General information (Opel Insignia A)

Camshafts

The engine uses two camshafts: one for the intake valves and one for the exhaust valves. The camshafts are made of hardened steel.

Timing drive

The camshafts are driven by a toothed belt transmission. The belt tension is adjusted automatically by a tensioner.

Crankshaft

The crankshaft is made of steel. It is mounted on five main bearings with plain bearing liners. The third main bearing is also equipped with thrust half rings that regulate the axial play of the crankshaft. The damper pulley serves to dampen torsional vibrations.

Text copied from an online resource opelbook

Cylinder block

The cylinder block has four cylinders arranged in a row. In the lower part of the block there are five main bearings for installing the crankshaft, and the third main bearing is provided with the installation of thrust half rings that regulate the axial play of the crankshaft.

Cylinder head

The cylinder head contains two camshafts that open 4 valves per cylinder using tappets. The camshaft drive sprockets are mounted in the front of the cylinder head.

The cylinder head is made of aluminum alloy, which provides it with high strength and rigidity with low weight. The combustion chambers in the cylinder head are designed in such a way as to increase the degree of swirl of the fuel-air mixture, thereby increasing combustion efficiency.

Oil pan

The pan is made of aluminum alloy. The oil intake channel of the oil pump is an integral part of the pan.

Oil pump

The oil pump, driven by the engine crankshaft, is built into the front engine cover. The oil pump draws oil from the engine sump and delivers it under pressure to various parts of the engine. A strainer, installed on the pump oil intake, serves to remove particles from the oil that could cause clogging of the oil passages or damage to the oil pump and other engine components. When the crankshaft rotates, the driven gear of the oil pump rotates, as a result of which oil gets into the gaps between the teeth of the pump gears and is then forced out of them when the gears engage, due to which a pumping effect occurs. At high engine speeds, the oil pump delivers more oil, improving lubrication of engine parts. The oil pressure regulator prevents excessive oil from being supplied to the oil lines.

Pistons and connecting rods

The flat-bottomed pistons with floating piston pin are made of aluminum alloy, and the connecting rods are made of stamped steel.

Valves

Each cylinder has two intake and two exhaust valves with tappets.

Forced exhaust ventilation system

The crankcase ventilation system is used for afterburning crankcase gases in the combustion chamber, instead of releasing them into the atmosphere, which significantly increases the environmental friendliness of the engine. Fresh air from the intake system enters the engine crankcase, mixes with the crankcase gases, and then enters the intake manifold again through calibrated nozzles. The primary supply is carried out through the nozzle of the crankcase forced ventilation system (PCV), which dispenses the flow depending on the vacuum value in the intake manifold. The PCV nozzle is integrated into the cylinder head cover. The system is designed in such a way that in the event of abnormal operating conditions, excess purged gases are returned through the crankcase to the intake system to maintain normal combustion.