Only the third and fourth generations of the Corsa model as well as the original Agila were equipped with the 1.2-liter Opel Z12XEP or LB4 engine, which was manufactured in Austria between 2004 and 2009. This power unit was given a new A12XER index following an upgrade to Euro 5 environmental standards.
The Z10XE, Z10XEP, Z12XE, Z14XE, and Z14XEP engines are also part of the Z10 series.
A lightweight cast iron cylinder block, a cast iron crankshaft, an aluminum overhead camshaft head, two chain drives (DOHC), and four valves per cylinder—a total of sixteen valves—are used in the Opel Z12XEP engine. This is an upgraded Z12XE engine with Twinport technology. Additionally, the oil galleries and crankshaft have been redesigned. Bosch ME7.6.1 and ME7.6.2 ECUs are used in the engine.
The engine was mounted on:
- Opel Agila A (H00) in 2004 – 2007;
- Opel Corsa C (X01) in 2004 – 2006;
- Opel Corsa D (S07) in 2006 – 2009.
Specifications
| Production years | 2004-2009 |
| Displacement, cc | 1229 |
| Fuel system | distributed injection |
| Power output, hp | 80 |
| Torque output, Nm | 110 |
| Cylinder block | cast iron R4 |
| Block head | aluminum 16v |
| Cylinder bore, mm | 73.4 |
| Piston stroke, mm | 72.6 |
| Compression ratio | 10.5 |
| Features | Twinport |
| Hydraulic lifters | yes |
| Timing drive | chain |
| Phase regulator | no |
| Turbocharging | no |
| Recommended engine oil | 5W-30 |
| Engine oil capacity, liter | 3.5 |
| Fuel type | petrol |
| Euro standards | EURO 4 |
| Fuel consumption, L/100 km (for Opel Corsa 2007) — city — highway — combined |
8.0 5.0 6.1 |
| Engine lifespan, km | ~250 000 |
| Weight, kg | 100 |
Explanation of Z12XEP marking
- Z – Euro 4 engine;
- 12 – 1.2 liters;
- X – Compression ratio from 10 to 11.5: 1;
- E – multi-point fuel injection system;
- P – increased power.
Disadvantages of the Z12XEP engine
The majority of service calls are caused by electrical malfunctions or ECU blocks; issues with the Twinport dampers and the EGR valve come in second; the chain resource rarely goes beyond 100,000 kilometers before it stretches and starts to rattle; the owners also need to replace the oil pump and thermostat on a regular basis; the oil pressure sensor is the weak point when searching for the source of an oil leak.