The BEST and WORST 4-Cylinder Engines EVER

What would you add or take away from this list? 👀

Was surprised at the omission of the Ford Cosworth 2.0. The first engine to break the 100 hp/liter barrier that went on to power the Sierra RS Cosworth to an incredible 84% winnning percentage in racing. Utterly tunable it was making 550 hp+ in the dominant RS500 for racing and was also used in the legendary Escort RS Cosworth.

Ecotec is a very broad term that applies to a lot of engines. Not all of them are direct injected, not all of them use timing chains, and not all of them are aluminum blocks.

I had a 2005 Saturn Ion 1 with a 2.2 Ecotec engine. Had to retire it due to the rear subframe mount rusting out on me. It had 289k miles, and still started up and ran strong

I think the VW 1.9tdi deserves a spot on the list. Maybe make an entire video on them??

Overall, I think that you've got a good list here. But one suggestion that I have to make is to replace the GM 2.5 L Iron Duke (which was kind of gutless but was very durable and reliable) with the incredibly terrible 2.3L Quad 4, and its variants, the Quad OHC and the 2.4 liter twin cam which was a revised version of the engine that they renamed because of the horrible reputation the Quad 4 had developed by that time. The quad was a head gasket eater. It was a miserable engine to work on as well. When I was in the GM dealership system at the time and it was still common to get a 30000 mile service, we used to joke that in addition to plugs air filters fuel filters in PCV valves, you also needed to change the head gasket on the Quad 4. The sad thing is, for that time period, when that engine was running right, it actually was a great running engine. But unfortunately, it just constantly shredded head gaskets. The timing chain setup, along with the tensioners in the front timing cover, were a real bastard to deal with.

VW EA888 is definitely worth mentioning in this list. Very powerful and pretty reliable engine.

The only ecotec engine that's really been bad is that 2.4L version found in the Equinox, with its oil consumption and timing chain issues. My 2.0t LHU is a gem, and lastly, the Cobalt SS ended up making 260 hp when featured with the 2.0t LNF. Sure, the LNF can have timing chain issues too, but it's not common at all

I would add the C20XE. It held the record for the highest torque per liter until the 458 came out (petrol engine). So it held the record from 1990s (about 20 years, give or take). It features in various motor sports racing, especially in the UK. It has its issues though, the main being oil leaks. The most powerful naturally aspirated version was in the Opel Kadett Superboss, which featured 276 cams, 4 into 1 exhaust, and K&N filter as stock.

I'm sort of partial to the 2.4-liter Nissan pick-up engines used in various configurations from 1984 through 2004, also in the Altima and other models. Power was lackluster, but 300K mile durability with nothing but oil changes and spark plugs was pretty sweet for me.

I am a proud daily driver of a 1994 Pontiac Sunbird with the 2.0L engine and a 1997 Pontiac Sunfire with the 2.2 LN2 ( pre ecotec ) both cars are coupes and have been driven very hard. But also maximally maintained. Even after driving them hard forever they continue to run like clocks and operate as they were designed from the factory.

Saab b234 and b204. Can make 400 easy on stock internals. A lot of parts interchangeable too. You can tune your cars with t5 suite. Same software Saab used.

you forgot to mention that the b230 is quite modular with lots of different parts avilable aftermarket and oem, you can get a forged 2.5L boat crank, a 16valve head. From the aftermarket you can stroke the engine up to 3.1L. the b230 aslo came in 2.0L engines with turbos making up to 200hp

Surprised the VAG 1.8t didn't make the cut. Super reliable and extremely tunable.

22RE and it's successor the 2TR-FE deserve a spot here

Best four cylinder, Ford Kent engine has to be up there. Starting in 1959 997 in Anglia, Cosworth chose it for formula Junior. Bottom end used in lotus twincam. 1500 bottom end used by cosworth for fva 16 valve to prove concept of DFV f1 engine. Kent bottom end also used as basis for BDA family of engines that won rallies all over the world, bdt-e pushing 600 hp and more. Kent engine when tuned in its own all iron 8 valve spec was very quick too

my 98 accord had the F23A1 engine and is still running with close to 500k on the dash.

My vote goes to the ALH TDI. Absolutely awesome powerplant. Tunable enough to make pretty good power wile getting 50mpg, and will go forever without much of any issues

Alfa Romeo traditional twin cam 8 valve straight 4 engine from aaaages ago. What is surprising about it was they were often so tight by the time they had properly run in and released their full potential other contemporary engines were ready for a full rebuild. 70 bhp per litre was pretty good too for the day when most struggled to get 50. Good for in excess of 250k miles too if you looked after them and treated them with respect when cold.

Honda K20, k24, H20, f20x, toyota r22, Chrysler 2.2, Mitsubishi 4g63, Nissan j series, anything Toyota for the most part except the trash 2zr-fxe. The best of them all was the Theta. Where else can you get an engine to eat it's self within 50 miles, and Hyundai will give life time replacements!