GM 54-Degree V6 engine

54° V6

Manufacturer	General Motors
Also called	Ellesmere V6
Production	1994–2004
Predecessor	Opel Straight-6
Successor	High Feature V6

General Motors' Opel division in Europe designed a compact V6 engine with an odd 54° vee angle. It was an iron block/aluminum head DOHC design with 4 valves per cylinder. All 54° engines are assembled at Ellesmere Port in England.

This engine was used in the American versions of these models as well. The engine was reworked substantially between the 3.0 L L81 and 3.2 L LA3, but the bore centers and deck height were retained. In its 3.0 L form, this engine has a notable history for recalls of all units installed in U.S. Cadillac Cateras due to problems with timing belt tensioner bearing failures, which could cause catatrophic damage to the engine with its interference design.

L81 3.0

The L81 was used longitudinally in the Opel Omega, Cadillac Catera and transversely in the Saturn L-Series, Saturn Vue and Saab 9000. Bore and stroke were 86 mm (3.38 in) × 85 mm (3.35 in), for 2962 cc (180.75 cu in) displacement. with 10.8:1 compression, the engine produced between 182 hp (136 kW) and 208 hp (155 kW) with 190 lb·ft (258 N·m) to 199 lb·ft (270 N·m).

Saab's turbocharged version for Saab 9-5 (the X30) produced 200 hp (149 kW) at 5000 rpm and 229 lb·ft (310 N·m) at 2500-4000 rpm. Saab equipped the engine with special version of Saab Direct Ignition.

This engine was used in:

• 1994 Opel Omega
• 1996-1999 Opel Sintra
• 1997-2001 Cadillac Catera
• 2000-05 Saturn L-Series
• 2002-03 Saturn Vue
• Saab 9-5
• Saab 9000

2.5

Saab used a 2.5 L version of this engine in the Saab 900 (NG) from 1994 and Opel used it in many different models. It produced 170 hp (127 kW) and 167 lb·ft (226 N·m).

This engine was used in:

• Opel Vectra A
• Opel Vectra B
• Opel Calibra
• Opel Omega B
• Saab 900 NG

2.6

This engine was used in:

• Opel Omega B
• Opel Vectra B
  

LA3 3.2

The 3.2 L LA3 is a complete redesign of the L81 for the Cadillac CTS and Opel Omega B. It had an iron block and used aluminum DOHC heads with fixed (non-variable) valve timing, and a variable intake. The bore was 87.5 mm and it had an 88 mm (3.5 in) stroke. This was a 3175cc (194 cu in) engine and produced 220 hp (164 kW) and 218 lb·ft (296 N·m). Production started in July 2001, but the engine was replaced by the new GM High Feature engine starting in 2004.

This engine was used in:

• 2003-2004 Cadillac CTS
• Opel Omega B
• Opel Vectra C
• Opel Signum

See also

X25XE/X30XE - detailed information about 2.5 and 3.0 motors