Toyota 3C-E, 3C-T, 3C-TE engines

Diesel engines of the 3C-E, 3C-T, 3C-TE series for the Toyota range are produced directly at the Japanese factories that produce these vehicles. The 3C series has replaced the 1C and 2C series. The motor is a classic vortex-chamber diesel engine. The cylinder block is made of cast iron. Each cylinder has two valves. The timing drive is carried out using a belt drive. For the operation of the mechanism, the SONS scheme with pushers was used.

Engine description

The history of the diesel engine begins on February 17, 1894. On this day, an engineer from Paris, Rudolf Diesel, created the world's first diesel engine. Over 100 years of technical development, the diesel engine has undergone tremendous technological and design changes. A modern diesel engine is a high-tech unit and is used in all areas of industry.

The Toyota concern installed a series of 3C-E, 3C-T, 3C-TE engines in cars of the same name from January 1982 to August 2004. Toyota cars vary greatly in the series of power units used. Even within the same series, motors have a wide range of data and significantly different technical characteristics. The C series is a 2,2 liter range.

Technical specifications

Engine 3C-E

Engine volume, cm³	2184
Power max, l. With.	79
Torque max, N*m (kg*m) at rpm	147 (15) to 2400
Type of fuel used	Diesel fuel
Consumption, l / 100 km	3,7 – 9,3
A type	Four cylinders, ONS
Cylinder section, mm	86
Max power	79 (58) to 4400
Device for changing the volume of cylinders	No
Start-stop system	No
Compression ratio	23
The piston stroke, mm	94

The resource of the Toyota 3C-E engine is 300 km.

The engine number is stamped along the rear on the left wall of the cylinder block.

Engine 3S-T

Engine volume, cm³	2184
Power max, l. With.	88 – 100
Torque max, N*m (kg*m) at rpm	188 (19) to 1800 188 (19) to 2200 192 (20) to 2200 194 (20) to 2200 216 (22) to 2600
Type of fuel used	Diesel fuel
Consumption, l / 100 km	3,8 – 6,4
A type	Four cylinders, SONC
Additional information about the engine	Variable valve timing system
Cylinder section, mm	86
Max power	100 (74) to 4200 88 (65) to 4000 91 (67) to 4000
Device for changing the volume of cylinders	No
Supercharger	Turbine
Start-stop system	No
Compression ratio	22 – 23
The piston stroke, mm	94

The resource of the 3S-T engine is 300 km.

The engine number is stamped along the rear on the left wall of the cylinder block.

Engine 3C-TE

Engine volume, cm³	2184
Power max, l. With.	90 – 105
Torque max, N*m (kg*m) at rpm	181 (18) to 4400 194 (20) to 2200 205 (21) to 2000 206 (21) to 2200 211 (22) to 2000 216 (22) to 2600 226 (23) to 2600
Type of fuel used	Diesel fuel
Consumption, l / 100 km	3,8 – 8,1
A type	Four cylinders, ONS
Additional information about the engine	Variable valve timing system
Cylinder section, mm	86
CO2 emission, g / km	183
Number of valves for each cylinder, pcs.	2
Max power	100 (74) to 4200 105 (77) to 4200 90 (66) to 4000 94 (69) to 4000 94 (69) to 5600
Supercharger	Turbine
Compression ratio	22,6 – 23
The piston stroke, mm	94

The resource of the 3C-TE engine is 300 km.

The engine number is stamped along the rear on the left wall of the cylinder block.

Reliability, weaknesses, maintainability

Reviews about the reliability of 3C engines vary. The 3C series is more reliable than the previous 1C and 2C modifications. 3c engines have excellent power ratings of 94 horsepower. Due to the high torque, cars with a 3C engine installed have excellent dynamic characteristics and provide excellent acceleration of the car.

The engines are equipped with a start-up assistance system, a turbine, and throttle control is provided.

However, there are some weaknesses. 3C engines have earned the reputation of the most bizarre and illogical powertrains in the history of the Toyota car for the past 20 years. Experienced users of Toyota cars note the following negative aspects of the design of motors:

• lack of a balancing shaft;
• unreliable oil pump;
• non-compliance with environmental standards;
• destruction of the drive belt of the gas distribution mechanism due to failure to meet the replacement deadlines.

As a result of a broken belt, catastrophic consequences occur for the owner of a Toyota car. The valves bend, the camshaft breaks, cracks appear in the valve guides. Repair after such an event is very long and expensive. To avoid breaking the belt, the owner should carefully monitor the engine belt drives, observing the timing of their replacement.

The maintainability of these engines is satisfactory. The latest versions of the engines are equipped with electronically controlled injection pumps. It allowed:

• reduce fuel consumption;
• significantly reduce exhaust toxicity;
• ensure smooth, uniform, quiet operation of the unit.

At the same time, there are also disadvantages. The vast majority of domestic services are not staffed by professional specialists for the repair, adjustment, maintenance of such injection pumps. There is no equipment for diagnostics, necessary components, repair facilities. As a result, the overall maintainability of Toyota cars suffers.

List of Toyota vehicles on which these engines are installed

The ZS-E engine was installed on the following models:

1. Caldina CT216 since August 1997;
2. Corolla CE101,102,107 from April 1998 to August 2000;
3. Corolla/Sprinter CE113,116 April 1998 to August 2000;
4. Sprinter CE102,105,107 since April 1998;
5. Lite/Town -Ace CM70,75,85 from June 1999;
6. Lite/Town - Ace CR42.52 since December 1998.

The ZS-T engine was installed on the following models:

1. Camry/Vista CV40 from June 1994 to June 1996;
2. Lite/Town - Ace CR22,29,31,38 from September 1993 to October 1996;
3. Lite/Town - Ace CR40;50 from October 1996 to December 1998;
4. Estima Emina/Lucida CXR10,11,20,21 from January 1992 to August 1993.

The ZS-TE engine was installed on the following models:

1. Caldina CT216 since August 1997;
2. Carina CT211,216,211 since August 1998;
3. Corona CT211,216 since December 1997;
4. Gaia CXM10 from May 1998;
5. Estima Emina/Lucida CXR10,11,20,21 …. from August 1993 to August 1999;
6. Lite/Town - Ace CR40,50 since December 1998;
7. Ipsum CXM10 since September 1997.

3C-TE under the hood of Toyota Caldina

Oil grades used

For Toyota diesel engines of the 3C-E, 3C-E, 3C-TE series, it is necessary to choose oils according to the API classification for diesel engines - CE, CF or even better. Oil change is carried out at the time indicated in the table below.

Maintenance table for Toyota engines of the 3C-E, 3C-T, 3C-TE series:

Movement		Mileage or period in months - whichever comes first										Recommendations
h1000 km	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	Month
1	Timing belt		Replacement every 100 km									-
2	valve clearances		-	-	-	П	-	-	-	П	24
3	Drive Belts		-	П	-	П	-	З	-	П	24	-
4	Engine oil		З	З	З	З	З	З	З	З	12	Note 2
5	The oil filter		З	З	З	З	З	З	З	З	12	Note 2
6	Branch pipes of heating and cooling systems		-	-	-	П	-	-	-	П	24	Note 1
7	Cooling system fluid		-	-	-	З	-	-	-	З	24	-
8	Fixture of a reception pipe of final system		-	П	-	П	-	П	-	П	12	-
9	Battery		П	П	П	П	П	П	П	П	12	-
10	Fuel filter		-	З	-	З	-	З	-	З	24	Note 2
11	Vodootstoynik		П	П	П	П	П	П	П	П	6	Note 2
12	Air filter		-	П	-	З	-	П	-	З	24/48	Note 2,3

Character interpretation:

P - check, adjustment, repair, replacement as necessary;

3 — replacement;

C - lubricant;

MZ - the required tightening torque.

1. After a run of 80 km or 000 months, a check is required every 48 km or 20 months.

2. By constantly operating the engine in severe conditions, maintenance is carried out 2 times more often.

3. In dusty road conditions, checks are carried out every 2500 km or 3 months.

Basic adjustments

Proper adjustment begins with setting the timing mark. The tightening of the cylinder head is carried out according to the adjustment scheme. The ECU is wired in accordance with the rules provided for by the electrical circuit, as well as the engine ESU circuit. At the same time, the outputs are decoded and the ECU is repaired.

We capitalize the engine only after the full development of the resource, if it is heated above the norm. This cleans the antifreeze channels. In this case, difficult starting may be observed, there is no injection, as a result of which it is necessary to remove the USR.