Chevrolet to discontinue/replace Volt's 1.4 L engine for 2014

[Christ]

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

...if that 2.0L engine is a NA version of the new 250 HP high-output 2.0LT that's going into the Buick Verano, then it too will have a cast-iron block, which is needed to handle the turbo's higher "spool-up" pressures.

What kind of pressures are we talking about here?

Seriously, aluminum blocks can handle a good amount of boost without having too many notable issues.

Even Honda's open-deck blocks can handle high boost if you install sleeve stabilizers.

[gone-ot]

Cruze 1.4LT:

• CR = 9.5:1
• max. boost = 16 psi
• Effective CR @ max.eff.boost ~ 20:1 (up there in NA diesel land).

[user removed]

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

...exactly, especially with more & more vehicles using "idle stop" controls; want the engine to "stay" in 'closed-loop' operation as long as possible instead of having to break 'loop' with each "stop."

Also for integrated exhaust manifolds, and it wouldn't surprise me if they did away with the cylinder head. Why worry about head gaskets and exhaust manifold gaskets?
It would depend on how hard it was to cast something that complicated.

regards
Mech

[Flakbadger]

Originally Posted by 3-Wheeler

I would think about using the aluminum engine in the following manner:

Keep engine aluminum for less rolling mass
Use active radiator block to help maintain heat loss
Use engine underbody panel for same reason

Side affect of above, you get a lower Cd to boot.

Jim.

Actually doesn't sound crazy to me. I've kind of wondered about having an aluminum heat-sink type radiator for a car before... Sort of like the cooling fins on fancy PC RAM or on R/C car's motors. They'd probably need a regular radiator for low-or-no-speed operation, but it could be a lot smaller with the passive cooling the heat sink would provide.

It'd burn the hell out of you if you went to change the oil, though :P

[tjts1]

I hope they downsize the electic motor and battery so its more like a prius. The series hybrid has always been doomed to failure. Too heavy, too expensive, not efficient enough.

[RobertSmalls]

Originally Posted by Flakbadger

Actually doesn't sound crazy to me. I've kind of wondered about having an aluminum heat-sink type radiator for a car before... Sort of like the cooling fins on fancy PC RAM or on R/C car's motors. They'd probably need a regular radiator for low-or-no-speed operation, but it could be a lot smaller with the passive cooling the heat sink would provide.

It'd burn the hell out of you if you went to change the oil, though :P

The aluminium valve covers of my Subaru had heat sink fins. But if you sketch out a nice air-cooled engine and add up the total surface area of its fins, you'll find it's a tiny fraction of the surface area of a radiator.

I like the simplicity, lower cost, and lighter weight of an air cooled engine. However, the greater cooling capacity, more even temperature regulation, and more efficient use of cooling air of a water-cooled setup are generally worth the price.

And the Volt? I hope it gets some efficiency upgrades, including a better engine. If I'm allowed to dream, the engine options would be: tiny diesel, tiny Atkinson, or the no-engine option.

[Cobb]

Surprise, surprise, surprise. I got to meet a former engineer of GM and asked about the up sizing of engines in all their vehicles as a vehicle ages a few years, starts to loose mpg and redesigns. He said what customers want is MORE POWER vs mpg.

[gone-ot]

...which: "old" GM mentality (pre-bankruptcy) or "new" GM mentality (post-bankruptcy)...or, both?

[niky]

Seeing as how the Sonic has a 1.4 liter turbo and a 1.8 liter engine in the US...

[gone-ot]

...yes, but GM-Opel (Germany) manufactures engines of 1.0L and up, so GM has "access" to smaller displacment engines *IF* they care to use them.