Oil Capacity: 6.5 US quarts (with oil filter)īuilt at GM’s Tonawanda Engine plant, the final L18 rolled out of the factory in December 2009.Īs we briefly mentioned in our introduction, the Vortec 8100 is very similar to the Vortec 7400 engine, but with some game-changing touches.Valvetrain: 2 valves per cylinder, OHV, cam-in-block pushrod engine.Ignition: Coil-Near-Plug, Platinum-Tipped Spark Plugs, Low-Resistance Spark Plug Wires.
![8.1 vortec mpg motorhome 8.1 vortec mpg motorhome](https://i.postimg.cc/nLNZZDJH/001.jpg)
Fuelling: Sequential multi-port fuel injection.Maximum Engine Speed: 5,000 RPM (Vehicle dependent).Maximum Torque: 440-455 lb/ft at 3,200 RPM (Vehicle dependent).Maximum Horsepower: 330-340 hp at 4,200 RPM (Vehicle dependent).They released I4, I5, I6, and V6 variations in the mid-nineties, alongside three V8 engines to the series.Īs GM replaced the 7.4-liter Vortec 7400 with the 8.1-liter Vortec 8100 in 2001, the engine would go on to ultimately mark the end of the GM big-block engines as we knew it. GM’s Vortec engines have indeed stood the test of time, and arguably the most well-known variations were the original 5.0L and 5.7L engines from the small-block Chevy V8’s, way back in 1955.
![8.1 vortec mpg motorhome 8.1 vortec mpg motorhome](https://i0.wp.com/rtrvg.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/dieselclassa.jpg)
Once production ceased in 2009, they would be the last of the big-blocks, with GM instead favoring the smaller Vortec 5.3, 6.0, and 6.2L engines, most likely due to the tightening emissions legislation. The 8100 not only featured in GM’s vehicles, and it went on to feature in motorhome and marine applications as a cheaper alternative to expensive diesel offerings. Sure, the economy is undoubtedly going to leave you on first-name terms with the local fuel station attendants, but reliability plays a huge role here, and the 8100 is typically the cheaper option when it comes to overall maintenance.Īdmittedly, you’re probably not going to opt for this engine if you’re doing the daily runs around town, but when it comes to hauling heavy loads, it’s a serious contender to even the highest-regarded diesel blocks. With 340-horsepower produced at its peak performance, and up to 455 lb/ft torque (just 50 lb/ft less than the 6.6L Duramax diesel), this engine can tow just about anything you attempt to throw at it, and it’ll shamelessly laugh at the heaviest of loads. The engine certainly wasn’t a disappointment upon release, and it even managed to convert many diesel owners with its additional benefits.ĭespite diesel engines being well-known for their impressive torque figures, this engine often matches its rivals in this sector before crushing them with horsepower figures.
![8.1 vortec mpg motorhome 8.1 vortec mpg motorhome](https://www.raylarengineering.com/img/forged-496-crankshaft.jpg)
The 8.1L monster succeeded the previous 7.4L Vortec engine, which had been in production from 1996 until Chevrolet stopped production upon its larger sibling’s arrival.Īlso known as the 496, the 8.1L untamed beast was based on the 454’s 4.25” bore but introduced a longer 4.37” stroke, allowing for an insane 496 cubic inches of pure V8 power.
8.1 VORTEC MPG MOTORHOME FULL
GM’s senior management must have sat down and decided that their previous 454 big-block wasn’t quite big enough, so it was time to go full retard.
![8.1 vortec mpg motorhome 8.1 vortec mpg motorhome](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UcrKZbW-ueY/maxresdefault.jpg)
Initially introduced in 2001, the 8.1L capacity petrol engine is the biggest powerplant that Chevrolet fitted to their consumer-class vehicles, and remained so for its six years of production. Given the weight of the Vortec 8100, the engine is admittedly more suited for big, heavy trucks rather than drift cars, where power-to-weight ratios are of high importance.Īlthough modern-day trucks’ typical choice is to opt for diesel engines, mainly for the fuel economy, the Vortec 8100 has a substantial die-hard fanbase that is ready to argue otherwise. However, if drift car a swap is on your mind, please, be our guest, but make sure you share the outcome with us! You’d more likely be considering using this engine for towing your drift car to and from the track rather than swapping it in. Vortec 8100 Reliability & Common IssuesĪs you probably guessed, it’s not every day that we decide to review truck engines here on Drifted, but it’s difficult to ignore the mighty Vortec 8100.Which Cars/Trucks Have The Vortec 8100 Engine?.Known as ‘The Big Block of Big Blocks’, we’re taking an in-depth look at GM’s monster V8 to provide everything you could ever need to know about this 8.1-liter General Motors behemoth.