Cadillac High Technology engine

Last updated
Cadillac High Technology engine
Cadillac 4100 V8 engine in Eldorado.jpg
Overview
Manufacturer Cadillac
Production1982-1995
Layout
Configuration 90° V8
Displacement
  • 4.1 L; 249.4 cu in (4,087 cc)
  • 4.5 L; 272.6 cu in (4,467 cc)
  • 4.9 L; 298.6 cu in (4,893 cc)
Cylinder bore
  • 88 mm (3.465 in)
  • 92 mm (3.622 in)
Piston stroke
  • 84 mm (3.307 in)
  • 92 mm (3.622 in)
Cylinder block material Aluminum
Cylinder head material Cast iron
Valvetrain OHV 2 valves x cyl.
Compression ratio 9.5:1
Combustion
Fuel system
Management Electronic control module (ECM)
Fuel type Gasoline
Oil system Wet sump
Cooling system Water-cooled
Output
Power output
  • 135 hp (101 kW) (4.1L)
  • 155 hp (116 kW) (TBI 4.5L)
  • 170 hp (127 kW) (Allanté 4.1L)
  • 180 hp (134 kW) (PFI 4.5L)
  • 200 hp (149 kW)(4.9L & Allanté 4.5L)
Torque output
  • 190 lb⋅ft (258 N⋅m) ( 4.1L)
  • 235 lb⋅ft (319 N⋅m) (Allanté 4.1L)
  • 245 lb⋅ft (332 N⋅m) (4.5L)
  • 270 lb⋅ft (366 N⋅m) (Allanté 4.5L)
  • 275 lb⋅ft (373 N⋅m) ( 4.9L)
Chronology
Predecessor Cadillac V8-6-4 engine
Successor Cadillac Northstar engine

The Cadillac High Technology Engine was a V8 engine produced by the Cadillac division of General Motors from 1982 to 1995.

Contents

While the High Technology engine was being developed, due to higher Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards being phased in by the United States government, Cadillac introduced a variant of their traditional V8 engine with the first usage of cylinder deactivation for 1981 as a stopgap measure to increase the fuel economy of their lineup.

However, the V8-6-4 engine experienced problems in reliability related to cylinder deactivation. GM released EPROM updates hoping to increase drivability and reliability, but could not overcome the primitive state of engine control technologies at the time, and the V8-6-4 was discontinued for 1982, with many owners disconnecting the cylinder deactivation system. [1] Cadillac, who planned to introduce their new engine in a line of front-wheel drive models for 1983, was then forced to rush development and production of the High Technology engine for a 1982 introduction in their current rear-wheel drive models. [2]

For nearly 25 years, the High Technology V8 line was known as the last engine family exclusive to the Cadillac Motor Car Division because its successor, the Northstar, would go on to share its architecture with the Oldsmobile Aurora in 1994 and later with flagship Pontiac and Buick models, such as the Pontiac Bonneville and Buick Lucerne. However, in 2019, the Cadillac Blackwing V8 became the new holder of that title.

HT-4100

Cadillac 4.1 L engine Cadillac 4.1 L OHV V8 engine.jpg
Cadillac 4.1 L engine

A new lighter V8 engine was rushed into production for 1982, the HT-4100 (option code LT8). It was a 4100 cc V8, designed for rear-wheel drive and longitudinal front-wheel drive applications sharing the same "Metric" transmission bellhousing pattern as Buick, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac rear- and front-wheel drivetrains for 2.5 L 4-cylinder and 2.8, 3.1, and 3.3 L V6. A new line of downsized Cadillacs with the transverse mounted V8 engine and front wheel-drive was slated for launch in 1983, however, delays in the downsizing program shared with Buick and Oldsmobile postponed their debut until mid 1984 when they were introduced as early 1985 models.

Design Features

HT stood for High Technology. For its time, the engine and its electronic control module (ECM) were quite sophisticated, despite having a throttle-body fuel injection system (as opposed to more advanced multiport fuel injection). Like the 6.0/368" DFI engines before it, the HT4100 used an ECM that incorporated a detailed on-board computer. Every parameter of engine performance could be displayed on the Electronic Climate Control panel while the car was being driven. The HT4100 also adopted other modern design features including replaceable cylinder sleeves, high operating temperature for emission control (210 degrees, compared to 180 in earlier engines), free circulation of coolant between the block and the heads, and bimetal construction that mounted heat-tolerant cast-iron heads onto a weight-saving aluminum block. The engine had a bore and stroke of 88 mm × 84 mm (3.465 in × 3.307 in), for a total displacement of 4.1 L; 249.4 cu in (4,087 cc). It produced 135 hp (101 kW) at 4400 rpm and 190 lb⋅ft (258 N⋅m) of torque at 2000 rpm.

In 1982, the HT4100 debuted as the standard engine for all Cadillac models except the new compact Cimarron, and the Fleetwood limousines, which continued to carry the variable displacement V8-6-4 engine until 1984.

The HT4100 was prone to failure of the intake manifold gasket due to scrubbing of the bi-metal interface, aluminum oil pump failure, cam bearing displacement, weak aluminum block castings and bolts pulling the aluminum threads from the block. It may not have been the most successful engine to sit under the hood of a Cadillac, but potential buyers were no more satisfied with the other two engines available at the time, the V8-6-4 and the Oldsmobile 5.7 L Diesel. Reliability issues soiled the reputation of the HT4100. As a result, the Oldsmobile V8 gas engines were a popular and straightforward conversion. Despite problems with the engines, Cadillac still had annual sales in the United States above 300,000 as late as 1986. [3]

In 1987, a unique, more powerful engine was introduced in the Cadillac Allanté based on the same architecture. The Allanté 4.1 had a new, reinforced engine block that would later be used in the Cadillac 4.5, it used a different camshaft profile and roller lifters to provide for improved airflow, in addition to multiport fuel injection. This engine was rated at 170 hp (127 kW) at 4300 rpm and 235 lb⋅ft (319 N⋅m) of torque at 3200 rpm. Other than the basic architecture, the only thing the Allanté 4.1 shared with the HT4100 was the displacement, something easily changed in the engine family by simply using different diameter cast-iron cylinder liners.

The 4.1 standard HT 4100 was superseded by improved larger-displacement engines such as the 4.5 and 4.9, and the HT4100 ceased production after the 1988 model year.

Applications

4.5

Cadillac 4.5 L engine Cadillac 4.5 L OHV V8 engine.jpg
Cadillac 4.5 L engine

The Cadillac 4.5 Litre engine introduced for the 1988 model year was an improved and enlarged version of the HT4100. However, the 4.5 L engine was never classified as HT4500. Engineering advances allowed the company to begin increasing displacement and output again. A bored-out (to 92 mm (3.62 in)) 4.5 L (273 cu in)4.5 version was rated 155 hp (116 kW) and featured throttle body fuel injection. There were various versions of this engine built from its introduction in 1988 to the end of production in 1992 including a high-output LW2 version with multi-port fuel injection which produced 200 hp (149 kW) and 270 lb⋅ft (366 N⋅m) for the Allanté. Outside of the Allanté, Cadillac introduced a port fuel-injected 4.5 L V8 engine in 1990 with 180 hp (134 kW) and 245 lb⋅ft (332 N⋅m) across their model line up.

Applications

This engine was used in the following vehicles:

L26 4.9

Cadillac 4.9 L engine Cadillac 4-9 Liter V8 engine from 1992 Sedan Deville 2014-05-01 00-48.jpeg
Cadillac 4.9 L engine

A larger version of the 4.5, the L26 4.9, debuted in 1991 at 4.9 L with a square 92 mm (3.62 in) bore and stroke. Despite the fact that it had similar output to the Allanté's 4.5 L port fuel-injected V8, the 4.9 L engine represented a significant upgrade for the remainder of the Cadillac lineup. Horsepower output was up 20 hp (15 kW) from the previous 1990 4.5 L engine and torque was up by 30 lb⋅ft (41 N⋅m), to 200 hp (149 kW) and 275 lb⋅ft (373 N⋅m) respectively. Both the 4.9 and 4.5 port fuel-injected engines required premium fuel due to a 9.5:1 compression ratio. The 4.9 produces its maximum horsepower at 4100 rpm.

The 4.9 L was used throughout the Cadillac line and was last available in the 1995 DeVille. The 4.9 was replaced by the new 4.6-liter Cadillac Northstar engine.

Applications

The 4.9 L engine was used in the following Cadillacs:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cadillac</span> Luxury car manufacturing division of General Motors

Cadillac Motor Car Division, or simply Cadillac, is a division of the American automobile manufacturer General Motors (GM) that designs and builds luxury vehicles. Its major markets are the United States, Canada and China. Cadillac models are distributed in 34 additional markets worldwide. Historically, Cadillac automobiles were at the top of the luxury field within the United States, but have been outsold by European luxury brands including BMW and Mercedes since the 2000s. In 2019, Cadillac sold 390,458 vehicles worldwide, a record for the brand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buick Skylark</span> Series of passenger automobiles produced by Buick

The Buick Skylark is a passenger car formerly produced by Buick. The model was made in six production runs, during 46 years, over which the car's design varied dramatically due to changing technology, tastes, and new standards implemented over the years. It was named for the species of bird called skylark.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cadillac Eldorado</span> American personal luxury car

The Cadillac Eldorado is a luxury car manufactured and marketed by Cadillac from 1952 until 2002 over twelve generations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buick Riviera</span> Motor vehicle

The Buick Riviera is a personal luxury car that was marketed by Buick from 1963 to 1999, with the exception of the 1994 model year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oldsmobile Toronado</span> Motor vehicle

The Oldsmobile Toronado is a personal luxury car manufactured and marketed by the Oldsmobile division of General Motors from 1966 to 1992 over four generations. The Toronado was noted for its transaxle version of GM's Turbo-Hydramatic transmission, making it the first U.S.-produced front-wheel drive automobile since the demise of the Cord 810/812 in 1937.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cadillac Allanté</span> Luxury roadster produced by Cadillac

The Cadillac Allanté is a two-door, two-seater luxury roadster marketed by Cadillac from 1987 until 1993. It used a Cadillac chassis and running gear with a body built in Italy by coachbuilder Pininfarina. It was expensive to produce with the complete bodies flown to Detroit for final assembly. Over 21,000 were built during its seven-year production run.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northstar engine series</span> Family of high performance 90° V engines produced by General Motors

The Northstar engine is a family of high-performance 90° V engines produced by General Motors between 1993 and 2011. Regarded as GM's most technically complex engine, the original double overhead cam, four valve per cylinder, aluminum block/aluminum head V8 design was developed by Oldsmobile R&D, but is most associated with Cadillac's Northstar series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">General Motors LS-based small-block engine</span> Family of V8 and V6 engines

The General Motors LS-based small-block engines are a family of V8 and V6 engines designed and manufactured by American automotive company General Motors. First introduced in 1997, the family is a continuation of the earlier first- and second-generation Chevrolet small-block engine, of which over 100 million have been produced altogether, and is also considered to be one of the most popular V8 engines ever. Spanning three generations, a new, sixth generation is expected to enter production soon. Various small-block V8s were and still are available as crate engines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet small-block engine (first- and second-generation)</span> Car engine

The Chevrolet small-block engine is a series of gasoline-powered V8 automobile engines, produced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors between 1954 and 2003, using the same basic engine block. Referred to as a "small-block" for its size relative to the physically much larger Chevrolet big-block engines, the small block family spanned from 262 cu in (4.3 L) to 400 cu in (6.6 L) in displacement. Engineer Ed Cole is credited with leading the design for this engine. The engine block and cylinder heads were cast at Saginaw Metal Casting Operations in Saginaw, Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iron Duke engine</span> Reciprocating internal combustion engine

The Iron Duke engine is a 151 cu in (2.5 L) straight-4 piston engine built by the Pontiac Motor Division of General Motors from 1977 until 1993. Originally developed as Pontiac's new economy car engine, it was used in a wide variety of vehicles across GM's lineup in the 1980s as well as supplied to American Motors Corporation (AMC). The engine was engineered for fuel efficiency, smooth operation, and long life, not for performance. Total Duke engine production is estimated to be between 3.8 and 4.2 million units.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">General Motors 60° V6 engine</span> Reciprocating internal combustion engine

The General Motors 60° V6 engine family is a series of 60° V6 engines 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 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 as they were first used in the X-body cars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buick V6 engine</span> Reciprocating internal combustion engine

The Buick V6 is an OHV V6 engine developed by the Buick division of General Motors and first introduced in 1962. The engine was originally 198 cu in (3.2 L) and was marketed as the Fireball engine. GM continued to develop and refine the 3.8 L (230 cu in) V6, eventually and commonly referred to simply as the 3800, through numerous iterations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford Essex V6 engine (Canadian)</span> Reciprocating internal combustion engine

The Essex V6 is a 90° V6 engine family built by the Ford Motor Company at the Essex Engine Plant in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. This engine is unrelated to Ford's British Essex V6. Introduced in 1982, versions of the Essex V6 engine family were used in subcompact through to large cars, vans, minivans, and some pickup trucks. The Essex V6 was last used in the 2008 regular-cab F-150, after which it was succeeded by a version of the Ford Cyclone engine. An industrial version of the engine was available until 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oldsmobile V8 engine</span> Reciprocating internal combustion engine

The Oldsmobile V8, also referred to as the Rocket, is a series of engines that was produced by Oldsmobile from 1949 until 1990. The Rocket, along with the 1949 Cadillac V8, were the first post-war OHV crossflow cylinder head V8 engines produced by General Motors. Like all other GM divisions, Olds continued building its own V8 engine family for decades, adopting the corporate Chevrolet 350 small-block and Cadillac Northstar engine only in the 1990s. All Oldsmobile V8s were manufactured at plants in Lansing, Michigan while the engine block and cylinder heads were cast at Saginaw Metal Casting Operations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oldsmobile Diesel engine</span> Reciprocating internal combustion engine

The Oldsmobile Diesel engine is a series of V6 and V8 diesel engines produced by General Motors from 1978 to 1985. Their design was based on the Olds 350 gasoline engine architecture. A 350 cu in (5.7 L) V8 was introduced in 1978, followed by a 261 cu in (4.3 L) V8 only for the 1979 model year. In 1982, a 263 cu in (4.3 L) V6 became available for both front front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive vehicles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buick V8 engine</span> Reciprocating internal combustion engine

The Buick V8 is a family of V8 engines produced by the Buick division of General Motors between 1953 and 1981. The first version replaced the Buick straight-eight. Displacements vary from 215 cu in (3.5 L) to 455 cu in (7.5 L) for its last big block in 1976. All are naturally aspirated OHV pushrod engines, except for an optional turbocharged version of the short-lived 215 used in the 1962-63 Oldsmobile Jetfire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quad 4 engine</span> Reciprocating internal combustion engine

Quad 4 is the name of a family of principally DOHC inline four-cylinder engines produced by General Motors' Oldsmobile division between 1987 and 2002; a single SOHC version was built between 1992 and 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cadillac V8 engine</span> Reciprocating internal combustion engine

The term Cadillac V8 may refer to any of a number of V8 engines produced by the Cadillac Division of General Motors since it pioneered the first such mass-produced engine in 1914.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">General Motors 122 engine</span> Reciprocating internal combustion engine

The 122 engine was designed by Chevrolet and was used in a wide array of General Motors vehicles. The 122 was similar to the first two generations of the General Motors 60° V6 engine; sharing cylinder bore diameters and some parts. The 122 was available in the U.S. beginning in 1982 for the GM J platform compact cars and S-series trucks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet 90° V6 engine</span> Former American engine

The Chevrolet 90° V6 family of V6 engines began in 1978 with the Chevrolet 200 cu in (3.3 L) as the base engine for the all new 1978 Chevrolet Malibu. The original engine family was phased out in early 2014, with its final use as the 4.3 L (262 cu in) V6 engine used in Chevrolet and GMC trucks and vans. Its phaseout marks the end of an era of Chevrolet small-block engine designs dating back to the 1955 model year. A new Generation V 4.3 L (262 cu in) V6 variant entered production in late 2013, based on the LT1 small block V8 and first used in the 2014 Silverado/Sierra 1500 trucks.

References

  1. Martin, Murilee (28 April 2015). "Cadillac's V8-6-4 engine of 1981: It seemed like a good idea at the time". AutoWeek . Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  2. Sessler, Peter (2010). Ultimate American V-8 Engine Data Book, 2nd Edition. Minneapolis: Motorbooks. pp. 28, 29. ISBN   978-0760336816.
  3. "Cadillac wants fewer, stronger dealerships". Automotive News. August 25, 2003.