GM’s Ecotec 2.4L I-4 has been awarded Ward’s Auto World magazine’s 2010 “10 Best Engines” for North America. If you have been following GM cars lately, you can see that most of GM’s fuel economy cars are equipped with an Ecotec 2.4L engine. The range of GM’s cars from small compact cars to SUV that are equipped with this Ecotec 2.4L engine. What is so special about this engine? Well, for starter, it is a very fuel efficient engine that can get up to 32 mgp highway on such SUV as the GM Equinox.
This fuel efficient comes from the redesign of the fuel injection system; instead of conventional fuel injection which mixed fuel with air before going into the combustion chamber, the Direct Injection works with the variable valve timing to inject the right amount of fuel to air ratio directly into the combustion chamber. This not only optimizes the fuel used but also cools the cylinder head to give extra power from the engine.
[Source GM]
DETROIT, Mich. – GM’s Ecotec 2.4L I-4 has been awarded Ward’s Auto World magazine’s 2010 “10 Best Engines” for North America. The direct injected engine with variable valve timing helps deliver segment-best highway fuel economy in GM’s popular new crossovers, the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain. The engine also debuts in the all-new Buick LaCrosse and Regal sedans next year.
Ward’s reviewed 34 engines from 13 automakers in the competition. Winners were chosen based on several factors, including power, noise, vibration and harshness (NVH), fuel efficiency, new technology and comparative data for similar engines.
The new Ecotec 2.4L engine includes technology that provides a number of benefits. “Direct injection (DI) was designed into the 2.4L to boost fuel efficiency and for refined power,” said Chris Meagher, chief engineer for Ecotec engines. “The VVT (variable valve timing) system is tuned to work in tandem with direct injection to achieve optimum fuel economy and lower emissions. The engine achieves a respectable 182 horsepower (136 kW) and 172 lb-ft (233 Nm) of torque, which makes for a pleasing customer driving experience.”
With direct injection, fuel is sprayed directly into the engine cylinder, where it is mixed with air. As the fuel vaporizes in the cylinder, the air and fuel mixture is cooled. This enables the use of a higher compression ratio, which improves engine efficiency and performance. Direct injection also reduces cold-start hydrocarbon emissions by up to 25 percent.
The Ecotec 2.4L engine is an all-aluminum, dual overhead cam, four-valve engine with forged steel connecting rods and oil spray cooling for reduced friction and noise. In all models, the engine is mated to a highly efficient six-speed automatic transmission.
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