Tweet
NEW OR CHANGED
3100 3.1L V-6 (LG8 ) Car Engine
2004 Model Year Summary
• Graphite Head Gaskets
• Improved Water Pump
• Improved Sealing
• Improved Flywheel
• Changes for Common Assembly with 3500 High Value V-6 (RPO LX9)
• Production shifts to Tonawanda, N.Y. engine plant
FULL DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW OR CHANGED FEATURES
GRAPHITE CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS
The 3100 V-6 is now equipped with graphite head gaskets. The gaskets feature a layer of graphite applied over the perforated stainless steel core to enhance gasket durability and optimize performance over the life of the engine. The graphite improves performance at all temperatures and provides excellent sealing, compression recovery and coolant resistance. Moreover, the gaskets have a thicker flange than before to improve durability.
WATER PUMP
The 3100 V-6’s water pump has been redesigned to improve performance and durability. The impeller is thinner and lighter, and manufactured from stamped steel rather than cast iron. The impellor shaft is also thinner (12 mm compared to 15.9 mm). This reduces the size and surface area of the pump seal, reducing potential for seal leakage. Finally, the pump features a “weep reservoir,” or drip collector. Most water pump seals are designed to release a few drops of coolant at a constant rate. With the drip collector, the drops are contained and evaporate, and the drips are less likely to be mistaken for a leak.
IMPROVED SEALING
Most gaskets on the 3100 V-6 have been improved, including the head gaskets and water pump seal (above) and the intake manifold gaskets. The manifold gaskets are designed to reduce the chance of misalignment during assembly and improve build quality, and they have been optimized to prevent coolant seepage. Moreover, the gaskets have been redesigned with more durable seal materials and a dual sealing bead around the coolant crossover ports.
IMPROVED FLYWHEEL
The 3100Â’s flywheel has been redesigned with an assembled retainer and a revised flex-hole design that doubles its rotary bending ability. The new flywheel is lighter than the previous part, and the new retainer increases assembly efficiency. Moreover, the flywheel is now common to both the 3400 V-6 (RPO LA1) and the new 3500 High Value V-6 (RPO LX9).
CHANGES FOR COMMON ASSEMBLY WITH 3500 HIGH VALUE V-6 AND 3400 V-6
Like the flywheel, dozens of 3100 V-6 parts have been changed to allow common assembly with the 3400 and the new 3500 High-Value V-6. These parts range from fasteners such as cylinder-head and manifold bolts to electrical connectors. There have also been minor casting revisions for the 3100. Such common parts reduce corporate inventory, streamline procurement practices and contribute to a common objective every automobile buyer understands: less assembly time and lower cost for a better product, which ultimately translates to more value for the customer.
PRODUCTION SHIFTS TO TONAWANDA, N.Y. ENGINE PLANT
With introduction of the 3500 High Value V-6, The 3100 will be built exclusively at the Tonawanda, N.Y. engine plant (the worldÂ’s largest automotive engine assembly site). The 3500 will be built exclusively at GMÂ’s engine plant in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico. Ramos will continue to manufacture some 3400 V-6s for minivans and sport-utility vehicles, but 3100 will no longer be manufactured there.
OVERVIEW
The 3100 V-6 was developed as a V-6, rather than a shortened V-8. Its 60-degree cylinder-bank angle makes it inherently smoother than 90-degree V-6 engines. The 3100 has been improved annually to enhance fuel economy and durability and to meet increasingly stringent emissions mandates. It remains one of GMÂ’s most popular V-6 engines because it satisfies customers who appreciate fuel economy and low cost of ownership, and still delivers the power for good vehicle performance.
For model year 2003, the 3100 added iridium spark plug technology. These plugs have an iridium core in the conductor to maintain spark density over their 100,000 mile life, helping ensure the same fuel efficiency and emissions performance over the last 10,000 miles as the first. Required maintenance was further reduced with refinements to GM’s industry-leading Oil Life System. The Oil Life System records and analyzes a number of variables, including engine speed, temperature, load or rpm variance, and period of operation at any given load and temperature, then calculates oil degradation and recommends an oil change when the oil is near the end of its useful life—rather than according to a predetermine mileage interval. The Oil Life System had proven so effective the upward limit on the oil change interval for the 3100 was removed. The owner’s manual in cars equipped with the 3100 continues to recommend an oil change at least once a year.
For 2002, the cruise control module was improved with state-of-the-art electronic circuitry and a new control algorithm that updates itself every 30 seconds. New spark plug wires with 5000 ohms resistance reduced the likelihood of electromagnetic interference with AM band reception. In 2001, state-of-the-art technology increased the catalytic converter's efficiency, allowing National Low Emissions Vehicle (NLEV) certification with considerably less catalyst volume and lower cost.
In model year 2000, new Multec II fuel injectors improved fuel efficiency by making fuel delivery more precise, and reduced the likelihood of injector clogging.. A number of enhancements reduced internal engine friction, in turn reducing noise and improving fuel economy. The 3100 was also equipped with a high-flow intake manifold and cylinder heads developed for the new 3400 3.4L V-6 (RPO LA1)
With steady application of advanced technologies and improvements in noise, vibration and harshness control, the 3100 V-6 continues to deliver solid performance for buyers who emphasize value and low cost of ownership.
3100 3.1L V-6 (LG8 ) Car Engine
2004 Model Year Summary
• Graphite Head Gaskets
• Improved Water Pump
• Improved Sealing
• Improved Flywheel
• Changes for Common Assembly with 3500 High Value V-6 (RPO LX9)
• Production shifts to Tonawanda, N.Y. engine plant
FULL DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW OR CHANGED FEATURES
GRAPHITE CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS
The 3100 V-6 is now equipped with graphite head gaskets. The gaskets feature a layer of graphite applied over the perforated stainless steel core to enhance gasket durability and optimize performance over the life of the engine. The graphite improves performance at all temperatures and provides excellent sealing, compression recovery and coolant resistance. Moreover, the gaskets have a thicker flange than before to improve durability.
WATER PUMP
The 3100 V-6’s water pump has been redesigned to improve performance and durability. The impeller is thinner and lighter, and manufactured from stamped steel rather than cast iron. The impellor shaft is also thinner (12 mm compared to 15.9 mm). This reduces the size and surface area of the pump seal, reducing potential for seal leakage. Finally, the pump features a “weep reservoir,” or drip collector. Most water pump seals are designed to release a few drops of coolant at a constant rate. With the drip collector, the drops are contained and evaporate, and the drips are less likely to be mistaken for a leak.
IMPROVED SEALING
Most gaskets on the 3100 V-6 have been improved, including the head gaskets and water pump seal (above) and the intake manifold gaskets. The manifold gaskets are designed to reduce the chance of misalignment during assembly and improve build quality, and they have been optimized to prevent coolant seepage. Moreover, the gaskets have been redesigned with more durable seal materials and a dual sealing bead around the coolant crossover ports.
IMPROVED FLYWHEEL
The 3100Â’s flywheel has been redesigned with an assembled retainer and a revised flex-hole design that doubles its rotary bending ability. The new flywheel is lighter than the previous part, and the new retainer increases assembly efficiency. Moreover, the flywheel is now common to both the 3400 V-6 (RPO LA1) and the new 3500 High Value V-6 (RPO LX9).
CHANGES FOR COMMON ASSEMBLY WITH 3500 HIGH VALUE V-6 AND 3400 V-6
Like the flywheel, dozens of 3100 V-6 parts have been changed to allow common assembly with the 3400 and the new 3500 High-Value V-6. These parts range from fasteners such as cylinder-head and manifold bolts to electrical connectors. There have also been minor casting revisions for the 3100. Such common parts reduce corporate inventory, streamline procurement practices and contribute to a common objective every automobile buyer understands: less assembly time and lower cost for a better product, which ultimately translates to more value for the customer.
PRODUCTION SHIFTS TO TONAWANDA, N.Y. ENGINE PLANT
With introduction of the 3500 High Value V-6, The 3100 will be built exclusively at the Tonawanda, N.Y. engine plant (the worldÂ’s largest automotive engine assembly site). The 3500 will be built exclusively at GMÂ’s engine plant in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico. Ramos will continue to manufacture some 3400 V-6s for minivans and sport-utility vehicles, but 3100 will no longer be manufactured there.
OVERVIEW
The 3100 V-6 was developed as a V-6, rather than a shortened V-8. Its 60-degree cylinder-bank angle makes it inherently smoother than 90-degree V-6 engines. The 3100 has been improved annually to enhance fuel economy and durability and to meet increasingly stringent emissions mandates. It remains one of GMÂ’s most popular V-6 engines because it satisfies customers who appreciate fuel economy and low cost of ownership, and still delivers the power for good vehicle performance.
For model year 2003, the 3100 added iridium spark plug technology. These plugs have an iridium core in the conductor to maintain spark density over their 100,000 mile life, helping ensure the same fuel efficiency and emissions performance over the last 10,000 miles as the first. Required maintenance was further reduced with refinements to GM’s industry-leading Oil Life System. The Oil Life System records and analyzes a number of variables, including engine speed, temperature, load or rpm variance, and period of operation at any given load and temperature, then calculates oil degradation and recommends an oil change when the oil is near the end of its useful life—rather than according to a predetermine mileage interval. The Oil Life System had proven so effective the upward limit on the oil change interval for the 3100 was removed. The owner’s manual in cars equipped with the 3100 continues to recommend an oil change at least once a year.
For 2002, the cruise control module was improved with state-of-the-art electronic circuitry and a new control algorithm that updates itself every 30 seconds. New spark plug wires with 5000 ohms resistance reduced the likelihood of electromagnetic interference with AM band reception. In 2001, state-of-the-art technology increased the catalytic converter's efficiency, allowing National Low Emissions Vehicle (NLEV) certification with considerably less catalyst volume and lower cost.
In model year 2000, new Multec II fuel injectors improved fuel efficiency by making fuel delivery more precise, and reduced the likelihood of injector clogging.. A number of enhancements reduced internal engine friction, in turn reducing noise and improving fuel economy. The 3100 was also equipped with a high-flow intake manifold and cylinder heads developed for the new 3400 3.4L V-6 (RPO LA1)
With steady application of advanced technologies and improvements in noise, vibration and harshness control, the 3100 V-6 continues to deliver solid performance for buyers who emphasize value and low cost of ownership.