driven by the pistons via the connecting ...
and oil galleries were also redesigned to lower power loss; thereby increasing fuel economy.
Applications:
* 2003-2010
Opel/Vauxhall Combo C
* 2003-2006
Opel/Vauxhall Corsa C/
Holden Barina (XC)
* 2006-2014
Opel/Vauxhall Corsa D
* 2004-2009
Opel/Vauxhall Tigra TwinTop
* 2004-2010
Opel/Vauxhall Astra H
* 2005-2009
Opel/Vauxhall Astra G Classic models
* 2003-2007
Opel/Vauxhall Agila
* 2004-2010
Opel/Vauxhall Meriva A
Generation III
The EcoFlex engine is a version of the TwinPort tuned to provide better fuel economy and lower emissions. The 1.4 L engine was introduced in 2008 and the 1.0 L engine in 2010. For model year 2012, the EcoFlex engines have been updated with
double cam phasing (DCVCP) in a ''Gen III'' block.
Certain Opel and US-market Chevrolet versions of the
Delta II
Delta II was an expendable launch system, originally designed and built by McDonnell Douglas. Delta II was part of the Delta rocket family and entered service in 1989. Delta II vehicles included the Delta 6000, and the two later Delta 7000 va ...
platform compact cars use a
turbocharged
In an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger (often called a turbo) is a forced induction device that is powered by the flow of exhaust gases. It uses this energy to compress the intake gas, forcing more air into the engine in order to pro ...
version of the 1.4 L engine with
double variable cam phasing (DCVCP); in the future, an optional
gasoline direct injection
Gasoline direct injection (GDI), also known as petrol direct injection (PDI), is a mixture formation system for internal combustion engines that run on gasoline (petrol), where fuel is injected into the combustion chamber. This is distinct fro ...
system will be introduced.
Opel versions feature
Start&Stop system from 2011 and a ''Gen III'' block; a lower-power 120 ps version has been introduced as well. For model year 2013, the overboost to has been added.
Applications:
*2011–2019
Opel/Vauxhall Corsa
*2009–2015
Opel/Vauxhall Astra J
*2010–2017
Opel/Vauxhall Meriva B
*2011–2019
Opel/Vauxhall Zafira Tourer
*2011–2015
Chevrolet Cruze
The Chevrolet Cruze is a compact car that is produced by General Motors since 2008. It was designated as a globally developed, designed, and manufactured four-door compact sedan, complemented by a five-door hatchback body variant from 2011, and ...
*2016
Chevrolet Cruze
The Chevrolet Cruze is a compact car that is produced by General Motors since 2008. It was designated as a globally developed, designed, and manufactured four-door compact sedan, complemented by a five-door hatchback body variant from 2011, and ...
Limited
*2010–2015
Chevrolet Volt / Opel/Vauxhall Ampera
*2012–2020
Chevrolet Aveo/Sonic
*2013–2019
Opel Adam
The Opel Adam is a city car engineered and produced by the German car manufacturer Opel, and is named after the company's founder Adam Opel. It was sold under the Vauxhall Motors, Vauxhall marque in the United Kingdom. It was launched in France ...
*2013–2016
Cadillac ELR
The Cadillac ELR is a two-door, four-passenger luxury plug-in hybrid compact coupé manufactured and marketed by Cadillac for model years (MY) 2014 and 2016 – with a hiatus for MY 2015. Using a retuned version of the Chevrolet Volt's Voltec E ...
*2013–present
Buick Encore / Opel Mokka
*2014-present
Chevrolet/Holden Trax
*2017–2019
Vanderhall Venice
*2016-
Roewe e950
*2013-2015
Chevrolet Spin
The Chevrolet Spin is a mini MPV produced by General Motors under the Chevrolet marque. Developed by GM do Brasil, the vehicle replaced the Meriva and Zafira in South America with an option of two-row and three-row seating. It is produced in ...
See also
*
Family II engine
The Family II is a straight-4 piston engine that was originally developed by Opel in the 1970s, debuting in 1979. Available in a wide range of cubic capacities ranging from 1598 to 2405 cc, it simultaneously replaced the Opel OHV, Opel CIH a ...
*
Family 1 engine
The Family 1 is a straight-four piston engine that was developed by Opel, a former subsidiary of General Motors and now a subsidiary of PSA Group, to replace the Opel cam-in-head engines for use on mid-range cars from Opel/Vauxhall. Originally ...
*
GM small gasoline engine, their successor
*
List of GM engines
This list of GM engines encompasses all engines manufactured by General Motors and used in their cars.
Divisions
When General Motors was created in 1908, it started out with Buick and soon after acquired Oldsmobile, Cadillac and Oakland. There we ...
References
External links
* http://www.gmpowertrain.com
{{General Motors
Family 0
Straight-three engines
Straight-four engines
Gasoline engines by model