Ecotec is the name of a straight-4 piston engine made by General Motors since 2000. It is a modern chain-driven DOHC 4-valve design with an aluminum block and head. It uses aluminum pistons and cast iron cylinder liners and vibration is reduced with twin balance shafts. The Ecotec block was designed for 1.8 L to 2.2 L displacement.

SAAB

Saab used a 2.0 L version in the Saab 9-3. It had numerous features, including special oil jets to cool the pistons, an oil cooler, and stronger pistons, connecting rods and cylinder head. The Saab engine also features electronic throttle control, as do many Ecotecs.

DI

The Opel Signum uses a direct injection version of the 2.2 L Ecotec.

L61

The Ecotec 2.2, model L61 (or L42 for the CNG version), is a straight-4 automobile engine. Displacement is 2.2 L (2189 cc) with an 86 mm (3.38 in) bore and 94.6 mm (3.72 in) stroke. Compression is 9.5:1 or 10:1, delivering 135 hp to 143 hp (101 kW to 107 kW) and 142 ft.lbf to 152 ft.lbf (193 Nm to 206 Nm) of torque. The Ecotec line is manufactured in Tonawanda, New York, Kaiserslautern, Germany, and (for Saturn) in Spring Hill, Tennessee. The L61-powered Saturn ION replaced the Saturn-powered Saturn S-series.

There are a few variations to the standard L61. The new Chevrolet Malibu uses a version with electronic throttle control and a special unitized exhaust manifold and catalytic converter. The 2003 Saturn L-Series has a high output version with higher (10:1) compression and hotter camshaft. The Malibu and Saturn versions also use returnless fuel injection.

The 2.2 L Ecotec is used in the following cars:

• 2000-2002 Saturn L-Series
• 2003-2005 Saturn L-Series (high output)
• 2003 Vauxhall VX220/Opel Speedster
• 2004 Chevrolet Classic
• 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
• 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt (140 hp/150 ft.lbf)
• Chevrolet Cavalier
• Oldsmobile Alero
• Pontiac Grand Am
• Pontiac Sunfire
• Saturn ION
• Saturn VUE
• Opel Astra
• Opel Vectra
• Opel Zafira

L42

The Ecotec 2.2, model L42 is the CNG version of the Ecotec 2.2. It delivers 129 hp (96 kW) and 129 ft.lbf (175 Nm).

LSJ

The LSJ is a de-stroked (to 86 mm) version of the Ecotec with an Eaton M62 Roots-type supercharger and air-to-liquid intercooler. It is rated at 200 hp and 149 ft.lbf, but dynamometer tests have shown 20% more power in actual cars.

This engine is used in:

• 2004 Saturn ION Red Line
• 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt

LE5

The LE5 is a larger 2.4 L (2384 cc) version of the Ecotec. Both the 88 mm bore and 98 mm stroke are larger, and Variable Valve Timing improves low-end torque. Both horsepower and torque will sit at 170.

The LE5 will be used in:

• 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
• 2006 Pontiac Solstice
• 2006 Saturn Sky