Many Chevy, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac car owners are not aware that although their cars have different badges, they use the same car engine. General Motors makes all three car brands. GM powered these three car brands with the same engine, the 2.2 Ecotec Engine.
The 2.2 Ecotect engine is a DOHC (Double or Dual Overhead Cam) four-valve design with the engine block and head made of lost foam cast aluminum. General Motors designed this for engines with displacements ranging from 1.8 to 2.5 liters. It was designed by a team of engineers and technicians from the United States, Sweden, and Germany.
The 2.2 Ecotec engine is one of the toughest four-cylinder engines that GM has produced in its manufacturing years. Many car owners with cars having this engine have attested to that. However, even the hardiest engines in the world still have their own share of problems and weaknesses.
Read on to learn more about the 2.2 Ecotec engine, its strengths, specs, and some of the problems owners have encountered.
About the 2.2 Ecotec Engine
The term ‘Ecotec’ in the 2.2 Ecotec engine stands for “Emissions Control Optimization TEChnology.” It is the brainchild of both GM and Opel Automobile GmbH. This brand represents several systems of emission technologies applied to several GM vehicles.
GM claims that this engine is the most durable that they have ever produced. It is a DOHC 4-valve design using a lost foam aluminum block and head. Moreover, GM uses this engine for two bore sizes, the L850 for 86 mm bore applications and the L880 for 88 mm bore applications. It was also geared towards car engines with displacements ranging from 1.8 liters to 2.4 liters.
The development of this engine started in 1994. A team of international engineers and technicians from Saab in Sweden, GM in the United States, and Opel in Germany pooled their skills and talents to bring this engine to life.
The 2.2 liter Ecotec engine has a modular design. This allows flexibility for several technologies in development like variable timing, turbocharging, and direct injection gasoline. Another key advantage of this engine is its low maintenance requirement. The only routine service it requires is the replacement of engine oil and oil filter.
GM has installed the 2.2 liter Ecotec engine to a number of its car models. It was made available to the Saturn L-Series, the Grand Am, the Pontiac Sunfire, the Oldsmobile Alero, and the Chevrolet Cavalier.
Here are some essential specs of the engine with each respective car models:
Car Model
Horsepower
Torque
Chevrolet Cavalier
140 at 5600 rpm
150 lb.-ft. at 4000 rpm
Oldsmobile Alero
140 at 5600 rpm
150 lb.-ft. at 4000 rpm
Pontiac Grand Am
140 at 5600 rpm
150 lb.-ft. at 4000 rpm
Pontiac Sunfire
140 at 5600 rpm
150 lb.-ft. at 4000 rpm
Saturn L-Series
135 at 5200 rpm
142 lb.-ft. at 4400 rpm
Saturn VUE
143 at 5600 rpm
152 lb.-ft. at 4000 rpm
The 2.2 liter Ecotec engine is only one of the four-cylinder engines that GM is producing. It was designed and developed by a team of international engineers and technicians. They were composed of engineers and technicians from Saab, in Trollhattan, Sweden, the GM Powertrain in Pontiac, Michigan, USA, and the International Technical Department Center of Opel, in Russelsheim, Germany.
This engine is designed to be flexible. It can cover the range of 1.8 liters to 2.2 liters engine displacement. The Ecotec 2.2L engine is powering a wide variety of GM vehicles all over the world.
One of the Ecotec 2.2-liter engine’s unique features is its integrated aluminum cylinder head/exhaust manifold. This feature reduced the overall weight of the engine, which resulted in improved vehicle performance. It balanced the front-to-rear weight of the vehicle as well, which also enhanced its drivability.
Here are the other essential specs of the Ecotec 2.2 that make it a dependable engine:
General Specs
This engine has 2.2 liters engine displacement, V-4 cylinders, and 135 horsepower at 5,600 RPM. It can deliver from 142 to 150 lb.-ft of torque at 4,000 RPM. The direct injection version of this engine can produce 153 hp at 5,600 RPM and 162 lb.-ft of torque at 3,800 rpm, with a compression ratio of 12.0:1. It is installed in all Opel/Vauxhall Vectra 2003 models.
Maximum Power Handling
GM claims that the stock 2.2L engine can deliver 250 hp. The company also claims that this engine’s pistons were tested and attained near 300 hp. Another claim is that this engine’s forged rods and pistons will enable you to go up to a 150 hp NOS (nitrous oxide shot) setup. That means an additional 150 hp to the top level 300 hp. that the engine can produce (if you need to).
Firing Order
The firing order of the Ecotec 2.2 liter engine is 1 to 3 to 4 to 2. It will cut the fuel supply when the engine hits 6,500 RPM.
Chain Drive
This engine is equipped with a chain drive. There is a single roller that drives the camshaft. The roller is just 12.5 millimeters wide compared to a toothed rubber belt that is typically much wider. This feature resulted in an overall engine length that is much shorter, giving the advantage of less mass and fewer packaging problems.
Compact and Lightweight
The engine block and the cylinder head are made of lightweight aluminum and formed using the lost foam casting process. By applying the most modern design methods, the weight of this 2.2-liter engine is only 139 kilograms or 307 pounds.
The construction of the engine assembly is also very compact. The two overhead cams activate the inlet and exhaust valves through roller finger-follower rocker arms. This arrangement resulted in a cylinder head design that is very compact.
Regarding the engine cylinders’ bore and stroke, the 2.2 liters Ecotec has 86 millimeters bore and a 94.6 millimeters stroke. This feature resulted in an engine with an overall length of 665 millimeters and a width of 642 millimeters. Its height is only 655 millimeters. In the English system of measurement, this engine’s size is 26.2 x 25.3 x 25.8 inches (L x W x H).
Material Construction
Both the cylinder head and the engine block are made of lost foam cast aluminum. The intake manifold is made of composite material, while its exhaust manifold is made of high silicon cast iron. The engine’s lower crankcase is made of cast aluminum.
High-Performance Ignition Module
The ignition system of the 2.2L Ecotec engine is not ordinary. It has a high-performance ignition module that is mounted directly on the cylinder head cover. There are two separate ignition coils located directly above the platinum spark plugs.
This setup eliminated spark plug wires which resulted in increased operating reliability. It also reduced the engine’s maintenance requirements. This engine has hydraulic valve lash adjusters, which resulted in a finger-follower valve train that does not need any routine maintenance. So, the maintenance this engine needs is only regular change oil and change oil filter.
Transmission
The 2.2 liter Ecotec engine can be mated to either a manual transmission or an electronically controlled automatic transmission.
2.2 Ecotec Engine Problems
While the Ecotec 2.2 liter engine has many outstanding specs and features, it has its share of weaknesses.
Here are some of the most common 2.2 Ecotec engine problems that their owners have to contend with:
1. Oil Filter Issues
An owner has recounted their experience with the 2.2L Ecotec engine, which they claim should be avoided. This consumer claims that this engine has a reputation for having oil filter issues if the AC filter is not used.
They say that aftermarket filters like the Purolator or the Fram cannot fit this engine. These filters are too tall, which causes the filter to collapse onto itself, thereby starving the engine of its much-needed oil.
They say that this engine is also known for jumping time. This owner says that if the timing gets considerably off, the valvetrain will get out of sync with either the exhaust stroke or the compression stroke. This can result in major engine damage.
2. Timing Chain Issues
A car owner complained about the engine’s timing chain. They said that the timing chain produces strange noises. This owner suspected that there’s a possibility of the worn-out timing chain because of the heat.
An article about the common problems of Ecotec 2.2L engines indicated that the typical problems with the timing chains include frequent slips and wearing down after being used for a long time.
Also, the engine sensor is prone to damage. As a result, the cylinders may not fire as they should. This will affect engine performance and reduce its efficiency.
3. Reliability Issues
Another owner claims that they cannot depend on this engine. They said that they had driven two S-10s with this engine powering the cars. This owner claims that these two engines are completely gutless even when they drive them on flat roads. Additionally, they said the engine is slow because they take 16 seconds to reach 60 mph.
How to Avoid Ecotec 2.2L Engine Problems
If you own a car powered by the 2.2 liter Ecotec engine, there are things you can do to avoid having the above engine problems. This engine is relatively simple and very easy to work on.
Here are some tips for taking care of this engine:
Follow GM’s Car Service Manual
From the service manual of the Ecotec 2.2L engine, here is what GM has to say if it knocks cold and continues for 2 to 3 minutes:
If the engine flywheel is in contact with the splash shield – reposition the splash shield.
In case there are loose or broken crankshaft balances or drive pulleys – replace or tighten the pulleys as required.
If there is excessive bore clearance on the pistons – replace the piston.
If there is a cold piston knock that fades away in 1 and a half minutes – there should be no worry because this is considered acceptable.
Service the Engine Regularly
You can avoid Ecotec engine problems if you will service the vital parts of the engine regularly:
Change the engine oil regularly as recommended by the car manufacturer: This will keep oil gums forming inside the engine. The oil that gums up the engine will block the fuel line around the engine and the vehicle. This will eventually result in reduced engine efficiency and engine damage. Contaminated engine oil will wear down the engine’s vital parts.
Keep your engine cool when driving: It will keep the engine from burning out and prevent permanent engine damage. The heat generated from the engine’s combustion chambers should be controlled and regulated by the car’s cooling system.
Ensure that you are using the correct type of engine coolant for the 2.2 Ecotec engine: See to it that the engine does not run out of coolant, especially during long drives.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Ecotec 2.2 Engine
How Durable Is the Ecotec 2.2 Engine?
Everything considered, an Ecotec 2.2 liter engine can last up to 400,000 kilometers or 250,000 miles.
How Much Engine Oil Can the 2.2 Ecotec Engine Take?
The amount of engine oil that the Ecotec 2.2 engine can take is 5 quarts or 4.7 liters. The grade of engine oil should be SAE 5W-30. For every change oil, you should also change the oil filter.
Where in North America Is the Ecotec 2.2 Engine Being Produced?
The Ecotec 2.2 engine for the North American market is made in Tonawanda, New York, one of the world’s biggest engine factories.
Is the Ecotec 2.2 Engine Reliable?
The 2.2L Ecotec engine is durable and reliable. It has a few maintenance requirements. You need to do only two things to maintain the engine’s efficient performance: regular change oil and change oil filter.
Conclusion: 2.2 Ecotec Engine
The 2.2 Ecotec engine is one of the most durable engines produced by General Motors. This engine is a DOHC (double or dual overhead cam) 4-valve design with an engine block and head made of lost foam cast aluminum.
It is particularly made for engines with displacements ranging from 1.8 to 2.5 liters. A team of international engineers and technicians from Germany, Sweden, and the US were responsible for its design and development.
