Cylinder Block Components
CYLINDER BLOCK COMPONENTS
NOTE: Variant with oil cooler shown.
Cylinder Block
The cylinder block is a 'V' design, which provides an inherently rigid structure with good vibration levels. A low volume coolant jacket improves warm-up times and piston noise levels- the longitudinal flow design of the jacket, with a single cylinder head coolant transfer port in each bank, improves rigidity and head gasket sealing.
Engine Data Locations
Engine data is marked at three locations.
Pistons and Connecting Rod Assembly
The aluminum alloy, thermal expansion, lightweight pistons, with semi-floating piston pins, are offset to the thrust side and are carried on forged steel connecting rods. Pistons are supplied in four grades, 1, 2, 3 and 4. The pistons are marked to ensure they are correctly oriented in the cylinder bore, the 'arrow' mark should be toward the front of the engine.
The V6 petrol engine utilizes forged steel H-sectioned connecting rods, with the piston pin being an interference fit in the small end of the connecting rod. The big ends are horizontally split.
Selective bearing shells with two grades of thickness, standard and 0.25 mm undersize, control big end bearing diametric clearance. The big-end upper and lower bearing shells are plain with locating tags.
Each piston is fitted with two compression rings and an oil control ring. The top compression ring has a nitrided surface, a process that involves the diffusion of nitrogen into the surface layers of a low carbon steel. The formation of nitrides provides an increased hardness. The 2nd compression ring is chrome-plated. The oil control rings have stainless steel top and bottom rails and integral expander rings.
Jackshaft Assembly
The jackshaft assembly is located centrally in the upper part of the cylinder block. The assembly is used to supply drive to each camshaft, via a chain. The LH camshaft is driven from the front of the jackshaft and the RH camshaft is driven from the rear. The Jackshaft assembly is driven, via a chain, by the crankshaft gear at the front of the engine. The assembly is held in position by a thrust plate.
Front Cover and Water Pump Assembly
The aluminum front cover assembly is secured to the engine block by five bolts and five studs and is sealed via a gasket. The front cover also houses the crankshaft front seal.
The water pump is attached to the engine front cover assembly and is secured and sealed, to the front cover, by twelve bolts and a gasket. A poly-vee belt drives the water pump via the crankshaft.
Oil Cooler (if Fitted) and Filter Assembly
NOTE: Variant with oil cooler shown.
A full-flow, disposable canister-type oil filter is attached to the oil cooler assembly (if fitted).
The oil filter and cooler assembly (if fitted) is attached the rear RH side of the cylinder block and consists a full-flow, disposable canister-type filter, cooler (if fitted) and an adapter.
The filter adapter-mounting bolt locates in the cylinder block oil gallery and is sealed by an O-ring. The filter adapter houses the adapter bolt and is also sealed to the cylinder block by an O-ring.
The oil cooler (if fitted) keeps the engine lubrication oil cool, under heavy loads and high ambient temperatures and is cooled by the engine cooling system.
Oil is delivered to and from the oil cooler (if fitted) through galleries in the cylinder block. Hoses from the engine cooling system are connected to two pipes on the oil cooler for the supply and return of coolant.
Knock Sensors
The knock sensors are installed in the cylinder block in two different locations. One is located on the inboard of the RH cylinder bank and one is located at the front of the LH side of the cylinder block, next to the oil pressure switch. They are piezo-electric sensors that provide inputs to detect and locate detonation during combustion.
Oil Pressure Switch
The oil pressure switch is located in a port at the front LH side of the cylinder block. It detects when a safe operating pressure has been reached during engine starting and initiates the illumination of a warning light in the instrument cluster if the oil pressure drops below a given value. The switch operates at a pressure of 0.15 to 0.41 bar (2.2 to 5.9 psi).
Engine Block Heater
For cold climate markets an engine block heater is fitted, which is located at the front of the LH side of the cylinder block.