1MZ-FE Engine - Interference Or Non-Interference

I always wondered "Is my engine interference or non-interference? If you have the same engine as me and wonder the same thing, here is what we found!

Disclaimer: I am not responsible for any engine damage as you may have a different engine. I am not a mechanic. This is to help show you what happened with mine. Hopefully this helps give you some piece of mine like it did for me.

[stevec]

Young lady, you got the correct answer for a simple question that so many so-called car experts online answered it wrong. Thanks for putting in the effort.

[Doomzdayxx]

To anybody that went straight to comments section: The 1MZ-FE is NON-INTERFERENCE. If your belt snaps, you will just need to get it towed, put a new belt on, time it correctly, and off you go. You're fine. With that said, change it every 100K miles to be extra safe, and do NOT let coolant or oil leak on the belt, as it will fail prematurely.

This happened to be a few months back.

[Nikolasto]

The 1MZ-FE is one of the best engines ever made

[DGAF]

Amazing info here, every freaking forum went back and forth! I just bought an 02 has the exact same engine I believe....so sounds like I’m not taking a look at that timing belt till I get stranded lol

[jeffwest]

It's my understanding that this is a non-interference engine too. This is a good way to check to be sure, but you must make sure at least one of your pistons are at TDC (top dead center), or this test could be deceiving and prove false.

[GraV]

The 1MZFE is non interference regardless of VVT-i or not.

Same thing with the 2UZFE engine.

3MZFE is where Toyota changed it because of the piston being rounded at the top.

[B._Smith]

Not sure about the 1MZ-FE but some dual cams engine intake and exhaust valves can interfere with and bend eachother.

[CarsSimplified]

I wonder if the 50% that said it was interference were talking about valve to valve interference, rather than valve to piston, which is what I gather was being tested here.

[Tbird]

Interestingly, this entire debate seems to have been caused by a mistake in an early service manual.

[ricardojoseyanezmarquez]

just like 4af, 4afe, 7afe, 5vzfe, 3sfe, 5sfe.... the 1mzfe is NOT AN INTERFERENCE ENGINE.

GREAT VIDEO. THANKS.

[sherwinhargrove]

All Toyota engines are Non- Interference I use to work at Toyota but it's recommended to still change timming belt and water pump every 150, 000 miles just changed mines on my 03 Avalon now it has 217, 000 good cars 😁

[uchowardify]

Most of Toyota timing belt engines are non interference except the V8's those are interference. This is US market engines.

[MA-jxin]

Nice good job to know peace of mind for you lady those run forever with oil changes

[deejay]

Just a bit of information to add if your 1MZ has variable valve timing (VVT-i). it is an interference engine. VVT-i 1mz's have higher compression and higher lift cams and is usually found in 99+ es300, 00+ avalon, 04+ camry and some toyota /lexus vans. SOLARA'S NEVER HAD AN VVT-I ENGINE option until 04 with the 3mz 3.3l.

[sodiumvapor]

The 3MZ is also a non interference. I did this same thing while changing the timing belt on my es330.

The pistons have a larger bore but they still have valve depressions on them for clearance. The 1MZ and 3MZ have the same engine heads.

[mr.boostang]

Was this the vvti engine? I'm getting a highlander for my younger sister so I want to make sure it wont explode if they miss the timing belt change

[mikeandmars]

I have a 1995 Lexus ls 400 is mine one

[caduceus]

Sammy, give us a brake and stop that awful "music."

[willits]

Yeah, um, no. No girl wonders if her engine is interference or not....lol guess thats why its on the garage floor. haha and the camera (your phone) freaking still wtf????

[Scott]

You very pretty and why cant u be my wife lol? I need a woman who can work on cars with ne