Lexus SC430 engine
Content
Lexus SC430 is a Japanese luxury sports car. The car has a harmonious combination of elegance and quality. The abbreviation SC stands for Sport Coupe. Auto gives the highest level of comfort and the possibility of a sporty driving style. Excellent dynamics provides a 4.3-liter engine from Toyota.
Brief description of the car
The prototype model Lexus SC430 was presented at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1999. The serial version of the model appeared in 2000 in Paris. The car received rear-wheel drive. The Lexus SC430 was the first convertible in the history of the brand, replacing the outdated SC300/400 coupe.
There is nothing superfluous in the exterior and interior of the car. The designers managed to embody elegance, emphasized by soft lines flowing into each other. The car is unlike any other vehicle. Its rounded shape allows you to achieve excellent aerodynamics, which ultimately affects acceleration and speed.
The Lexus SC430 has a hard top. It takes 25 seconds to transform a car. The roof retracts into the trunk with the help of electric drives. To ensure that the aluminum top folds down smoothly, the boot lid moves back slightly when opened.
The Lexus SC430 was produced until July 2010. She had a good popularity among fans of speed. But not everything was smooth sailing for the Lexus SC430. So, for example, the model was included in the Auto Express anti-rating of the worst cars that were sold in the UK over the past 25 years.
Engine under the hood Lexus SC430
The Lexus SC430 has a 3UZ-FE engine under the hood. The power unit appeared in 2000. He is the heir to the 4-liter 1UZ-FE. The main change concerned the increase in the diameter of the cylinders. Engine power is fully sufficient to ensure the sporty character of the car.
The engines were assembled in Japan at the production facilities of the Toyota concern. The design of the power unit involves its installation on rear-wheel drive vehicles. The internal combustion engine boasts the presence of VVT-i phase regulators and the ACIS system. The engine does not have hydraulic lifters. Therefore, the engine requires periodic adjustment of the thermal clearances of the valves using special washers.
The 3UZ-FE motor has a timing belt drive. When the belt breaks, the pistons hit the valves. This can completely damage the engine. Therefore, it is important to change the belt every 100 thousand km.
Specifications of the power unit
The 3UZ-FE engine was developed and installed in premium cars. In its design there are lightweight forged connecting rods. The motor received improved cooling compared to its predecessors. You can get acquainted with the main parameters of the 3UZ-FE power unit using the table below.
Main technical characteristics of the 3UZ-FE engine
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of cylinders | 8 |
| Number of valves | 32 |
| Exact volume | 4292 cm³ |
| Bore | 91 mm |
| Piston stroke | 82.5 mm |
| Power | 276 - 300 HP |
| Torque | 417 - 441 Nm |
| Compression ratio | 10.5 |
| fuel type | AI-95, AI-98 |
| Declared resource | 300 thousand km |
| resource in practice | 600-800 thousand km |
The engine number is located on a special site. Its location is shown in the image below. Usually the site has traces of rust and is covered with dust. It is recommended to use a rag to clean it.
Reliability and weaknesses
3UZ-FE is a reliable and durable motor. It has no design flaws or engineering miscalculations. The motor is sensitive to compliance with the terms of maintenance and the quality of the gasoline being poured. However, the solid age of the Lexus SC430 is affecting. Most engines have:
- maslozher;
- increased gasoline consumption;
- difficulty starting due to ignition problems;
- idle speed instability.
A specific weak point is the ACIS system. To change the intake geometry, 3UZ-FE engines have dampers. They are fastened with bolts. During operation, they are untwisted. The bolts enter the working chamber, causing deep scuffing on the surface of the cylinders.
Another weak point is the timing drive. Replacing a belt is a time-consuming and expensive undertaking. In case of violation of the terms of maintenance, a belt breakage is possible, especially with intensive driving. In this case, the valve bends in the engine, and repairs are not always possible.
Maintainability of the motor
Lexus car engines rarely boast good maintainability. In most cases, major repairs are impossible and it is more profitable to replace the motor with a contract one. The 3UZ-FE power unit has become an exception to this rule. It can be repaired, as the internal combustion engine has a large resource.
For the manufacture of the 3UZ-FE engine, an aluminum cylinder block from 1UZ-FE was taken as the basis. The developers have increased the diameter of the cylinders from 87.5 to 91 mm. This affected the wall thickness. Under high thermal and mechanical stress, cracks or geometry irregularities may occur. In this case, it makes almost no sense to repair the 3UZ-FE motor.
Tuning engines Lexus SC430
The easiest way to increase the power of 3UZ-FE is chip tuning. Ready-made solutions are able to add 2-7% of torque. For a greater increase in horsepower, fine tuning is required, which not all tuning studios can perform. The advantage of flashing is the ability to return to the factory settings if you get an undesirable result.
You can significantly add power with the help of turbo kits. Ready-made solutions based on a single Garrett GT40 turbine are popular. With an integrated approach, it is possible to achieve about 450 hp. For more serious tuning, you will need to install two turbines, for example, Garrett VNT25. With the right approach, the motor will produce more than 550 hp.
When carrying out deep tuning, there is always a risk of causing irreversible damage to the engine. Therefore, many car owners use the 3UZ-FE surface upgrade. For this are used:
- lightweight pulleys;
- intake pipes;
- air filters of zero resistance;
- forward flow.
Purchase of a contract engine
3UZ-FE engines are very common. The reason for this is their use not only on cars, the Lexus SC430. Therefore, it will not be difficult to find a motor for sale. The price of the power unit is completely determined by its condition.
3UZ-FE engines are used intensively, so there are a lot of engines for sale in a "killed" state. The price of such internal combustion engines is 25-40 thousand rubles. A motor in good condition will cost about 75 thousand rubles. The cost of power plants with a large residual resource can reach up to 160 thousand rubles.
