Opel Z10XEP engine
Content
The Opel Z10XEP engine is a product of the 21st century, which many people remember from the Opel Agila and Corsa cars. This engine is characterized as a reliable option for passenger sedans, which is ideal for the climatic conditions of many Russian regions.
The history of the engines of the Opel Z10XEP series
The start of production of the Opel Z10XEP engine dates back to the first quarter of 2003. In the entire history of manufacturing, an automobile engine was produced only from the German Aspern engine plant. The engine left the assembly line only in 2009, but in many warehouses of the manufacturer you can still find specific images - the circulation of the Opel Z10XEP engine was very impressive.
This engine was removed from the assembly line in 2009, when the engine was replaced with another model - the A10XEP. The Opel Z10XEP engine itself is a stripped-down version of the Opel Z14XEP, which had 1 cylinder cut off and the cylinder head block redesigned. In this regard, most maintenance issues, as well as diseases and weaknesses in the design of these power units, are similar to each other.
Russian drivers did not want to accept this engine for a long time - the 3-cylinder architecture at the beginning of the 21st century was a curiosity and many treated the Germans with distrust.
This fact also became the reason for the rapid popularization of contract versions in the Russian market - most mechanics incorrectly serviced the power unit, which negatively affected the life of the components.
Specifications: briefly about the capabilities of the Opel Z10XEP
The Opel Z10XEP power unit has a 3-cylinder layout, where there are 4 valves for each cylinder. In the production of cylinders for the motor, pure cast iron was used. The power supply system of the Opel Z10XEP engine is injection, which made it possible to optimize fuel consumption.
| Engine volume, cubic cm | 998 |
|---|---|
| Number of cylinders | 3 |
| Valves per cylinder | 4 |
| The piston stroke, mm | 78.6 |
| Cylinder diameter, mm | 73.4 |
| Emission standard | Euro 4 |
| Compression ratio | 10.05.2019 |
This motor operates on 5W-30 or 5W-40 class oil, in total 3.0 liters fit in the engine. The average consumption of technical fluid is 600 ml per 1000 kilometers, the recommended oil change resource is every 15 kilometers.
The Opel Z10XEP engine runs on AI-95 class fuel. Gasoline consumption per 100 km of run is 6.9 liters in the city and from 5.3 liters when driving on the motorway.
The operational life of the power unit is in practice approximately 250 km, the registration VIN number is located on the side of the body, duplicated on both sides.
Design weaknesses - is the Opel Z10XEP reliable?
In fact, the Opel Z10XEP engine is a daughter product of the Opel Z14XEP - the engineers simply cut off one cylinder and the 1.4 liter engine and finalized the design. Of the most popular shortcomings of the Opel Z10XEP design engines, the following stand out:
- Adapted engine head Opel Z14XEP - in case of improper maintenance, the cover fasteners are easily twisted, which requires regrinding of the clamps or a complete replacement of the motor head. Otherwise, the engine will receive air leakage, which will increase the possibility of tripling;
- Chronic engine tripping at idle - this problem is a feature of the 3-cylinder design and cannot be eliminated in any way. The most common causes of tripping are starting the engine on a cold one, the use of low-quality fuel, as well as the period before the overhaul, when the unit's resource is almost exhausted;
- Timing chain break - despite the fact that the chain is a consumable, the manufacturer claims that the part is designed for the entire service life. In fact, the timing chain mileage is 170-180 km, then it needs to be changed - otherwise the situation is fraught with problems;
- Twinport Inlet Valves - If an inlet valve fails, you can simply set the flaps to the open position and completely remove the system. Twinport on this motor is also a problem area in the design, which causes a lot of problems for drivers at the end of the motor's service life;
- Valves knock, engine speed fluctuates - despite the presence of hydraulic lifters, the engine can knock and lose power. The most typical problem for this series of engines is a dirty EGR valve, which needs to be regularly cleaned of soot;
- Engine sound reminiscent of a diesel engine - in this case, only 2 problems can be identified: a stretched timing chain or unstable functioning of Twinport valves. In both cases, the malfunction must be eliminated as soon as possible, otherwise the service life of the power unit may be reduced.
It is also worth noting the valve system of the power unit - thanks to the installed hydraulic compensators, the motor does not require adjustment. In general, this engine can only be killed by improper maintenance - if you do not save on the quality of components and contact only certified service stations for repairs, the motor freely leaves the required 250 km of run.
Tuning: worth it or not?
This engine lends itself to tuning, but not significantly. To speed up the car and increase the power of the power unit, you must:
- Remove the catalyst;
- Mount cold inlet;
- Close the EGR valve;
- Reconfigure the electronic control unit.
Such a set of measures will increase the engine power to 15 horsepower, more can not be squeezed out of this motor. Thus, we can conclude that upgrading the engine is not economically feasible, but the engine itself can be installed on self-propelled units. Low fuel consumption and the relative reliability of the unit contribute to the transfer of the motor to other platforms for budget customization.
Today, working samples of this motor can still be found on the Russian market, but it is not profitable to purchase them - motors have already become obsolete.
