3.3L Broken timing belt teachable moment

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11-24-14, 10:41 PM

#16

HtownBlue

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In fact I did. I was curious as to why the discrepancy. The rods and cam lobes are apparently different than some of the Toyota V6 engines used in other models. At least that is what I could gather when doing a little research online as to the differences in the Lexus Engine versus Toyota engines of the same year. The rods are different lengths and the pistons slightly different on some of the Yota engines of the same size. Why??? I have no clue. I also know the cams are very different. Lobe length and duration are different in Toyota versus RX 3.3 engines. My guess....the Lexus product was designed with the same bottom end but "tuned" more for engine performance by slight adjustments to engine components. Just a guess there.

Bottom line is it is not a true interference engine. Change the head to a highlander head and my guess is it would be. Though I've never spec'd the Highlander head.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lexus2000

Did you put a piston at TDC and rotate the cams? That's the only way to prove if there is valve interference or not. I lean towards the engine not being interference myself, people say the VVTi makes it interference but that tech has nothing to do with valve lift.