Toyota 3.4L 6-cylinder

Toyota 3.4L 6-cylinder — every model and year that used this engine (6 models, 1995–present), based on NHTSA VIN build data, with links to prices and reliability.

3.4L · 6 cylinders · seen in 6 models, 1995–2026

By the numbers

Output range 183–389 hp (median 389 hp). Gasoline: 100%. Based on 378 decoded NHTSA VIN build sheets.

About this engine family

The Toyota VZ engine family is a series of V6 gasoline piston engines ranging from 2.0 to 3.4 L in displacement and both SOHC and DOHC configurations. It was the first V6 engine made by Toyota.

In detail

The 1VZ-FE is a version, produced from 1987 to 1993. Bore and stroke is . Output is at 6000 rpm and at 4600 rpm. It uses a DOHC layout with a cast iron block and an aluminium 24 valve head. To compensate for the engine's use in FWD configurations, this engine was tilted close to the firewall (approximately ~15 degrees) so that it can fit satisfactorily in FWD cars. This makes repairing the engines a more complicated task because access to the other three cylinder banks and spark plugs requires removing the intake plenum and manifold first in order to access them.

This trait is shared across most DOHC variants of the VZ family as well as all other V6 engines made by Toyota that are used in FWD configurations. Applications: 1988–1991 Toyota Camry Prominent (Japan only) 1988–1991 Toyota Vista (V20) (Japan only) The 2VZ-FE is a version, produced from 1987 to 1992. Bore and stroke is and the compression ratio is 9.0:1. Output as fitted to the North American Lexus ES250 is at 5600 rpm and at 4400 rpm with redline limit of 6800 rpm.

It uses a DOHC layout with a cast iron block and an aluminium 24 valve head. Like the 1VZ-FE and the later 3VZ-FE (as well as most Toyota V6 engines since), the engines are tilted in a way that allows for them to be fitted in FWD configurations. Applications: 1988–1991 Toyota Camry (V20) 1989–1991 Lexus ES 250 The 3VZ-E is a version, produced from 1987 to 1995. Bore remains at but stroke is pushed. Power outputs ranged from at 4800 rpm with of torque at 3400 rpm.

It uses an SOHC layout with a cast iron block and an aluminium 12 valve head. Despite the 3VZ-FE sharing the same engine family designation as the 3VZ-E, the two engines have little in common with each other in terms of parts. Applications: 1988–1995 Toyota 4Runner 1988–1995 Toyota Pickup 1988–1995 Toyota Hilux 1992–1994 Toyota T100 The 3VZ-FE is a version, produced from 1992 to 1997. It retains the same bore and stroke.

Output is rated at at 5800 rpm and at 4600 rpm, with a compression ratio of 9.6:1. The stock redline is 6600 rpm with fuel/ignition cut-off at 7200 rpm. The 3VZ-FE is a revised variant of the 3VZ-E using a DOHC layout with a cast iron block and aluminium 24 valve heads. Because the VZ series was originally designed for pickup truck and SUV use in RWD configurations, the 3VZ-FE happens to be a physically tall motor.

In order to make the engine fit in FWD cars such as the Camry and ES300/Windom, the motor was tilted towards the firewall (approximately ~15 degrees). This "tilt" is so severe that it requires a different intake plenum to the installed, and reaching the rear bank of cylinders and spark plugs is nearly impossible without first removing the intake plenum. All other Toyota V6 engines made since then (which includes the 1VZ-FE, 2VZ-FE and 4VZ-FE engines in the VZ family as well as engines in the MZ and GR family among others) all used this same maneuver in order to make the engines usable in FWD configurations.

Parts-wise, the 3VZ-FE shares very little with the rest of the VZ engine family. The main bearings are shared with the 3VZ-E, but nothing else. It also uses a forged steel crankshaft and cast connecting rods, and the upper intake plenum is a split-chamber design using Toyota's ACIS variable-intake system, feeding three sets of runners for both heads. Cams are interchangeable with the 3VZ-FE and 5VZ-FE heads. The 3VZ-FE is fairly common in most parts of the world, having a long lifespan in popular models.

It was used from 1992 to 1997 depending on the market: North America only saw the engine from 1992 to 1993 in the Camry and ES300, where it was replaced with the all-aluminium 1MZ-FE engine in 1993 and 1994.

Source: Wikipedia — Toyota VZ engine, CC BY-SA.

Models that used this engine

Model Years with this engine Fuel VIN builds seen
TUNDRA 2000–2026 Gasoline 232
TACOMA 1995–2004 Gasoline 74
4RUNNER 1996–2002 Gasoline 43
T100 1995–1998 Gasoline 20

Engine usage derived from NHTSA VIN build data (displacement + cylinder configuration). Model links lead to prices, generations and reliability.

For sale with this engine