From 1986 to 1995, the company manufactured the 1.6-liter Toyota 4A-GZE compressor engine and installed charged versions of well-known models like the Corolla, Sprinter, or MR2. This power unit is frequently used for low-cost garage tuning of vintage vehicles.
The engines 8A-FE, 5A-FE, 5A-FHE, 4A-FE, 4A-FHE, 4A-GE, 4A-GZE, and 7A-FE are also members of the A family.
The engine was mounted on:
- Toyota Corolla 6 (E90) in 1987 – 1991; Corolla 7 (E100) in 1991 – 1995;
- Toyota MR2 1 (W10) in 1986 – 1989;
- Toyota Sprinter 6 (E90) in 1987 – 1991; Sprinter 7 (E100) in 1991 – 1995.
Specifications
| Production years | 1986-1995 |
| Displacement, cc | 1587 |
| Fuel system | distributed injection |
| Power output, hp | 145 (1 Gen. 1986 – 1990) 165 – 175 (2 Gen. 1990 – 1995) |
| Torque output, Nm | 190 (1 Gen. 1986 – 1990) 210 (2 Gen. 1990 – 1995) |
| Cylinder block | cast iron R4 |
| Block head | aluminum 16v |
| Cylinder bore, mm | 81 |
| Piston stroke, mm | 77 |
| Compression ratio | 8.0 (1 Gen. 1986 – 1990) 8.9 (2 Gen. 1990 – 1995) |
| Features | DOHC |
| Hydraulic lifters | no |
| Timing drive | belt |
| Phase regulator | no |
| Turbocharging | supercharger |
| Recommended engine oil | 5W-30 |
| Engine oil capacity, liter | 3.2 |
| Fuel type | petrol |
| Euro standards | EURO 2 |
| Fuel consumption, L/100 km (for Toyota MR2 1989) — city — highway — combined |
11.4 7.5 8.9 |
| Engine lifespan, km | ~250 000 |
| Weight, kg | 140 |
Disadvantages of the 4A-GZE engine
Despite being supercharged, this unit is incredibly dependable and has a long lifespan when properly maintained.
These engines typically break down following an unsuccessful garage tuning.
Rings typically lie down and the oil burn starts after 150–200 thousand kilometers.
Additionally, the idle speed frequently floats as a result of injector and throttle contamination.
Valve clearances must be changed every 100,000 kilometers, and there are no hydraulic lifters.