Toyota ZZ engine

This page is a draft. It has not been approved yet, so read it with care.

Watch out for

Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.

Burning oil 1ZZ-FE One source so far

What to check: Ask how much oil it uses between changes, and look for blue smoke.

Wikipedia says the 1ZZ-FE was notorious for using oil, some engines up to a quart every 1,000 miles, because of undersized piston rings and too few oil drain holes in the pistons.

Sources ¹
Failed lift bolts 2ZZ-GE before late 2002 One source so far

What to check: On a drive, feel for the surge as the high-lift cam comes in near 6,000 rpm.

Wikipedia says early engines were notorious for failing lift bolts, which stop the high-output cam from engaging without harming the engine. Toyota fixed it in late 2002 and covered earlier engines under a service bulletin.

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An oil pump that hates over-revving 2ZZ-GE One source so far

What to check: Ask whether it has been over-revved or run low on oil.

Wikipedia calls the oil pump the 2ZZ-GE's Achilles heel: an over-rev can damage it, and even a brief oil starvation is usually fatal.

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