The 1.4-liter Opel Z14XEP or LJ2 engine was produced in Austria from 2003 to 2010 and was installed on many compact models of the company, such as Astra, Corsa, Combo and Meriva. This unit is one of the most popular low-volume engines with the Twinport system.
The Z10 series also includes engines: Z10XE, Z10XEP, Z12XE, Z12XEP and Z14XE.
The Z14XEP engine uses a lightweight cast iron cylinder block with a cast iron crankshaft and an aluminum overhead camshaft head with 2 chain drives (DOHC) and 4 valves per cylinder. This engine used TwinPort technology – dual intake ports with a throttle closing one of the ports at low revs, providing a strong air swirl for higher torque levels and better fuel economy. The engine uses ECU Bosch ME7.6.1 / Bosch ME7.6.2.
The engine was installed on:
- Opel Astra G (T98) in 2003 – 2009; Astra H (A04) in 2004 – 2010;
- Opel Corsa C (X01) in 2003 – 2006; Corsa D (S07) in 2006 – 2009;
- Opel Combo C (F06) in 2004 – 2010;
- Opel Meriva A (X03) in 2004 – 2009.
Specifications
| Production years | 2003-2010 |
| Displacement, cc | 1364 |
| Fuel system | distributed injection |
| Power output, hp | 90 / 5600 rpm |
| Torque output, Nm | 125 / 4000 rpm |
| Cylinder block | cast iron R4 |
| Block head | aluminum 16v |
| Firing order | 1-3-4-2 |
| Cylinder bore, mm | 73.4 |
| Piston stroke, mm | 80.6 |
| Compression ratio | 10.5 |
| Features | Twinport |
| Hydraulic lifters | yes |
| Timing drive | single row chain |
| Phase regulator | no |
| Turbocharging | no |
| Recommended engine oil | 5W-30 |
| Engine oil capacity, liter | 3.50 |
| Fuel type | petrol |
| Euro standards | EURO 4 |
| Fuel consumption, L/100 km (for Opel Astra 2006) — city — highway — combined |
8.2 5.2 6.3 |
| Engine lifespan, km | ~275 000 |
| Weight, kg | 105 |
Explanation of Z14XEP marking
- Z – Euro 4 engine;
- 14 – 1.4 liters;
- X – Compression ratio from 10 to 11.5: 1;
- E – multi-point fuel injection system;
- P – increased power.
Disadvantages of the Z14XEP engine
- the biggest problem here is the constantly stuck Twinport dampers;
- a single-row timing chain can stretch and start rattling on a run up to 150,000 km;
- the reason for floating revolutions and a drop in thrust is most often in a clogged EGR valve;
- the source of the lubricant leak is usually the oil pressure sensor and the valve cover;
- oil pump, thermostat and ECU control unit have a low resource here.
