Hyundai Epsilon engines
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The Hyundai Epsilon engine family was produced in India and South Korea from 1997 to 2019 and was installed on the group's most compact models, such as Atos, i10, Picanto or Getz. Most sources divide the series of units into three generations with a number of differences.
- First generation
- Second generation
- third generation
First generation Hyundai Epsilon engines
In 1997, the Epsilon family of low-volume motors debuted on the Hyundai Atos model. By design, these were typical for their time 4-cylinder internal combustion engines with a cast-iron block, an aluminum SOHC block head with three valves per cylinder and without hydraulic lifters, distributed fuel injection, a timing belt drive, and a distributor ignition system. The 0.8 liter engine, in addition to the atmospheric version, existed in a turbocharged version.
In 2001, engines of this family received a contactless ignition system of the DLI type. This added a couple of horsepower to the units and made them work a little quieter and smoother. To distinguish from their predecessors, the updated motors in the catalogs are marked with the suffix E.
The first line included only a couple of motors, but each of them in two different versions:
G4HA (52 hp / 70 Nm) | Hyundai Atos 1 (MX) |
G4HA‑TC (70 hp / 103 Nm) | Hyundai Atos 1 (MX) |
G4HC (54 hp / 73 Nm) | Hyundai Atos 1 (MX) |
G4HC‑E (58 hp / 84 Nm) | Hyundai Atos 1 (MX) |
Second generation Hyundai Epsilon engines
In 2002, the second generation of Epsilon units, known by the abbreviation eRLX, appeared. A new 0.8-liter engine has been added to the existing 1.0 and 1.1 liter engines. The emphasis in modernization was made on reducing fuel consumption: piston rings and valves with a low coefficient of friction were installed, and the Bosch concern developed a new injection system. All these innovations have reduced consumption by about a liter of gasoline per 100 kilometers.
The second line included only one power unit, but in two different forcing options:
G4HD (59 hp / 89 Nm) | Hyundai Atos 1 (MX) |
G4HD-46 (62 hp / 94 Nm) | Hyundai Getz 1 (TB) |
Third generation Hyundai Epsilon engines
In 2004, the third generation of Epsilon units appeared, known by the abbreviation iRDE. Thanks to the new piston, the compression ratio, power and torque of the engines were increased, fuel consumption also decreased slightly and managed to fit into the strict EURO 4 economy standards. The design basis in the form of a cast-iron block, a 12-valve head and a timing belt has not changed.
At the end of 2010, the engines of this series were upgraded again, such internal combustion engines are known as iRDE 2. New pistons with anti-friction coating appeared, slightly increased the diameter of the valves, and all this added a couple more horsepower, lowered consumption and allowed it to fit into EURO 5.
The third line included a pair of powertrains, with one of them in two different versions:
G4HE (62 hp / 86 Nm) | Kia Picanto 1 (SA) |
G4HG (67 hp / 99 Nm) | Hyundai Getz 1 (TB) |
G4HG-2 (69 hp / 99 Nm) | Hyundai i10 1 (PA) |
In India, the Hyundai Eon was produced with a 3-cylinder Epsilon series engine with the G3HA index.