Home Forums Blogs Articles Photos Videos Contact FAQ

List of GM engines - V6

List of GM engines - V6: Encyclopedia II - List of GM engines - V6

General Motors was the pioneer of the V6 engine in the United States, putting the first American V6 car, the Buick Special's 198 in³ V6, on the road in 1962. GMC Truck beat Buick to the punch, however, with their 1960 truck V6, which eventually grew to a massive 478 in³ (7.8 L). But the company quickly lost interest in the V6 concept, and sold the Buick design to Kaiser-Jeep in 1967. In the midst of the fuel crisis of the 1970s, GM realized that a V6 engine would be an excellent alternative to bulky straight-6 and large V8 engines, so the company bought the design back an ...

List of GM engines: Encyclopedia II - List of GM engines - V6

List of GM engines - V6

General Motors was the pioneer of the V6 engine in the United States, putting the first American V6 car, the Buick Special's 198 in³ V6, on the road in 1962. GMC Truck beat Buick to the punch, however, with their 1960 truck V6, which eventually grew to a massive 478 in³ (7.8 L). But the company quickly lost interest in the V6 concept, and sold the Buick design to Kaiser-Jeep in 1967. In the midst of the fuel crisis of the 1970s, GM realized that a V6 engine would be an excellent alternative to bulky straight-6 and large V8 engines, so the company bought the design back and launched the familiar 3800 line.

At that same time, the company began designing a 60° V6 for their new compact cars. This line started slowly, powering only the smallest cars. One notable version was the DOHC LQ1, designed with Lotus. The smooth and compact 60° engine has become GM's platform of the future, spawning the new global High Value family.

Other V6es came and went in recent decades, including the V8-derived Olds Diesel 4.3 and Vortec 4300 and Premium V-based LX5. The European Opel/Cadillac/Saturn 54° V6 has spawned the company's other future V6, the global High Feature DOHC engine.

1960-1978 GMC V6 - 60° pushrod V6 available in 305, 351, 401, 432, and 478 in³ (5.0, 5.8, 6.6, 7.1, and 7.8 L) sizes
90° "3800" V6 family - 90° pushrod V6
- Series I:
  - 1960s 198 - 198 in³ (3.2 L) Buick
  - 1960s 225 - 225 in³ (3.7 L) Buick/Jeep
  - 1970s 231 - 231 in³ (3.8 L)
  - 1980s 3.8 - 3.8 L
  - 1980s 4.1 - 4.1 L Cadillac
  - 1990s 3800 - 3.8 L
- Series II:
  - 2000s L36 3800 - 3.8 L
  - 2000s L67 3800 SC - 3.8 L supercharged
- Series III:
  - 2000s L26 3800 - 3.8 L
  - 2000s L32 3800 SC - 3.8 L supercharged
60° V6 family - Pushrod V6
- 1970s-1990s Buick 3.2 - 3.2 L
- 1991-1997 LQ1 - 3.4 L DOHC
- 1996-2004 LA1 - 3.4 L OHV
- 2000s LB8 - 2.5 L (China)
- 2000s LW9 - 3.0 L (China)
- 2000s LG8 - 3.1 L
1980s Olds Diesel 4.3 - 90° 4.3 L Oldsmobile Diesel
1985-present Vortec 4300 - 90° 4.3 L V6 developed from the Chevrolet 350 in³ V8
- 1985-2002 L35/LF6 - 4.3 L central-port injected
- 1985-1998 LB4 - 4.3 L TBI
- 2002-present LU3/LG3 - 4.3 L Multi-port injected
Opel/Cadillac/Saturn 54° DOHC V6
- 1994-2005 L81 3000 - 3.0 L
- 2003-2004 LA3 - 3.2 L
1990s LX5 3500 - 90° 3.5 L DOHC Oldsmobile V6 based on the Premium V
High Value 60° V6 family - Descended from the 60° V6
- LX9 3500 - 3.5 L
- LZ8 3900 - 3.9 L
High Feature - DOHC V6
- 2004 LY7 3600 - 3.6 L
- 2005 LP1 2800 - 2.8 L
Non-GM engines:
- 2000s LE8 - 2.5 L V6 for the Chevrolet Tracker
- 2000s L66 - 3.5 L DOHC V6 from Honda
- DMAX V6 - 3.0 L Diesel V6 designed by Isuzu