is the v6 a interference engine

[xephorce]

I have a 1993 mazda mx-3 v6. 1.8l i was told that the timing belt broke on it and i was trying to find out if it is a interference engine. I have been to the mazda dealership and they told me noi it was not but i went to order the timing belt kit from the local parts store and the kit said it is an interference type engine. the internet is even worse about information, i have been to many website and some say it is and some say it is not. the car is stock it has all the fancy option (moon roof, power windows, cruies control, ect)

thanks for the information

[Evo_Spec]

uhhh, i have no idea what your asking but here's a link to a timing belt for you car

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,carco ... ttype,5716" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

or a whole timing kit
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,carco ... ttype,5759" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Evo_Spec]

so i did some research due to my inexperience and curiosity and this is what i came up with

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interference_Engines" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and found this on our very own forum
http://www.mx-3.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=15&p=541127" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

so it sounds like the KL08 is not an interference engine, but obviously we have people here who can prove that better than I

[xephorce]

what i am asking is. can the pistons damage the valves when the timing belt broke ie an interference engine

[Evo_Spec]

so it sounds like the KL08 is not an interference engine, but obviously we have people here who can prove that better than I

so not sure if you got back and read my 2nd post, but just to clarify, it seems the KL08 engine is NOT an interference engine, but again, you might want to wait for confirmation from other, more experienced members

[xephorce]

thanks for the info. i hope everyone else tells me that same great news

[marcdh]

Spot on. It is non-interfence. Meaning that you are unlikely to have done any valve train damage. You can turn any cam with any piston at TDC and nothing happens. I have broken a cam at 5k+ and still limped back with no apparent damage to heads, valve train or pistons and that's with the higher comp klze pistons, and a severe head skim.

[Ryan]

Once again, all K series engines are non interference. Same with B.

The only possible way to cause valvetrain damage with the breaking of the belt is if it happens when you're at 7.2K rpm and the valve floats onto a piston.

[greenstorm]

thats a good question to ask. I used to play with Eclipses and Talons and those engines ARE interference engines, and those who don't know maintenance get PISSED. lol

[Mooneggs]

thats a good question to ask. I used to play with Eclipses and Talons and those engines ARE interference engines, and those who don't know maintenance get PISSED. lol

and that's why we love our mx-3's

I broke a timing belt at almost 6k and had no damage to my klze. thank you MAZDA for good engineering!

[wytbishop]

Well it's not really engineered with the aim of being non-interferance. It's engineered with a specific shaped piston and combustion chamber to create a particular pattern of flame propegation during combustion and a bore to stroke ratio that creates a desireable torque curve. It's non-interferenceness is a happy byproduct of a long stroke/small bore torque monster.

Other cars are engineered to have more power and less torque...i.e. short stroke and large bore. They are interfence engines.

[Mnemonic]

Your K series engine is a Hemi, enough said

[lowflyinmx3]

My question is how much can the heads be milled before they become interference engines?

[Mnemonic]

don't know the exact amount, but you would be increasing the compression ratio and decreasing the displacement by doing this and probably as hppwdn and I believe would end up with a no longer running engine lol.

[jaydog5678]

Well it's not really engineered with the aim of being non-interferance. It's engineered with a specific shaped piston and combustion chamber to create a particular pattern of flame propegation during combustion and a bore to stroke ratio that creates a desireable torque curve. It's non-interferenceness is a happy byproduct of a long stroke/small bore torque monster.

Other cars are engineered to have more power and less torque...i.e. short stroke and large bore. They are interfence engines.

All K series V-6's are oversquare engines. They all have a larger bore than they do stroke.