The Chevrolet Niva engine determines the high quality of the car. This model is one of the best-selling Russian-made cars in Russia. High maneuverability and easy driving make it possible to use the car both for overcoming off-road conditions and for city driving. Since 2002, the Niva-21213 has undergone several restylings, but the technical characteristics of the engine have not changed.
General information
The Niva engine is very similar to the previous VAZ-21214 engine. However, there are significant differences. Chevrolet Niva is an all-wheel drive car, and all-wheel drive is always on. Therefore, the power must be appropriate. The engine is a four-stroke gasoline engine. The case is made of aluminum, which is unusual for cars of this model.
Until 2005, most domestic machines had a cast iron engine. Then they began to install aluminum heads. Cast iron has greater strength and less thermal expansion, but aluminum is much lighter and its fatigue resistance is higher. Between the bottom and the head of the engine is a standard gasket. Cylinders are arranged in one row.
The diameters of the cylinders are preserved from previous models, however, the pistons themselves received an improvement. On their upper part, rings are installed that remove oil from the surface of the cylinders. The piston skirt is also reinforced. Thus, the engine "Niva" has become more reliable. New methods for the production of basic parts have reduced the weight of the motor, while its technical characteristics have not deteriorated. The crankshaft connecting rods became lighter, but the shaft itself remained the same.
Fuel supply
The volume of cylinders is 1.6. There is no carburetor. Instead, they installed a modern system of direct fuel injection, that is, the mixture from the fuel system falls into the mixer, and from there it is fed to the nozzles. They inject directly into the cylinder, this has reduced fuel consumption and increased engine power. Such a system also gives the driver the opportunity to accelerate faster and overcome steep climbs.
The fuel filter is located under the underbody. Electronic fuel management. The on-board computer controls the fuel injection. Sensors are located on the cylinders that monitor all engine cycles and the process of detonation of the combustible mixture. Nozzles are controlled by the generated electromagnetic field. Thus, the Niva engine increased efficiency, but parts began to cost more. For example, one nozzle can be purchased for forty dollars.
Chevy Niva engine: ignition
The biggest changes, compared with previous models, have undergone the ignition system. The ignition coil is one, not four for each spark plug, as many have suggested. At the top of the cylinders are phase sensors. There are four leads from the coil to the candles, which is much more reliable than the module that was before. The engine starts half a turn. A controller is installed which, in the event of a malfunction in the cylinder, turns off the nozzle that is connected to it in order to avoid destruction of the converter.
European Standards
The Chevrolet Niva engine is made in collaboration with Western European experts. Therefore, it is fully consistent with high European environmental standards (Euro-3 and above).
The injection system is pairwise parallel. Direct injection into the combustion chamber avoids the ingress of a combustible mixture into the atmosphere. The products of evaporation of engine oil through the fuel filter enter the timing system and are sent to the cylinders.
Phased injection was installed in accordance with Euro-3 standards. He ensured the most accurate fuel supply for each cylinder. This affects not only the environmental friendliness of the car, but also its power and fuel consumption.
New technologies
The front axle gear is mounted on a subframe. This made it possible to move the generator up to the right side of the head - to the place where the distributor used to be. This arrangement made it possible to universalize the motor and facilitate its replacement. But the belts in this direction began to wear out quickly, so their condition should be checked regularly during technical inspection.
The cooling system has also changed. Radiator "Niva" is equipped with two fans. Such blowing allows the engine to work at full power in extreme heat and not overheat. To understand which engine is installed on the Niva-Chevrolet, it’s enough to imagine a VAZ-21214 engine with an injection system and good airflow.
All controllers were developed by Bosch. They are highly reliable, and the driver can monitor the main work processes from the dashboard. The company also calibrated the engine in accordance with Euro-5 standards.
Niva-21213
Chevrolet Niva immediately conquered the domestic market. For several years this car was bought more than others in the CIS countries. A new design developed by Italian craftsmen made the car more attractive. But, as you know, our drivers primarily pay attention to more practical features.
The old Niva-21213 model is still popular in the post-Soviet space. The new “Chevy” was actually made on its basis. The Niva-21213 engine provides patency in almost any conditions.
The volume of the engine in the classic Niva is 1.6 liters. Up to one hundred kilometers, the car accelerates in 17 seconds. The indicator is rather weak, but the main advantages of the car are its unpretentiousness in maintenance and the ability to drive on the road. The operation of the cylinders is almost inaudible in the cabin. There are no different vibrations, which has always been a problem for VAZ cars.
Service
The engine requires regular maintenance and diagnostics. However, driver reviews indicate the high reliability of all the main systems of the Niva. The main problem is called fast belt wear. The developers claim that this shortcoming has been eliminated in the new Chevy.
All parts are available in domestic markets and are relatively cheap. The exception is the elements of the fuel system. Injectors and timing belts are Chevrolet's own development, so you can buy them only in company stores. Fakes most often do not last long. In 21213, the ignition system is carbureted, and there are no nozzles there. However, there is another weak point - the spark plug wires, which are often torn and frayed.