Engine Opel Z17DTH
Production of the 1.7-liter Z17DTH diesel unit began in 2004. This engine was installed on a number of such popular Opel models as Astra, Corsa, Combo and Meriva. The motor was equipped with fuel equipment from Bosch and Denso.
Z17DTH
Any model range from Opel is traditionally distinguished by a wide range of engines offered to the attention of consumers, and the Z17DTH was no exception. The motor was a further improvement of the familiar Z17DTL installation. The main changes that have taken place in the Z16DTH 17-valve turbodiesel compared to the Z17DTL are described below.
- A turbocharger with VNT technology appeared.
- The Common Rail fuel injection system and injection pump are from Denso.
- EGR cooler.
- Flywheel with dual mass.
The Z17DTH engine is equipped with a compressor that operates with a variable section geometry at the turbine wheel inlet. This was done in order to optimize the power of the turbine for given loads. Thanks to the VNT (Variable Nozzle Turbine), at low revs the supercharger is set to a minimum inlet, which creates more pressure in the turbocharger.
At high speeds - the turbine increases the diameter of the inlet to keep the pressure in the compressor at the same level. In addition, this technology protects the blower from too high rotor speed.
The guide vanes are controlled by a vacuum unit working on the principle of a solenoid valve.
The Z17DTH has a Denso fuel injection system. The main features of the Common Rail system on the Z17DTH:
- high pressure fuel pump - with built-in fuel pump;
- accumulator, also known as pressure accumulator - maintains maximum fuel pressure;
- Electronically controlled injectors precisely control fuel injection intervals.
Each Z17DTH injector was assigned an individual QR code containing all the data. This was done to correct various manufacturing tolerances. When replacing an old injector with a new one, it is necessary to program it into the engine's electronic control unit, which allows the ECU to read the parameters necessary for correction, thus controlling the exact intervals of time and quantity of fuel injection, as well as other parameters.
Like the Z17DTL engine, the Z17DTH unit has an EGR cooler. The cooling efficiency has been improved by increasing the volume. The reduction in harmful emissions and particulate matter is made possible by lowering the temperature of the recirculated exhaust gases.
The Z17DTH uses the oil life monitoring (OLM) system known to many from the Vectra C. The oil condition monitoring function is performed by the engine's electronic control unit and displayed using modified OLM software from ECO Service Flex.
| Characteristics of the Z17DTH | |
|---|---|
| Volume cm3 | 1686 |
| Max power, hp | 100 |
| Max torque, Nm (kgm)/rpm | 170 (17) / 2800 |
| 240 (24) / 2300 | |
| Fuel consumption, l / 100 km | 4.9-5.1 |
| Type | Inline, 4-cylinder |
| Cylinder Ø, mm | 79 |
| Max power, hp (kW)/r/min | 100 (74) / 4400 |
| Compression ratio | 18.04.2019 |
| The piston stroke, mm | 86 |
| Makes and models | Astra H, Corsa C, Combo C, Meriva A |
| Approximate resource, thousand km | 400+ |
* The engine number is located at the junction of the cylinder block and gearbox.
Serial production of Z17DTH power plants was stopped in 2010.
Pros and cons of Z17DTH units
pros
- Great resource.
- Reliability.
- Maintainability.
Cons
- Leaks of rubber seals of injector sleeves.
- Common Rail.
- EGR valve and particulate filter.
Depressurization of the rubber seals of the injector sleeves is the most well-known problem of the Z17DTH internal combustion engine. Sometimes these sleeves, as well as the heat exchanger, are corroded by low-quality antifreeze.
In second place are all kinds of breakdowns in the Common Rail fuel system. The turbine also often fails. This usually happens after 150-250 thousand kilometers.
As with any other diesel engine, the diesel particulate filter and the EGR valve Z17DTH require regular cleaning.
Conclusion
In maintenance and repair, the Z17DTH is convenient, if you do not take into account the lack of space under the hood, as well as not the best access to some parts and assemblies of this engine. However, to replace the same timing belt drive, for example, you do not need to wring out a large bolt on the crankshaft.
You can also call the Z17DTH a reliable engine. If you do not “kill” the fuel system with poor quality gasoline and do not overheat the turbocharger, then it lasts a long time and does not cause any problems.
