The General Motors LIH 1.2-liter 3-cylinder turbo engine has been produced in Korea since 2019 and is installed on crossovers based on the VSS-F platform, such as the Buick Encore GX and Chevrolet Trailblazer 3. There are modifications of this unit for the Opel Astra under the F12SHL, F12SHT, F12SHR indices.
E-Turbo family: LIH, L3T.
Specifications
| Production years | since 2019 |
| Displacement, cc | 1193 |
| Fuel system | direct injection |
| Power output, hp | 137 |
| Torque output, Nm | 219 |
| Cylinder block | aluminum R3 |
| Block head | aluminum 12v |
| Cylinder bore, mm | 75 |
| Piston stroke, mm | 90 |
| Compression ratio | 9.5 – 10.0 |
| Features | DOHC |
| Hydraulic lifters | yes |
| Timing drive | belt |
| Phase regulator | DCVCP |
| Turbocharging | yes |
| Recommended engine oil | 5W-30 |
| Engine oil capacity, liter | 4.0 |
| Fuel type | petrol |
| Euro standards | EURO 6d |
| Fuel consumption, L/100 km (for Buick Encore GX 2021) — city — highway — combined |
8.4 6.2 7.8 |
| Engine lifespan, km | ~250 000 |
| Weight, kg | 102 |
The engine was installed on:
- Buick Encore GX 1 (VSS-F) since 2019;
- Buick Envista 1 (VSS-F) since 2022;
- Chevrolet Trailblazer 3 (VSS-F) since 2020;
- Chevrolet Trax 2 (VSS-F) since 2023.
Disadvantages of the GM LIH engine
- On specialized forums, it is scolded for noises, vibrations and glitches of the Start-Stop system.
- Like all direct injection engines, it suffers from carbon deposits on the intake valves.
- Since it has a timing belt in an oil bath, you need to change the lubricant as often as possible.
- You can still find many complaints about the operation of the EVAP fuel vapor recovery system.
Is the LiH engine optimally tuned? I have a hunch that increasing the boost by a mere 1lb would resolve a lot of customer concerns. It’ll increase the HP by 20%, which would be in line with the competition, and increase fuel economy by 4-5mpg.