Opel C20XE engine
Engines

Opel C20XE engine

Each car of the Opel brand is individuality, brightness, originality of style. Among other things, this is quality, maneuverability on any roadway and, most importantly, excellent handling, which makes the car of this brand just perfect for everyday driving. These machines have long been considered the standard of quality, reliability and safety.

They are characterized by excellent management. Whatever the situation is not expensive, you can easily control it without much difficulty. On the technical side, the cars have excellent characteristics. All this is due to high-quality components Particular attention should be paid to engines. For example, drivers buy the C20XE motor to replace engines in their cars: Opel, VAZ, Deawoo and many others.

Opel C20XE engine
C20XE engine

Part Description

Opel C20XE - a two-liter engine, was released in 1988. It has become an excellent replacement for the 20XE. The main difference between this internal combustion engine is a catalyst and a lambda probe, due to which the device meets environmental parameters.

The unit from General Motors was created directly for Opel cars, but quite often it was also installed on cars of other brands. In the future, it was slightly improved, thanks to which even now it does not cease to be widespread. Car owners purchase a unit for installation on their cars, most often they use it for: Opel Astra F, Opel Calibra, Opel Kadett, Opel Vectra A, VAZ 21106.

Despite the fact that it was released a long time ago, it does not cease to compete with modern units.

Cast iron was used to make the cylinder block. The blocks have a height of 2,16 cm. Inside there is a crankshaft, connecting rods, pistons. The entire block is covered by a head, which is installed on a special gasket, 0,1 cm thick. The timing drive in this technique is belt driven, replacement is required after passing every 60 thousand km.

If you do not monitor the condition of the engine and do not provide timely replacement, you risk encountering a broken belt, after which the valves will bend. But keep in mind that after that, the cost of repairs will increase several times. For this reason, it is recommended to visit the service center in a timely manner.

Opel C20XE engine
C20XE on a 1985 Opel Kadett

After 5 years of its existence on the market, the motor has undergone modernization and became the owner of a completely new auto ignition system, without a distributor. It was also changed the cylinder head, timing. Based on the upgraded device, the developers created a turbocharged version of the C20LET, which has more advanced parameters.

Motor characteristic

NameCharacterization
MarkC20XE
Marking1998 see cube (2,0 liters)
A typeInjector
Power150-201 h.p.
FuelPetrol
Valve mechanism16 valve
Number of cylinders4
Fuel consumption11,0 liters
Engine Oil0W-30
0W-40
5W-30
5W-40
5W-50
10W-40
15W-40
Environmental normEuro-1-2
Diameter of the piston86,0 mm
Resource300+ thousand km

The X20XEV motor model is an alternative to the C20ХЕ

If it is not possible to install a C20XE engine, a more modern X20XEV model is on the market. Despite the fact that both of these options are two-liter, they have many differences regarding iron. But the main thing is that X20XEV is a modern unit. It has a completely different control system that does not have a trampler.

Both of these motors are approximately the same in terms of maintenance costs. You can choose any of these options for your car, but first consult with specialists at the service station, which option is best suited for personal vehicles. In addition, when searching for a unit, choose the one that will be in the best condition to avoid the need for repairs.

Opel C20XE engine
X20XEV engine

Before you make a choice, read more reviews from real people who have already used at least one of these two options. Some drivers argue that it is better to leave the choice on the C20XE - as this is a powerful unit and is as cheap as possible to maintain. Other Opel car owners claim that both of these devices are strong and able to withstand severe loads.

Motor maintenance

In general, the maintenance of this engine is no different from other engines of this manufacturer. But it is necessary to monitor the condition of the unit, it is especially recommended to carry out inspection and maintenance every 15 thousand km traveled. If you want to maximize the life of your car's engine, we recommend that you carry out the same procedures every 10 thousand km. In this case, the oil and filter must be changed without fail.

No matter what kind of car you have with an Opel C20XE engine, you should not forget about timely oil changes.

You can do it yourself, or contact the specialists in the service. Masters can advise and help you choose the right oil to replace.

What oil to use?

In addition, from the operation of the car, you can understand that it's time to change the lubricant. This is immediately indicated by the color of the liquid, if it is dark or already black - this indicates that the replacement should be carried out urgently. It will take about 4-5 liters of oil.

What is the best liquid to use?

If you carry out the procedure in spring, summer or autumn, then it is better to use a semi-synthetic substance 10W-40. Would you like to use a liquid suitable for any season? Use multipurpose oil 5W-30, 5W-40. In any case, saving on products is not recommended; choose liquid from leading manufacturers.

Opel C20XE engine
Universal oil 5W-30

Disadvantages of the engine

For this unit, there are at least 2 main drawbacks that all car owners know about:

  1. Quite often, antifreeze penetrates into candle wells. During the installation of candles, the recommended tightening level is exceeded, which causes a crack to form. Accordingly, the head deteriorates and needs to be replaced.
  2. Dieselite. In this case, the timing chain will need to be replaced.
  3. Excessive oil consumption. In this case, you just need to change the standard valve cover to a plastic one and you will get rid of the problem forever.

The main symptom of a crack in the cylinder head is oil in the reservoir. It is best to simply buy a quality cylinder head from leading manufacturers. You can repair the head, but if you do not have the necessary skills, you will not be able to do it yourself. Even professionals providing such services are very few.

In general, such a motor does not have serious problems. The engine works fine, but since these devices have been discontinued for a long time, it is almost impossible to find new ones. After a long operation, the unit is able to present absolutely any "surprise".

Purchase of a motor

In the market now you can find absolutely any technique, including this engine. But take the choice seriously, as he could already work on a variety of cars. Especially if you see that the engine needs to be restored, remember that repairs will cost many times more than buying a new one. In general, there are no problems with finding this unit. The cost of the device is 500-1500 dollars.

Opel C20XE engine
Contract engine for Opel Calibra

You can find an engine for 100-200 dollars, but it is only suitable for disassembly for parts. Therefore, do not save in this case if you really want to extend the life of your car.

It is also worth noting that replacing a motor in a car is a very difficult type of work that requires more experience and special equipment. Moreover, the purchase of such a unit is an expensive pleasure, respectively, and it is necessary to trust the installation only to professionals in their field. We recommend avoiding craftsmen working at home, private craftsmen who do not have good reviews, working for themselves in their own garage.

It is better to pay a little more, but use the services of a trusted service center that specializes in Opel brand cars. Service station employees will advise, help you find and install the Opel C20XE engine.

Opel C20XE engine
New Opel C20XE

In addition, you will find this kind of parts in various automotive markets, large parts stores for cars. If you have not yet encountered such purchases, contact the specialists, as they will help you choose a really working motor that can last for a dozen years.

Feedback from owners of cars with this engine

If you decide to buy an Opel C20XE engine for your car, first study the reviews of the owners of vehicles in which the same internal combustion engine is installed.

When viewing various forums, we can conclude that the opinion of users is positive. Most people say that this unit is economical. Some note the possibility of repair and bringing to perfect condition. But in general, the important fact is that with timely maintenance and replacement of components in the engine, it will work without failures for a long time.

Opel C20XE engine
Opel Calibra

Conclusion

Based on the foregoing, we can safely say that the C20XE engine is really reliable and has good technical characteristics. In addition, they have a large operational resource. To maintain the device in good condition, it is necessary to carry out maintenance at a service center every 10-15 thousand km. But this is all individual, as it depends on the activity of the operation of the unit.

In general, German-made cars attract people with their durability, excellent assembly and relatively low cost.

The functionality of the vehicles is also amazing. These are just a few of the reasons why people buy Opel cars.

Among the entire fleet of this brand, Opel Calibra has especially proven itself. It was in this series that the C20XE motor was used. In different years of production, this model was equipped with different units, but the best option for it was the C20XE engine, which proved itself due to good technical characteristics. But do not forget about the shortcomings. If you do not perform repairs and maintenance in a timely manner, you may encounter serious difficulties that will require major repairs.

The ICE model is considered common and most craftsmen have enough experience with this unit, many have already had to deal with the need to restore the operation of such a motor. If a serious problem has occurred, experts will advise installing a new power unit. It is not necessary to buy a modern engine, you can find the same model on the market, but in better condition. Some masters themselves offer to find a “donor” car with the necessary internal combustion engine.

Minor repair c20xe Opel engine

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