GAZ-560 Steyer: vehicle characteristics

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

Diesel engines in GAZ vehicles are not uncommon. Half of all GAZelles and all trucks run on diesel fuel: GAZ-3308, GAZ-3309, Gazon Next and Valdai. Among the power units there is a diesel engine from Cummins from China and a motor from YaMZ from Yaroslavl. But the first diesel engine that was installed on the GAZ-560 was the Steyer.

The Austrian power unit, according to reviews, was ahead of its time in its design features. What kind of engine is this and what is its highlight? The answers will be considered in the article one by one. We will also conduct a small analysis, evaluate the components, advantages, disadvantages and repair options.

Russian Austrian GAZ-560 Steyer

When a Nizhny Novgorod car building company was looking for a diesel engine for its cars, power units from many manufacturers were tried. Among those tested were Japanese Toyotas, Polish Andorias, Swedish Ivecos and other European variants. The best result was shown by the Austrian Steyr M1 motor. This was somewhat unexpected, as the companywas engaged in outboard motors, and specifically the M1 was not even a serial engine.

In 1996, GAZ signed an agreement with the Austrians to acquire a license to manufacture GAZ-560 Steyer engines. Moreover, if the first engines were assembled from parts imported from abroad, then later it was planned to create a Russian production base.

Features of the GAZ-560 engine

GAZ-560 "Stayer" has one striking feature - the cylinder block and cylinder head are made in a single monoblock. One-piece cast construction is practically unrepairable outside of a service facility where special tools and equipment are available. At the same time, this technical solution also has its advantages.

1. The monobloc engine has no problem with burning the head gasket. She's not there at all.
2. One-piece design allows for higher maximum engine pressure, which means more power.
3. The thermal conductivity of the monoblock, compared to separate engines, is much more efficient.

Another feature of the Austrian engine is the GAZ-560 Steyer injectors. They are mechanically driven and controlled by a microprocessor. Management is complex. The position of the gas pedal, the speed of rotation of the crankshaft and readings from the engine sensors are taken into account. In which case, the fuel supply is reduced or even stopped.

Specifications

Let's take a closer look at the GAZ-560 Steyer, characteristicswhich have the following form:

• monoblock turbocharged diesel powertrain;
• 4 cylinders arranged in a row have 2 valves each: inlet and outlet;
• displacement is 2.133 liters;
• engine power - 95 "horses", and for the option with an intercooler - 110;
• average fuel consumption for Volga is about 7-10 liters per 100 km, and for GAZelles - about 10-13 liters.

Among the features of the engine, it is worth noting the turbocharger, which is very demanding on the quality of the serviced oil. The speed of its working parts reaches 100,000. The oil temperature rises above 150 degrees. If the quality of the oil does not meet the required, there is a high probability of failure of the turbine.

The crankcase is cast from aluminum, which significantly reduces the total weight of the GAZ-560 Steyer engine. It is attached to the monoblock using elastic elements, which significantly reduce the vibration of the unit.

Applicability of the Steyr engine

The GAZ-560 "Stayer" engine, the characteristics of which were indicated above, is used mainly in passenger "Volga" and commercial GAZelles. 4-cylinder power units were produced in versions with and without an intercooler. The initial plans of the GAZ company implied the serial production of 3-, 5- and 6-cylinder diesel engines. Each type was supposed to have a turbocharger with or without an intercooler.

Except for carscars and commercial vehicles, the plans of the two corporations included the use of Steyer on pickup trucks, minibuses, and medium-duty trucks. A successful run-in in harsh Russian conditions showed excellent results. A car equipped with an Austrian diesel engine started well in 30 degrees below zero, consumed less fuel compared to a gasoline 406 engine, and did not “be capricious” from Russian diesel fuel.

The design capacity of the Russian plant was set at 250,000 units per year. The first engines were assembled from fully imported parts. Then it was supposed to manufacture diesel engines from domestic parts made according to Austrian design documentation. Production began with 4-cylinder Steyers. Cars on which the Steyer GAZ-560 diesel can be found are Volga, GAZelle and UAZ. Other modifications of the Austrian unit subsequently did not happen.

Component parts

It would seem that such a cunning engine in the form of a single monoblock should have many distinctive points. However, inside the power unit you can find standard and familiar elements, such as pistons, intake and exhaust valves, crankshaft and camshaft, connecting rods and connecting rod and main bearings, oil pump. Of the features of the internal structure, pump-injectors with “smart” control stand out. The oil sump of two halves also looks very original and memorable. It is because of the GAZ-560 crankcase that the Steyer is called a half-engine.

The Austrian unit has the usual belt system of mounted units. There is a system of rollers: bypass and tension mechanism. The belt drives all attachments. The bolt through the washer fixes the bypass roller.

Calculated on average for 300-500 thousand mileage, in fact, Steyer goes even more if it is at least a little serviced. The idea of a "disposable" engine is well thought out under the condition of a long run. It turns out that instead of a major overhaul, the old monoblock engine is replaced with a new one. Given the equivalence in prices, this is a very good option. Apparently, it was precisely the equivalence in reality that was not achieved.

Possible problems

The GAZ-560 Steyer engine, the repair of which is not intended initially, may experience various difficulties. One of the most common complaints is that the unit is cold, it warms up for a long time in frost. In fact, this is just one of the features of a diesel engine. At idle and at low loads in the cold season, its temperature does not rise above 50 degrees. But as soon as the car swells, the cabin will become as warm as in a car with gasoline engines.

A big plus of "Steyer" is that the inlet and outlet channels of the fuel injectors run in the united engine block. The return line very quickly heats up the entire fuel system, and practically up to minus 30 degrees Steyer has no problems starting. For more severe operating conditions, it is better to additionally insulate the engine compartment. In severe frosts, it is especially necessarycarefully monitor fuel quality, battery condition and fill in winter engine oil.

The diesel engine turbocharger also requires special treatment. A product operating at very high speeds needs good quality oil. The better this quality, the longer the turbine will work. This also implies special rules for the operation of a turbocharged diesel engine in cold weather. Do not rush to gain momentum with a cold engine. The oil should have time to warm up.

Fuel injectors

The next problem of the Austrian engine stems from the quality of diesel fuel - the failure of fuel injectors. With gradual clogging of the nozzles, the plunger pair begins to wear out. If it is difficult to start on a hot engine, this is the first sign that the injector is about to be replaced. Craftsmen deceive the engine for some time, changing the electronic settings "winter" - "summer". For some time, this is beneficial, but the wear of parts cannot be reversed, and the result is still the same - replacement.

The pump-injector GAZ-560 "Stayer" is a fairly accurate product and requires increased attention. There are specialized stands for testing Steyr mechanical injectors, Swedish-made Motorpal.

Gaz-560 engine timing belt

The GAZ-560 Steyer timing belt is one of the important engine components. Timely replacement will save you from engine repairs when rockers break. In the case of normal operation, the belt runs 120 or more thousand km, but blindly trusting the words of the manufacturer is notfollows. It is better to look at actual wear and, in which case, immediately change. When replacing, it is also recommended to replace the pump, which has approximately the same walking limit. Often the pump will stick even before the belt wears out.

The original Steyer timing belt catalog number is 2178073/1. In addition to the native Steyr, Dayco is among the original manufacturers. The number of teeth on the product is 129 with a belt width of 35 mm (129RH350HSN). According to the forums, it is possible to replace the native belt with a narrower one - 31 mm, which is suitable for Toyota Hylux and Toyota LandCruiser.

Replacing the timing belt is a procedure that requires certain skills and a special tool. It is best to entrust this work to a specialized station. In Russian conditions, there is often a need to repair a car on the road. There is nothing impossible with this, although knowing the location of the labels greatly facilitates the work. After such a repair, it is advisable to still get to a professional center.

Steyer water pump

The pump of the GAZ-560 car requires special attention, since in case of failure it entails significant repairs. Timely replacement of antifreeze significantly extends the life of the product. Any dirt can easily jam the water pump and disable the entire gas distribution system of the engine. It is good to combine the replacement of the pump with the replacement of the timing belt if its time is right (120 thousand km) or there are signs of wear.

DIY Repair

GAZ-560 Steyer reviews are positive. With proper care, the engine runs up to 300 thousand km or more. The manufacturer does not provide for partial replacement of engine parts. If something inside the motor is broken, the whole monoblock is replaced. In the conditions of Russian reality, everything is a little different than in Austria, where the Steyer was designed. There are specialists who assemble an accurate Austrian engine. But, of course, there are only a few of them, and the queue for repairs to them does not end.

In fact, it turns out that the engine is "disposable". As long as it's in use it's great. And if it fails, it rarely comes to replacing the monoblock.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I would like to note that the attempt of the GAZ automobile plant to introduce a modern diesel engine by all standards was good. Excellent performance and successful testing in harsh winter conditions gave hope for a long future. In reality, many conditions were imposed that decided the fate of the Austrian Steyr.