Toyota 3ZR
2.0 L · inline-4 · naturally aspirated · petrol · 2007–present
Also known as: 3zr-fe, 3zr-fae, 3zr, 2.0 valvematic, rav4 2.0, 3zr-fbe
Toyota's 2.0 of the ZR family — the 2ZR's larger sibling — in the RAV4, C-HR, Corolla and the NX 200.
The FAE suffix is the one that matters: it means Valvematic. Toyota's continuously variable valve lift throttles on the intake valves rather than at a throttle plate, and it is the system that fails on this engine. When the Valvematic actuator or its controller goes, the engine drops to a limp-home throttle and loses most of its response — a dramatic symptom with an undramatic cause, and one that a conventional throttle-body diagnosis will not find. The FE variants have none of it.
Beyond that it is chain-driven and port-injected, so the intake-valve carbon that dominates modern diagnosis does not apply, and a rough-running 3ZR is ignition, fuel or a vacuum leak.
Oil consumption is the family's other theme at high mileage, and it matters more than the quantity suggests: Valvematic is driven off the engine's oil, so degraded oil is a Valvematic fault waiting to happen rather than only a maintenance lapse.
Cars fitted with this engine
7 generations, across 2 makes. From the authored catalogue — an absent car means the catalogue has not reached it, not that the engine was never fitted.
Lexus
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