Know your engines: Interference and non – interference engines

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Do you know that if your car’s timing chain or belt snaps, your engine can either survive it or fail? This means that there are two types of engines in this regard: interference and non-interference engines.

Interference engines, also known as “destructive head” engines are the ones that have little clearance between the valves and pistons and if the cam stops turning as a result of broken timing belt or chain, the valve(s) will bend or break. Timing chain warns the driver unlike timing belts. If you start hearing clanking noise when the engine is on, the timing chain is due for change.

picture credit: carpartkings.com

picture credit: carpartkings.com

Non–Interference engines are the type that have significant clearance between the valves and pistons. Below is a list (but not all vehicles) of interference and non-interference engines:

Volkswagen

• 1.3L and 1.6L are interference

• 1.8L 2.0L and 2.3L V6 are non interference

Toyota

•1.5L (3A-C, 1A-C and 3E) interference (Tercel etc)

•1.5L (3E-E & 5E-FE) non interference

•1.6L DOHC (4A-F & 4A-FE) non-interference (Corrolla, Carina II, etc )

•1.6L DOHC (4A-GE &4A-GZE) non-interference

•1.6L SOHC interference

•1.8L Diesel Interference

•1.8L DOHC petrol Interference

•2.0L Non-interference

•2.2L Diesel Interference

•2.4L Diesel Interference

• 2.4L Non-Interference (petrol

•2.5L Non-interference

• 2.7L V6 VVT-i Non Interference (Hilux, Fortuna etc)

•2.8L Non-interference

•3.0L inline 6 (excluding 1998 2JZ-GE) non-interference

•3.0L V6 non-interference

•3.3L V6 non-intereference

•3.4L non-interference

•4.7L interference

Audi

• 1.8L 1.9L Interference
• 2.8L V6 90 100 Quattro A4 A6 Interference.

Volvo

. All Interference (XC90, GLE, S40, 240 etc).

Mazda

• 1.6L Non-Interference

• 1.5L Non-Interference

• 1.8L 4 Cyl. Non-Interference

• 1.8L V6 Non-Interference
• 2.0L Diesel Interference
• 2.0L DOHC (626, MX-6 & Protege) Interference
• 2.0L DOHC (Tribute) Non-Interference
• 2.0L SOHC Non-Interference
• 2.2L Interference
• 2.3L 4 Cyl. (B2300) Non-Interference
• 2.3L V6 Non-Interference
• 2.5L 4 Cyl. (B2500) Non-Interference
• 2.5L V6 Non-Interference
• 3.0L DOHC Interference
• 3.0L SOHC Interference

Ford

• 1.3L Non-Interference
• 1.6L DOHC Non-Interference
• 1.6L SOHC Interference
• 1.8L Non-Interference
• 1.9L Non-Interference
• 2.0L DOHC (Contour, Escape, Focus, Mystique, ZX2 & 1999-2002 Cougar) Non-Interference
• 2.0L DOHC (Probe) Interference
• 2.0L Diesel Interference
• 2.0L SOHC Gasoline (Escort, Focus & Tracer) Non-Interference
• 2.0L SOHC Gasoline (Capri, Pinto & Ranger) Non-Interference
• 2.2L Interference
• 2.3L Diesel Interference
• 2.3L SOHC Gasoline Non-Interference
• 2.4L Diesel Interference
• 2.5L SOHC 4 Cyl. Non-Interference
• 2.5L V6 Non-Interference
• 3.0L SOHC Interference
• 3.0L & 3.2L SHO Non-Interference
• 3.3L Interference

Honda

• All Except 3.0L & 3.2L Interference
• 3.0L & 3.2L Non-Interference

Hyundai

• All Interference

Infinity

• 3.0L & 3.3L Interference

Isuzu

• 1.5L Interference
• 1.6L DOHC Interference
• 1.6L SOHC Non-Interference
• 1.8L Diesel Interference
• 1.8L DOHC Gasoline Interference
• 2.0L Interference
• 2.2L Diesel Interference
• 2.2L Gasoline Interference
• 2.3L Interference
• 2.6L Interference
• 3.2L Non-Interference
• 3.5L Non-Interference

BMW

• 2.5L 325I 525I Interference
• 4.0L 740I Interference

Acura

• All except SLX Interference
• SLX Non Interference

Lexus

• 2.5L Non-Interference
• 3.0L V6 Non-Interference
• 3.3L V6 Non-Interference
• 3.0L Inline 6 (1992-97) Non-Interference
• 3.0L Inline 6 VVT-i (1998-2006) Interference
• 4.0L Interference
• 4.3L Interference
• 4.7L Interference

Chrysler

1.4L, 1.5L & 1.6L Interference

• 1.7L Non-Interference

• 1.8L Interference

• 2.0L DOHC Interference

• 2.0L SOHC Interference

• 2.2L DOHC Interference
• 2.2L SOHC Non-Interference
• 2.22L SOHC Interference
• 2.3L Diesel Interference
• 2.4L DOHC Non-Interference (Valves may hit if camshafts turn out of time)
• 2.4L SOHC Interference
• 2.5L 4 Cyl. Non-Interference
• 2.5L V6 Interference
• 3.0L SOHC 12 Valve Engine Non-Interference
• 3.0L DOHC Interference
• 3.0L SOHC 24 Valve Engine Interference
• 3.2L Interference
• 3.5L Interference
• 4.0L Interference

GM and Saturn

• 1.0L Interference
• 1.3L Interference
• 1.4L Non-Interference
• 1.5L Interference
• 1.6L (Chevette & 1000) Non-Interference
• 1.6L (LeMans) Non-Interference
• 1.6L (Tracker 16 Valve) Interference
• 1.6L DOHC (Aveo) Interference
• 1.6L DOHC (Nova) Non-Interference
• 1.6L SOHC (Nova) Non-Interference
• 1.8L Diesel Interference
• 1.8L Gasoline Non-Interference
• 2.0L Non-Interference
• 2.2L Diesel Interference
• 2.3L Non-Interference
• 3.0L Interference
• 3.2L Interference
• 3.4L Non-Interference
• 3.5L Non-Interference

GEO

• 1.0L Interference
• 1.3L Interference
• 1.5L Interference
• 1.6L DOHC (1989-92 Prizm GSI) Non-Interference
• 1.6L DOHC (1989-97 Prizm Except 1989-92 GSI) Interference
• 1.6L DOHC (Storm) Interference
• 1.6L SOHC (Prizm) Non-Interference
• 1.6L SOHC (Storm) Non-Interference
• 1.6L SOHC 8 Valve Engine (Tracker) Non-Interference
• 1.6L SOHC 16 Valve Engine (Tracker) Interference
• 1.8L DOHC (Prizm) Interference
• 1.8L DOHC (Storm) Interference

Jeep

• 2.0L Non-Interference
• 2.1L Diesel Interference
• 2.4L DOHC Non-Interference (Valves may hit if camshafts turn out of time)
• 2.8L Diesel Interference

Kia

• 1.5L DOHC Interference
• 1.6L DOHC Interference
• 1.6L SOHC Non-Interference
• 1.8L DOHC Interference
• 2.0L DOHC Interference
• 2.0L SOHC Non-Interference
• 2.4L DOHC Interference
• 2.5L DOHC Interference
• 2.7L DOHC Interference
• 3.5L DOHC Interference

P.S: 1995 Sportage has a non-interference engine

Mitsubishi

• 1.5L Interference
• 1.6L DOHC Interference
• 1.6L SOHC Interference
• 1.8L Interference
• 2.0L DOHC Interference
• 2.0L SOHC Interference
• 2.3L Diesel Interference
• 2.4L DOHC Interference
• 2.4L SOHC Interference
• 3.0L DOHC Interference
• 3.0L SOHC 12 Valve Engine Non-Interference
• 3.0L SOHC 24 Valve Engine Interference
• 3.5L DOHC Interference
• 3.5L SOHC Interference
• 3.8L Interference

Nissan

• All Interference

Porsche

4.7L 928 interference

2.0L 924 Turbo Interference
2.5L 944 Interference
2.7L 944 Interference
3.0L 944 Interference
4.5L 928 Interfererence

5.0L 928 interference

5.4L 928, Interference

Mercedes Benz

•All Interference

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87 thoughts on “Know your engines: Interference and non – interference engines”

  1. 2010 rav4 4cyl…says it is non-interference..changed timing chain, car ran rough for 5 min then died..now sounds like no compression when I crank it

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  6. Hey guys. I can’t find whether a 2010 Citroen C Crosser 2.2 HDi engine is a interference or non interference engine. Anyone willing to let us know?

    Thank you

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  10. Is Mazda 323 BF GT 1.6(gasoline engine, 3 doors hatchback) 1989 non interference or interference engine, thanks in advance.

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  16. Hi so my Chevy 1400 cam belt broke and according to this list it has a non interference motor. So when I took to my mechanic he told me 2 valves had bent and charged me quite a bit to fix! Was he lying?? I was going like 60 kms/ph when it broke. What you guys think??

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  17. Hi. Timing belt went in a 2006 Chevrolet lacetti 1.4 petrol engine. Before I scrap it can anyone confirm what type of engine it is (interference or not) .I’m don’t seem to be able to find out if it’s a GM engine even….help!!

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  19. Pingback: Here's What Interference Engines Are And Why They Exist At All - IT AND US

  28. Hello, I have a 2005 Honda Accord, 3.0 V6, you have it listed as Non interference, but my Honda mechanic told me it is? & there are a-lot of Honda forums and people speculate it is Interference.. but I can not find anything from Honda saying either way?
    How did you get your Honda 3.0 Non interference info?
    I would like to know for sure.. do you have a link to refer?
    Thank you!

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  32. Gentleman, I did not see if the 2007 Toyota Camry LE 2.4 was interference or non interference engine. Mechanic stated my timing belt just went…Does anyone know if it is or not?
    Thx
    Duck

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  35. The Geo metro/ Suzuki Swift 1.0 is not a interference engine I build these engines and have replaced over 11 of these belts that were broken I have never seen 1 bent valve in one from 1990 to 2002

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