Many of the company’s mid-size models, including the Astra, Vectra, and Zafira, were equipped with the 2.2-liter Opel Z22SE or L61 engine, which was manufactured in Germany and the USA between 2000 and 2005. The motor was given an unusual design with a timing chain and an aluminum block to address the issue.
The engines Z20LET, Z22YH, Z24SED, Z28NET, and Z32SE are also members of the Z family.
In 2000, Z22SE engines were put into serial production. General Motors, ITDC, GM Powertrain, and SAAB collaborated to develop this unit, which took the place of the 2-liter X20XEV. The Lotus Engineering Corps in Britain had already begun working on the engine’s final tuning.
Nearly every General Motors model at the time had the engine installed, albeit with different modifications. The Z22 line of motors, officially known as the “Ecotec Family II Series,” was manufactured simultaneously at three factories: Spring Hill Manufacturing in Tennessee, Tonawanda in New York, and the Opel plant in Kaiserslautern, Germany.
The engine was known as Z22SE in Germany and England. It was installed on several Chevrolet, Saturn, and Pontiac vehicles in the United States under the name L61. The Fiat Croma and Alfa Romeo 159 were also equipped with the Z22SE under license.
The engine was mounted on:
- Opel Astra G (T98) in 2000 – 2005;
- Opel Speedster A (E01) in 2001 – 2004;
- Opel Vectra B (J96) in 2000 – 2002; Vectra C (Z02) in 2002 – 2004;
- Opel Zafira A (T98) in 2000 – 2005.
Specifications
| Production years | 2000-2005 |
| Displacement, cc | 2198 |
| Fuel system | distributed injection |
| Power output, hp | 147 |
| Torque output, Nm | 203 |
| Cylinder block | aluminum R4 |
| Block head | aluminum 16v |
| Cylinder bore, mm | 86 |
| Piston stroke, mm | 94.6 |
| Compression ratio | 10.0 |
| Features | balance shafts |
| Hydraulic lifters | yes |
| Timing drive | chain |
| Phase regulator | no |
| Turbocharging | no |
| Recommended engine oil | 5W-30 |
| Engine oil capacity, liter | 5.0 |
| Fuel type | petrol |
| Euro standards | EURO 4 |
| Fuel consumption, L/100 km (for Opel Vectra 2003) — city — highway — combined |
11.9 6.7 8.6 |
| Engine lifespan, km | ~270 000 |
| Weight, kg | 135 |
Disadvantages of the Z22SE engine
The timing chain, or rather its tensioner, causes the most issues for owners; a diesel sound under the hood indicates that the tensioner is stuck and the chain is stretching; if you drive for an extended period of time with a diesel sound, the gas distribution mechanism will collapse; antifreeze in the spark plug wells indicates that you overtightened the spark plugs and the cylinder head cracked; replace the valve cover before decarbonization due to an oil burner, as this is frequently the cause.