Chery SQR371F Vehicle Engine Assembly Three Cylinder Naturally Aspirated Engine

Complete Introduction to Chery SQR371F (1.0L Inline Three-Cylinder DOHC 12-Valve) Engine

Complete SQR371F Engine Assembly Engine Power and Torque Characteristic Curve

I. Basic Background

The SQR371F (abbreviated as SQR371) is Chery’s second-generation self-developed three-cylinder naturally aspirated engine. As a fully upgraded successor to the SQR372F (0.8L), it entered mass production and vehicle installation in 2011. It replaced the outdated 0.8L timing-belt three-cylinder unit and was primarily fitted to 1.0L micro commuter cars, delivering stronger power, maintenance-free timing chain and lower long-term maintenance costs. The engine adopts an all-aluminum cylinder block and cylinder head, DOHC dual overhead camshaft with 12 valves and MPI multi-point port injection, without VVT variable valve timing. It is factory-equipped with a silent timing chain, eliminating the fatal timing belt used on the 372F. Its compression ratio is raised to 11:1, delivering overall power superior to the 0.8L three-cylinder engine. It runs on 92# unleaded gasoline, supports LPG gas conversion and complies with China National IV emission standards. Production ceased around 2016.

II. Core Technical Specifications

III. Core Comparison with the Older SQR372F (0.8L)

Timing System (Biggest Upgrade) SQR372F: Rubber timing belt requiring full kit replacement at 60,000 km; broken belt will bend valves instantly. SQR371F: Silent timing chain with service-free lifespan, eliminating the risk of major overhaul caused by belt failure. Displacement and Power 372F: 0.812L / 38kW / 70N·m 371F: 1.0L / 51kW / 93N·m; greatly improved low-end torque and full-load hill-climbing performance. Compression Ratio 372F: 9.5 371F: 11, offering higher combustion efficiency and better fuel economy. NVH and Vibration Optimization The 371F adds a crankshaft damping shock absorber and optimized engine mounts for better idle vibration suppression than the old 0.8L model. Production Discontinuation Timeline 372F production ended in 2011 371F remained in production until 2016 for the new QQ and Flagcloud 1. Shared Features Both feature DOHC 12-valve layout, MPI multi-point port injection and all-aluminum body, with simple structure and affordable universal spare parts.

IV. Core Technical Highlights

DOHC 12-Valve Three-Cylinder Layout A mainstream four-valve three-cylinder design for microcars of its class. The dual overhead camshaft delivers high intake and exhaust efficiency, smooth high-rev power delivery and better high-speed cruising power reserve than older single-cam 8-valve engines. Silent Timing Chain (Core Advantage) It completely abandons outdated timing belts, removing recurring replacement costs and the severe failure risk of valve bending due to belt breakage, greatly cutting long-term vehicle operation risks. Optimized Combustion with High 11:1 Compression Ratio It boosts fuel utilization efficiency, consumes less fuel than the 0.8L 372F under identical driving conditions and generates more abundant low-speed torque. Lightweight All-Aluminum Body Weighing only 82kg, it imposes less load on the front end, delivers stable heat dissipation without overheating during short trips in traffic jams, and improves vehicle maneuverability for daily commuting thanks to lightweight design. Crankshaft Vibration and Noise Reduction Structure Matched with multi-stage damping engine mounts to mitigate inherent idle vibration of three-cylinder engines and enhance daily driving comfort. Mature MPI Multi-Point Port Injection Gasoline continuously flushes intake valves to slow carbon buildup; only periodic throttle valve cleaning is needed. It boasts broad fuel compatibility and fits taxis with LPG gas conversion perfectly. Ultra-Compact Modular Design Its dimensions fit the cramped engine bays of QQ3, New QQ and Flagcloud 1. It is also exported as power equipment for ATVs, small sightseeing vehicles and light generator sets. Ultra-Simple Mechanical Structure Free of turbochargers, VVT systems and high-pressure fuel injection components, it has fewer parts with low repair barriers. Maintenance can be performed at local independent repair shops with low-priced spare parts.

V. Full Lineup of Equipped Vehicles

Passenger Vehicles 2013 All-New Chery QQ, late-production 1.0L variants of Chery QQ3, Chery Flagcloud 1 1.0L, Chery M1 1.0L, entry-level 1.0L Karry micro vans Off-Road & Export Equipment Small ATVs, low-speed four-wheel sightseeing vehicles, light gasoline generator sets, small engineering commuter equipment Transmission Matching Manual: 5-speed manual transmission (5MT, mainstream high-volume option) Automatic: 5-speed AMT semi-automatic mechanical transmission (low-cost automatic for microcars)

VI. Power and Fuel Consumption Performance

Power Characteristics This high-rev oriented three-cylinder naturally aspirated engine delivers a wide peak torque plateau from 3500 to 4500rpm. Compared with the 0.8L 372F, its low-speed torque below 2000rpm is noticeably stronger, fixing weak performance under full load, with air conditioning on and during hill climbing. Power output becomes linear above 3000rpm with ample reserve power for high-speed overtaking. Inherent three-cylinder traits: mild idle vibration that intensifies slightly when the air conditioner is activated, and louder noise at high revs. However, optimized vibration damping makes its shake amplitude smaller than the 372F. Real-World Fuel Consumption Recorded by Vehicle Owners 5MT Manual: Combined 5.6~6.4L/100km; urban 6.8~8.0L, highway 5.0~5.8L AMT Semi-Automatic: Combined 6.1~7.0L/100km; urban 7.5~8.7L, highway 5.4~6.2L