The Family II is a straight-4 piston engine that was originally developed by Opel in the 1970s, debuting in 1981. Available in a wide range of cubic capacities ranging from 1598 to 2405 cc, it simultaneously replaced the Opel CIH and Vauxhall Slant-4 engines, and was GM Europe's core mid-sized powerplant design for much of the 1980s, and provided the basis for the later Ecotec series of engines in the 1990s.
The Family II shares its basic design and architecture with the smaller Family I engine (which covered capacities from 1.0 to 1.6 litres) – and for this reason the Family I and Family II engines are also known informally as the "small block" and "big block", respectively – although the 1.6 L capacity was available in either type depending on its fuelling system. GM's Australian arm Holden officially branded the engine as "Camtech 4".
The engine also spawned two diesel variants, the 1.6 L and 1.7 L.
The engine features a cast iron block, an aluminium head, and a timing belt driven valvetrain. The timing belt also drives the water pump. It was first used in the Opel Kadett D, Ascona C, and their corresponding Vauxhall sister models, the Astra and Cavalier II. Many General Motors subsidiaries, including Daewoo, GM do Brasil, GM Powertrain, and Holden have used this design.
Family II engines for the European and Australasian markets were manufactured by Holden at its Fisherman's Bend plant in Melbourne until 2009, whilst the Americas were supplied from the São José dos Campos plant in the São Paulo region of Brazil.
By 1986, the Family II unit had almost completely replaced the CIH engine as Opel/Vauxhall's core 4-cylinder engine – the CIH continuing only in 2.4L 4-cylinder format, and in all 6-cylinder applications in the Omega and Senator models until 1994.
The development track of these engines split in 1987, with the introduction of the 20XE; which featured a 16-valve DOHC head, with Holden production of the SOHC versions ending in 2009. Although SOHC versions stayed in production in Brazil, most DOHC engines were replaced by the all-aluminium GM Ecotec engine family.
In 2004, a 2.0 L MultiPower engine was made available for the taxi market which could use gasoline, alcohol, and natural gas.
SOHC
These engines formed the basis of the modern Family II lineup, starting with the 16SH (1600S) version in the Opel Kadett D/Ascona C (Vauxhall Astra Mk1/Cavalier Mk2) in 1981. Configuration was limited to a single over head cam, and two valves per cylinder in a cross flow layout (8 valves total). Superficially these engines look similar to the "small block" Family I engine; the key difference to aid identification is the position of the oil filter – on the Family I it is on the front face of the cylinder block, pointing towards front of the car, on the Family II it is adjacent to the crankshaft pulley pointing downward. The Family II also has a more sophisticated crankcase breathing circuit, with an additional pipe that runs from the crankcase to the camshaft box, with a further pipe running from a small plenum chamber on the rocker cover.
The 1.8-liter versions appeared first in carburetted form (18N) in 1982 and later also in injected (18LE) and further forms. The 2-liter 20NE was introduced in 1986 for the Opel Omega A (Vauxhall Carlton Mk2) and Ascona C3 (Vauxhall Cavalier Mk2c) and served as the base from which the updated 20SEH, and ultimately the 20XE/C20XE "Red Top". The final versions of this engine, labelled Ecotec, evolved from this engine as well.
Early Family II engines had a reputation for rapid camshaft and follower wear (a trait shared with the smaller Family I engine), the problem afflicted Kadett D/Astra I and Ascona C/Cavalier II vehicles fitted with the engine. Improved metallurgy of both the cam lobes and followers, combined with a change to the lubrication specification eventually solved the issue.
Another known issue on the Family II was for the water pump to become jammed into its mounting due to corrosion if the engine was run with no antifreeze; the pump is mounted into an eccentric shaped aperture so it can also function as the timing belt tensioner. If the pump cannot turn then the belt cannot be tensioned. Later versions of the engine were equipped with a separate jockey pulley to combat the issue.
1.6 The 1.6-liter iteration () has an bore and a stroke. Opel began production of the 1.6-liter engine in 1980. A diesel fueled version also became available. The diesel produced at 4600 rpm and of torque at 2400 rpm. It also had a 23:1 compression ratio and a Bosch injection pump. The diesel featured valves that rotate, increasing durability.
Engine Power Torque Compression Ratio Fuel Delivery Engine Management Applications16LF72 hp (53 kW ) at 5200 rpm with Ethanol
73 hp (54 kW) at 5400 rpm
with Gasoline12.6 kgfm (124 Nm) at 2600 rpm with ethanol
12.3 kgfm (121 Nm) at 3000 rpm with Gasoline 12:1 with Ethanol 8:1 with GasolineCarburetor single barrel Weber 190 or brosol h 35 alfa1 Ethanol/Gasoline16SH at 5800 rpm at 3800–4200 rpmGM Varajett IIOpel Kadett DOpel Ascona COpel Kadett E16D/16DA at 4600 rpm at 2400 rpmBosch VE
1.7 The 1.7-liter iteration () has an bore and a stroke. The engine uses diesel fuel, and uses indirect injection.
Engine Power Torque Compression Ratio Fuel Delivery Engine Management Applications17D at 2400 rpm23:1Bosch injection pump Mechanical Indirect17DR at 2650 rpm23:1Lucas injection pump Mechanical IndirectX17DTL at 2400 rpm22:1Various Mechanical Indirect1994–2000 Opel Astra
1.8 The 1.8-liter iteration () has an bore and a stroke. It was first available in the facelifted Opel Manta B in May 1982, and quickly made its way into a number of other Opel and GM cars. It was originally available as the 18N and the 18S, for low and high octane petrol respectively. The C18NV was first installed in the Opel Rekord E2 from May 1985 and was one of the first catalysed mass market automobiles sold in Germany (and Europe). The Family II engines in a longitudinal installation (for rear-wheel drive) have one major design difference from their transverse mounted counterparts – the distributor is driven by a small drivebelt from the camshaft timing sprocket rather than directly off the transmission end of the camshaft, which on the Manta B and Rekord E2 (both older vehicles that had originally been designed around the CIH engine) would have meant the distributor fouling the firewall or being impossible to service.
In 1983, the 1.8 L engine was added to certain North American market J-cars; the engines were imported from Brazil. The LA5 (RPO code) is a turbocharged version that was optional in the North American market from 1984.
Engine Power Torque Compression Ratio Fuel Delivery Engine Management Applications18E S18E at 5800 rpm at 4800 rpm9.5:1Multipoint fuel injection(Bosch LE-Jetronic)18LE79 kW (106 hp) at 5,600 rpm (catalyst)151 N⋅m (111 lb⋅ft) at 3,600 rpm8.8:1Multipoint fuel injection18N at 5400 rpm at 3000 rpm8.2:1Pierburg 2E318SE at 5400 rpm at 3200 rpm10.0:1Multipoint fuel injection1995–1999 Opel Optima (Indonesia)E18NV at 5400 rpm at 2600 rpm9.2:1Pierburg 2EEC18NE at 5800 rpm at 3000 rpm8.9:1Multipoint fuel injection (Bosch LU-Jetronic)1985.05–1986.08 Opel Ascona C Opel Kadett EC18NZ at 5400 rpm at 3000 rpm9.2:1Monopoint fuel injection(Multec)LH8 at 5200 rpm138 Nm (102 lb-ft) at 2800 rpm9:1Throttle-body fuel injectionLA5 at 5600 rpm204 NM (150 lb-ft) at 2800 rpm8:1Multi-port fuel injection turbocharged
2.0 The single overhead camshaft inline four cylinder engines feature a square bore and stroke. They also feature fuel injection, an aluminium crossflow cylinder head with a belt-driven overhead camshaft, electronic ignition, a six-bolt flywheel, and a 6,400 rpm redline. Originally, developed by Opel, these engines have been used in Brazilian market vehicles, Korean market vehicles and North American market vehicles; with the first versions appearing in 1981, although did not start appearing in European Opel/Vauxhall models until 1986 – firstly in the Omega A and then in the facelift Ascona C3 for the 1987 model year.
The North American versions were used primarily in the J-body compact cars from 1983 through 1994 although the turbocharged version did make a brief appearance in the N-body Pontiac Grand Am. The SOHC version also appeared in the Opel Kadett E-based, Daewoo produced, Pontiac LeMans for the US market. In the Brazilian market these engines are still built under the FlexPower name. Differences between the engines are usually emissions related. However, the 20SEH version was more powerful version produced for Opel's sportier models such as the Ascona GT and Kadett GSi, (their corresponding Vauxhall sisters being the Cavalier SRi 130 and the Astra GTE); it featured a more aggressive camshaft, and high compression pistons.
The LT3 (RPO code) or C20GET is a turbocharged version produced in Brazil for the North American market. It featured brilliant red powder coating on the camshaft cover, intake manifold and boost pipe. The engine was equipped with a water-cooled Garrett T-25 turbocharger; however it did not use an intercooler. Maximum boost at WOT was .
Engine Power Torque Compression Ratio Fuel Delivery Engine Management Applications20LE20NE at 5200 rpm at 2600 rpm9.2:1Multipoint fuel injectionMotronic ML 4.120SE at 5400 rpm at 2600 rpm10.0:1Multipoint fuel injectionMotronic ML 4.120SEH at 5600 rpm at 4600 rpm10.0:1Multipoint fuel injectionC20NE at 5200 rpm at 2600 rpm9.2:1Multipoint fuel injectionX20SE at 5200 rpm at 2800 rpm10.0:1Multipoint fuel injectionMotronic M1.5.4Opel OmegaLT2Throttle body fuel injectionLE4 at 5200 rpm at 3600 rpmMulti-Port Fuel Injection1992–1994 Pontiac SunbirdLT3 at 5600 rpm at 4000 rpm8.0:1Multi-Port Fuel Injection
2.2 The 2.2 L or version has an 86mm (3.38 in) bore and a 94.6mm (3.7 in) stroke. It is codenamed C22NE and 22LE.
It was mainly used in the Brazilian market, in the Opel Omega A (Chevrolet Omega in Brazil) with 116 hp and the Opel Vectra B (Chevrolet Vectra in Brazil) with 123 hp. This engine replaced the 2.0 8v C20NE (116 hp) version that was considered weak when fitted to cars like Omega and Vectra, by the Brazilian market, however 2.2L Omega A's for the European market continued to use the older CIH engine, rather than the Family II.
Applications: Opel Omega Opel Vectra Isuzu Faster FS Lublin, modified C22NED engine
2.4 The version has an bore and a stroke. C24SE – 2.4 L SOHC – Isuzu Rodeo (C24SE built by Holden) X24XF— 2.4 L MPFI SOHC 8V FlexPower
DOHC
The first naturally aspirated DOHC 16-valve version of the 2.0 L— —cast-iron-block engine was introduced in 1988 – derived from the SOHC 2.0L (20SEH) engines (appearing first in the Opel Kadett E GSi/Vauxhall Astra Mk2 GTE, and later the Opel Vectra A/Vauxhall Cavalier Mk3 GSi 2000) – coming in either non-catalysed (20XE) or catalysed (C20XE) versions. The engine is commonly nicknamed the Red Top (or just "XE") because of the appearance of the red L-shaped spark plug cover (black colours were available too; the rocker cover was available in silver only).
1994 saw the introduction of the Ecotec series – which again consisted of a DOHC 16-valve cylinder head (this time co-developed with Lotus) mounted atop a development of the Family II block. The 2-liter versions therefore became the X20XEV, now producing and taking on the GM Ecotec name. In its final, 1999 iteration, it became the X20XER. unlike the original 20XE/C20XE these were intended more for mainstream application (as opposed to racing and high-performance applications) in response to tightening emissions standards, and to reflect the overall family car market moving towards multivalve technology as was being increasingly found in competing vehicles.