GM's 3.9L V-6 Family Grows With E85-Capable And Fuel-Saving Active Fuel Management™ Versions
Chicago, IL. - Today at the Midwest Automotive Media Association meeting Ed Peper, General Manager, Chevrolet, announced General Motor's first V-6 application of fuel-saving Active Fuel Management™ on the 3.9L V-6 offered in the 2007 Chevy Impala, and E85 ethanol fuel capability on the 3.9L V-6 offered in the '07 Chevy Uplander.
"The application of Active Fuel Management™ (AFM) and E85 ethanol offers customers more choices when it comes to selecting efficient, fuel-conscious vehicles," said Peper. "E85 fuel reduces the need for petroleum and helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while AFM offers improved fuel economy over comparable, non-AFM engines."
Preliminary testing of the 2007 Chevy Impala equipped with the 3.9L V-6 with AFM indicates an estimated 20 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway - improvements of approximately 5.5 percent and 7.5 percent, respectively.
Active Fuel Management enables the engine to automatically operate on half of the engine's cylinders under light load conditions, improving efficiency by reducing fuel consumption when the cylinders are deactivated. GM offers this fuel-saving technology in 11 vehicles for 2007, including trucks and SUVs - more than any other automaker. The Impala is GM's first V-6 application of AFM in North America.
The E85-capable version of the 3.9L engine enables customers of the Uplander vehicles to use a renewable, domestically produced fuel that produces fewer emissions. E85 is made of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. GM vehicles with E85 capability can run on 100 percent gasoline or on E85 ethanol fuel or any combination of the two.
"GM has nearly 2 million flex-fuel vehicles on North American roads, and will offer 14 E85-compatible vehicles in 2007," said Peper.
The 3.9L V-6 is part of GM's family of sophisticated, high-value V-6 engines. In addition to AFM and E85 capability, it features variable valve timing (VVT) - a first for cam-in-block V-6 engines (recognized by Popular Mechanics with a "Breakthrough Technology Award" in 2005.) Along with optimizing performance and economy, the VVT operation helps the engine maintain an adequate torque load to maximize the benefits of AFM's fuel-saving mode.
About Chevrolet
Chevrolet is America's No. 1-selling automotive brand. With the largest dealer network in the United States, Chevy is the leader in full-size trucks and the leader in sales of vehicles priced $35,000 and above. In addition, Chevrolet delivers more-than-expected value in every vehicle category, offering cars and trucks priced from $9,995 to $72,235. Chevy delivers expressive design, spirited performance and great value with standard features usually found only on more expensive vehicles.
Chevrolet's global headquarters is at the GM Renaissance Center in Detroit. For more information, go to www.chevy.com
SPECIFICATIONS: 3.9L V-6 (LZ8)
| Assembly site: | Tonawanda, NY |
| Application: | Chevrolet Impala |
| Type: |
3.9L V-6 with variable valve timing, Active Fuel Management™ (LZ8) |
| Displacement (cu in/ cc): | 237 / 3880 |
| Bore x stroke (in x mm): | 3.90 x 3.31 / 99 x 84 |
|
Block material: |
cast iron |
|
Main bearing caps |
powder metal (1, 2, 3); cast nodular iron (4) |
| Cylinder head material: |
cast aluminum |
| Intake manifold: | cast aluminum |
| Exhaust manifolds: | high-silicon molybdenum, cast nodular iron |
|
Compression ratio: | 9.8:1 |
| Valve configuration: | overhead valves (2 valves per cylinder) |
| Valve lifters: | hydraulic roller |
| Firing order: | 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 |
| Fuel system: |
sequential fuel injection |
| Horsepower (hp / kW): | 233 / 174 @ 5600 rpm* |
| Torque (lb-ft / Nm): | 240 / 325 @ 4000 rpm* |
| Fuel shut-off: | 6400 rpm |
| Emissions controls: | close-coupled catalytic converter, evaporative system, positive crankcase ventilation |
| Crankshaft: |
steel |
| Camshaft: |
assembled steel |
| Connecting rods: | forged powder metal |
| Additional features: | electronic throttle control, dual equal continuously variable valve timing, roller rocker arms, pressure-actuated piston cooling jets, extended-life spark plugs, extended-life coolant, GM Oil Life System, oil level sensor, extended-life accessory drive belt |
SPECIFICATIONS: 3.9L V-6 (LGD)
| Assembly site: | Ramos Arizpe, Mexico |
| Application: | Chevrolet Uplander |
| Type: | 3.9L V-6 with E85 ethanol capability ( LGD ) |
| Displacement (cu in/ cc): | 238 / 3880 |
|
Bore x stroke (in x mm): | 3.90 x 3.31 / 99 x 84 |
| Block material: | cast iron |
| Main bearing caps | powder metal (1, 2, 3); cast iron (4) |
|
Cylinder head material: |
aluminum |
|
Intake manifold: |
cast aluminum |
| Exhaust manifolds: | high-silicon molybdenum, cast nodular iron |
| Compression ratio: | 9.8:1 |
| Valve configuration: | overhead valves (2 valves per cylinder) |
| Valve lifters: | hydraulic roller |
| Firing order: | 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 |
| Fuel system: |
sequential fuel injection |
| Fuel type: | E85 and regular unleaded |
| Horsepower (hp / kW) | 240 / 179 @ 6000 rpm* |
| Torque (lb-ft / Nm): | 240 / 325 @ 4800 rpm* |
| Fuel shut-off: | 6000 rpm |
| Emissions controls: | catalytic converter, evaporative system, positive crankcase ventilation |
| Crankshaft: | steel |
| Camshaft: | assembled steel |
| Connecting rods: | forged powder metal |
| Additional features: | E85 flex-fuel capable, 58X crankshaft, cam phaser, U-flow cooling |
*Horsepower and torque are SAE certified. A new voluntary power and torque certification procedure developed by the SAE Engine Test Code committee was approved March 31, 2005. This procedure (J2723) ensures fair, accurate ratings for horsepower and torque by allowing manufacturers to certify their engines through third-party witness testing. GM was the first auto manufacturer to begin using the procedure and expects to use it for all newly rated engines in the future.