The LLR Vortec 3700 is one version of the only 5-cylinder engine General Motors has ever made available in the U.S.
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Americans tend to enjoy their engine cylinder counts in even numbers. Engines of 4-, 6-, and 8 cylinders have powered an overwhelmingly large majority of the vehicles ever sold in the U.S, and for good reason.
- 6-cylinder ENGINE NUMBER is located on the right side of the block to the rear of the distributor. 8-cylinder ENGINE NUMBER is on pad on front right hand side of the block behind the water pump. All Engine numbers start at 1001. The prefix letter identifies where the engine was built, model year and model type - 'F' Flint, 'T' Tonawanda.
- The 4.2-liter Chevrolet engine was placed in the 2002 through 2009 Chevy TrailBlazer. This engine was the replacement for the aged 4.3-liter V-6 engine. The 4.2-liter-like the 4.3-liter before it-is a member of the Vortec family of engines. Vortec is Chevrolet's version of variable-valve timing.
The basic design of the 4-cycle engine favors even cylinder counts, at least when it comes to balance and smoothness, with the classic inline 6-cylinder configuration inherently the smoothest of all.
Still, there are reasons a carmaker might stray from the tried and true when it comes to engine layout. For purposes of economy, American consumers have occasionally been able to purchase vehicles powered by 3-cylider engines. The Ford Fiesta, for example, can be had with that maker’s EcoBoost 1.0-liter mill, which employs just 3 pistons.
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More common, though hardly common by absolute standards, is the 5-cylinder engine.
Chevrolet markets most of its non-diesel truck engines under the Vortec banner.
Though more prone to vibration than any even-numbered engine configuration, the inline 5-cylinder does offer certain design advantages. For starters, it’s easier to package than an inline 6-cylinder, which, for obvious, reasons is longer, and thus more difficult to wedge between a vehicle’s firewall and grille. This issue has become more profound in recent years as hoodlines have lowered, leaving less space in the engine bay. It was specifically to allow for more aerodynamic vehicle designs that Mercedes-Benz famously began moving to V6 engines back in 1997.
Inline 5-cylinder engines are also usually less costly to produce than are V6 mills. While a V6 has cylinders arrange in two banks, and thus requires twice the milling, any inline engine has its cylinder bores aligned in a single straight line, which simplifies manufacturing. Additionally, with two cylinder banks, a V6 requires two cylinder heads, which adds cost, weight, and complexity to the engine.
It’s the German carmakers that have most readily embraced the 5-cylinder engine, with BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen (including Audi) each offering 5-pots in the U.S. at some point in time. Between 2000 and 2005, VW also offered to its European customers the VR5, the only V5 engine ever to find its way under the hood of a modern production vehicle.
Other 5-cylinder engines include a 2.5-liter Honda plant that was available in the Acura Vigor. Ford of Europe sold an inline 5 for a while, a version of which powered the previous generation of the Focus RS. Volvo still produces 5-cylinder engines, though it is in the process of switching its entire lineup to turbocharged 4-cylinder engines. Land Rover also offered a 5-cylinder diesel mill in several of its models over the years.
Fiat and European engine builder VM Motori have supplied a number of 5-cylinder diesel engines to different carmakers over the years, with those powerplants ending up in various stray brands and models.
But, to the best of our recollection, no domestic maker has ever built and sold a 5-cylinder engine in the U.S. Well, not ever. There was this one time…
General Motors dubbed it the Atlas engine, and it was a family of inline engines designed to be light weight, fuel efficient, and easy to package.
The Atlas family of engines included a hulking 4.2-liter six, a workhorse 2.8-liter four, and, oddly enough, a 3.5-liter 5-cylinder.
Though not a production model, the 2002 Chevrolet Bel Air Concept was pitched to the public as being powered by a 3.5-liter 5-cylinder engine. Whether or not a running example of the vehicle ever existed, we consider it the first vehicle powered by the Atlas 5-cylinder engine, and the only car.
The first Atlas engine made its debut in 2002 in GM’s new GM360 and GM370 midsize SUVs. Marketed as the Vortec 4200, the 4.2-liter six proved a capable base engine for these burly trucks, which included for ’02 the Chevrolet Blazer, GMC Envoy, and Oldsmobile Bravada. Subsequent model years would bring the Buick Rainier, Isuzu Ascender, and Saab 9-7X, all of which were based on the same GM architecture and would be offered with the Atlas 6-cylinder engine.
It was not until 2004 that the Atlas 4- and 5-cylinder engines would come into play. For ’04, Chevrolet and GMC rolled out redesigned compact pickups, both of which would be powered exclusively by Atlas engines.
The Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon were offered with the 2.8-liter four (Vortec 2800) as the base engine, with the 3.5-liter five (Vortec 3500) as the optional mill. The big six would not be offered in these trucks.
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On paper, the Atlas engines looked like good fits for the little pickups. The 4-cylinder engine was good for 175 horsepower, while the five cranked out a healthy 220. One wonders, however, if traditional truck buyers balked at purchasing a 5-cylinder truck, when the previous generation of these vehicles had been available with a burly 4.3-liter V6.
The 5-cylinder engine would go on to be optional in an Isuzu clone of the Colorado and Canyon, the i-Series. The compact Hummer H3 SUV would also come standard with the Atlas 5-cylinder.
Marsedit 4 3 6 Cylinder Engine Rebuild
Note that for 2007 the Atlas 4- and 5-cylinder engines would receive a bump in displacement to 2.9 liters and 3.7 liters, respectively. Horsepower for the mills jumped accordingly, to 185 and 242, respectively. With the size increase came the predictable name changes to Vortec 2900 and Vortec 3700.
The Atlas 5-cylinder engine would survive through 2012, when GM’s compact trucks were redesigned and treated to a new series of base and optional engines. With that the entire Atlas family of engines was retired, with it the only 5-cylinder motor any U.S. maker has built and sold in the States.
Amassed here are all the vehicles ever to be offered with the Atlas 5-cylinder engine. Let us know if you ever spent time with one of them.
2004-2012 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon
Marsedit 4 3 6 Cylinder Engines
2011 GMC Canyon
The Colorado and Canyon were the first production vehicles to be powered by the Atlas 5-cylinder engine. The engine was optional on most versions of the Colorado and Canyon, with the Atlas 2.8-liter 4 serving as the standard mill. For 2007 the both the 4- and 5-cylinder engines received displacement and power bumps, and would then go on unchanged through 2012 when the trucks were redesigned. Curiously, though a 6-cylinder engine was never offered in these trucks, a 5.3-liter V8 was made available beginning in 2009.
2006-2008 Isuzu i-280/i-350 and i-290/i-370
When Isuzu decided to get back into the pickup truck business for 2006, it did so in the easiest manner possible: It simply bought trucks from General Motors and slapped its own grille on them. Thus was born one of the messiest bowls of model-name alphabet soup ever to be thrust upon the American car-buying public. By basing its new trucks’ names on their engine displacement, Isuzu was forced to change those names when the engines were updated for 2007. Thus what were the Isuzu i-280 and i-350 for 2006 became the i-290 and i-370 for 2007, not that consumers cared all that much. Apart from the grilles, these small trucks were identical to the Chevy Colorado, with only stickers–not badges–used to denote trim levels. Needless to say, the i-Series trucks were the only 5-cylinder Isuzu products ever sold on the U.S.
2006-2010 Hummer H3
2006 Hummer H3
The lone socially responsible member of the short-lived Hummer family was also the only model to be made available with a 5-cylinder engine. As the H3 was based on Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon architecture, it only made sense that the drivetrain components would also be shared. The H3 came standard with the 5-cylinder plant, with a 5.3-liter V8 coming along as standard later in the production run.
Choosing between a 4 Cylinder and a 6 Cylinder Engine - Vol.282
When purchasing a vehicle, new or used, the type of engine is just as important as any other feature. Understanding the variations between the different engine types and sizes will help you to make an informed decision when choosing a vehicle.
What Is The Difference?
A 4 cylinder engine contains 4 pistons while a 6 cylinder contains 6, all driving the power of your engine. The easy answer would be more cylinders equals more power. Most small cars, light trucks, and even some small SUVs contain 4 cylinder engines. Four cylinder engines are typically inline engines (the 4 cylinders are in a straight line as opposed to a V shape like most 6 cylinder engines), making them smaller and lighter weight. This gives them greater fuel economy, but less power, making them ideal for smaller vehicles.
Most sedans, trucks, and full size SUVs contain a 6 cylinder or larger engine. These engines are larger in size, and weigh more than a 4 cylinder, and offer more power, but less fuel economy. They are ideal in larger vehicles because the additional power is necessary to efficiently move the larger and weightier vehicles.
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Engine design and efficiency has changed and improved substantially in the past 10 years, leading to lighter weight engines with greater fuel economy. Therefore it is important to note that a newer 4 cylinder engine may have just as much power if not more, than a 6 cylinder from 10 years ago. Also, a newer 6 cylinder may have the same fuel economy or better than a 4 cylinder from 10 years ago. So make sure to take that into account when making your selection.
How Do I Chose Between The Two?
The easiest way to choose is to determine what size and type of vehicle best suits your needs and wishes, this will normally solve the engine question. As stated, 4 cylinder engines are smaller and lighter, but they also contain less parts which means there are less things to break. They can be cheaper to maintain, as opposed to the larger and heavier 6 cylinder engine vehicles.
A small car, truck, or SUV with a 4 cylinder engine is a good choice for someone looking for a vehicle to commute to and from work, and mostly local driving. These vehicles get excellent fuel economy, they are typically smaller, so families of 4 or 5 should be fine. On the down side they have less power, and are not suitable for heavy loads.
A sedan, full size truck, or full size SUV with a 6 cylinder or larger engine is a good choice for people with large families, those who travel long distances, or people who haul heavy loads, such as towing boats, campers, or hauling lumber or other building materials. On the down side you are losing fuel economy and they are typically more costly to maintain.
Additionally, many smaller 4 cylinder vehicles come with the option to upgrade to a 6 cylinder engine. This is ideal for people who have no need of a large vehicle, but feel a little more comfortable having the additional power of a 6 cylinder. Sports cars also typically have a 6 cylinder or larger engine, though most are only able to seat 2 persons, and have limited cargo space.
There are many different types of vehicles available, some with multiple engine choices. So take your time, figure out what you require in a vehicle to best meet your needs. Knowing the differences between these engines and their benefits, should ensure that you make an excellent and well informed choice.