Generation II 60° V6

The General Motors 60° V6 engine family was a series of 60° V6 engines which were produced for both longitudinal and transverse applications. All of these engines are 12-valve cam-in-block or overhead valve engines, except for the LQ1; which uses 24 valves driven by dual overhead cams. These engines vary in displacement between 2.5 and 3.4 litres (2,490 and 3,350 cc) and have a cast-iron block and either cast-iron or aluminum heads. Production of these engines began in 1980 and ended in 2005 in the U.S., with production continued in China until 2010. This engine family was the basis for the GM High Value engine family. These engines have also been referred to as the X engines due to their first usage in the X-bodycars.

2.8 & 3.1 MFI V6

3.4 MFI V6

Engine Oil / Filters

2.8 V6

  • Oil 5W30
  • Filter AcDelco PF52 Filter

3.1 N/A V6

  • Oil 5W30
  • Filter AcDelco PF52 Filter

3.1 Turbo V6

  • Oil 10W30
  • Filter AcDelco PF52 Filter

3.4 24 Valve V6

  • Oil 10W30
  • Filter AcDelco PF52 Filter

Tuneup

2.8 V6

Spark Plugs

  • ACDELCO R44LTSM Gap .045″/1.1mm
  • AUTOLITE 5164 Gap .045″/1.1mm

Plug Wire Set

  • ACDELCO 706R
  • ACDELCO 9706R

3.1 N/A V6

Spark Plugs

  • ACDELCO R44LTSM Gap .045″/1.1mm
  • AUTOLITE 5245 Gap .045″/1.1mm

Plug Wire Set

  • ACDELCO 706R
  • ACDELCO 9706R

3.1 Turbo V6

Spark Plugs

  • ACDELCO R42LTS Gap .045″/1.1mm
  • AUTOLITE 103 Gap .045″/1.1mm

Plug Wire Set

  • ACDELCO 706R
  • ACDELCO 9706R

The second generation, still 2.8 litres (2,837 cc), was introduced in 1987. It used aluminum heads with splayed valves and an aluminum front cover. It was produced exclusively for transverse, front-wheel drive use.

The next year, Chevrolet introduced a full-production long-stroke 3.1 L; 191.3 cu in (3,135 cc) version in the Pontiac 6000 STE AWD, with a89 mm (3.5 in) bore and 84 mm (3.31 in) stroke compared to the 2.8 which shared the same bore, however with a 76 mm (2.99 in) in stroke. It was produced simultaneously with the 2.8 L (2,837 cc) in various compact and midsized vehicles until 1990, when the 2.8 L (2,837 cc) was dropped. MPFI was used on both, and a full-production turbo version was available on the 3.1 L (3,135 cc). An even higher displacement DOHC 3.4 L (3,350 cc) LQ1 was also developed, and eventually, the new GM High Value engine family followed. Production of OHV Generation II engines ended in 1994 after the introduction of the Generation III in 1993.

The 2.8 L (2,837 cc) 60° V6 was used in these vehicles:

  • 1988–1989 Buick Regal
  • 1987–1989 Chevrolet Beretta
  • 1987–1989 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24
  • 1990–1994 Mexican Chevrolet Cavalier
  • 1987–1989 Chevrolet Corsica
  • 1987–1989 Pontiac 6000
  • 1988–1989 Pontiac Grand Prix
  • 1987–1989 Chevrolet Celebrity
  • 1987–1989 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera
  • 1987–1989 Buick Century
  • 1988-1989 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme

Generation 2, 2.8 L 60° V6 in a Buick Regal

The 3.1 L (3,135 cc) 60° V6 was used in these vehicles:

  • 1994–2005 Buick Century
  • 1989–1996 Buick Regal
  • 1994–1998 Buick Skylark
  • 1990–1996 Chevrolet Beretta
  • 1990–1994 Chevrolet Cavalier
  • 1990 Chevrolet Celebrity
  • 1990–1996 Chevrolet Corsica
  • 1994–1998 Oldsmobile Achieva
  • 1989–1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
  • 1994–1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera
  • 1988–1991 Pontiac 6000 (STE & LE, but primarily for STE)
  • 1994–1998 Pontiac Grand Am
  • 1989–2003 Pontiac Grand Prix
  • 1991–1994 Pontiac Sunbird

A 3.1-L engine in a 1990 Chevrolet Beretta

LH0

The LH0 (“T-code”) was introduced in 1988 on the Pontiac 6000 STE AWD. It featured a more advanced multiport fuel injection. It was produced until 1994 (1996 for the Mexican market) and was exported in some models. This engine produced 135 hp (101 kW) and 180 lb⋅ft (244 N⋅m) of torque from 1988–1989, then upgraded to 140 hp (104 kW) at 4800 rpm and 185 lb⋅ft (251 N⋅m) of torque at 3600 rpm.

Uses:

  • 1988–1991 Pontiac 6000 (Introduced on AWD STE only in 1988-89, became available for other models in 1990 to replace the 2.8 V6)
  • 1990-1992 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera
  • 1990 Chevrolet Celebrity
  • mid-1989–1993 Pontiac Grand Prix
  • mid-1989–mid-1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
  • mid-1989–1993 Buick Regal
  • 1990–1993 Chevrolet Beretta
  • 1990–1993 Chevrolet Corsica
  • 1990–1994 Chevrolet Lumina
  • 1990–1994 Chevrolet Cavalier
  • 1991–1994 Pontiac Sunbird
  • 1990–1996 Chevrolet Cutlass (Mexico)[citation needed]
  • 1990–1996 Chevrolet Century (Mexico)[citation needed]

L64

The L64 (“W-code”) was introduced in 1991 as flexible-fuel version of the 3.1 L (3,135 cc). The two versions were one that could run M85 and one that could run E85.

Uses:

  • 1991-1993 Chevrolet Lumina VFV
  • 1992-1993 Chevrolet Lumina E85 VFV

LG5

The LG5 (“V-code”) was a special 3.1 L (3,135 cc) turbocharged engine produced with McLaren for the 1989 and 1990 model years. It featured the same multiport fuel injection intake manifolds and throttle body as the LH0, and produced 205 hp (153 kW) at 5200 rpm and 225 lb⋅ft (305 N⋅m) of torque at 2100 rpm. Around 3,700 engines were produced each year. This engine had a block with more nickel content and hardened internals.

Applications:

  • 1989–1990 Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo
  • 1990 Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo STE

LQ1

3.4 L 60° DOHC V6 (LQ1)

The LQ1 (also called the Twin Dual Cam or TDC) was a 3.4 L (3,350 cc) DOHC V6 engine (“X-code”) based on the aluminum-headed second generation of GM’s 60° engine line, sharing a similar block with its pushrod cousins, the 3.1 L LH0 V6 and the then recently retired 2.8 L (2,837 cc) LB6 V6. The engine was built only for front-wheel drive applications, and was featured exclusively in the first generation of GM’s W-body platform.

It was built from 1991 to 1997. From 1991 to 1993, it used tuned multiport fuel injection, made 200–210 hp (149–157 kW) at 5200 rpm and 215 lb⋅ft (292 N⋅m) of torque at 4000 rpm. From 1994 to 1997, it used sequential port fuel injection, making 210 hp (157 kW) at 5200 rpm and 215 lb⋅ft (292 N⋅m) of torque at 4000 rpm. In 1996, the heads were redesigned for better flow, as well as now making the engine an interference design and adapting the engine for federally mandated OBDII emissions. Output for the 1996-1997 LQ1 is 215 hp (160 kW) and 220 lb⋅ft (298 N⋅m). It had four valves per cylinder. The 3.4 L (3,350 cc) engine substituted the standard camshaft for a chain driven intermediate shaft, which drives four overhead cams via a cogged belt. Adapting the 60°pushrod block for the LQ1’s overhead cams significantly increased packaged engine height.

Bore was increased to 92 mm (3.6 in), and the 3.1 L (3,135 cc) engine’s 84 mm (3.31 in) stroke was retained. Only a few interchangeable parts are use between this DOHC engine and other members of the 60° family, primarily the connecting rods and crankshaft.

The heads and intake manifolds were redesigned for the 1996 model year, incorporating a larger throttle body and plenum area, slightly longer intake runners, cloverleaf combustion chambers, and larger “pill”-shaped exhaust ports. Camshafts and cam timing were also revised for the new, higher-rpm powerband.

Optional from 1991 to 1993 was a Getrag 284 five-speed manual transaxle, which was also exclusive to the GM W platform and was available only with the LQ1. The electronically controlled Hydramatic 4T60-E four-speed automatic transaxle was the alternative, used during the entire production run with the exception of the 1997 Monte Carlo Z34 and 1997 Lumina LTZ, which received the 4T65-E.

Applications:

  • 1991–1994 Chevrolet Lumina Z34 and the Euro 3.4 sedan
  • 1991–1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
  • 1991–1996 Pontiac Grand Prix
  • 1995–1997 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Z34
  • 1995–1996 Chevrolet Lumina LS