From 1986 to 1994, the company produced the 1.5-liter Toyota 3E carburetor engine, which was fitted on numerous well-known models at the time, including the Tercel, Sprinter, and Corolla. The owners of this unit frequently had problems with the oil burner, making it the least dependable in the line.

The engines in the E 1.5 L family are the 3E, 3E-E, 3E-TE, 5E-FE, and 5E-FHE.
The engine was mounted on:
- Toyota Carina 5 (T170) in 1988 – 1992;
- Toyota Corolla 6 (E90) in 1987 – 1992;
- Toyota Corona 9 (T170) in 1987 – 1992;
- Toyota Sprinter 6 (E90) in 1987 – 1991;
- Toyota Tercel 3 (L30) in 1986 – 1990; Tercel 4 (L40) in 1990 – 1994.
Specifications
| Production years | 1986-1994 |
| Displacement, cc | 1456 |
| Fuel system | carburetor |
| Power output, hp | 79 – 88 |
| Torque output, Nm | 118 – 121 |
| Cylinder block | cast iron R4 |
| Block head | aluminum 12v |
| Cylinder bore, mm | 73 |
| Piston stroke, mm | 87 |
| Compression ratio | 9.3 |
| Features | SOHC |
| Hydraulic lifters | no |
| Timing drive | belt |
| Phase regulator | no |
| Turbocharging | no |
| Recommended engine oil | 5W-30 |
| Engine oil capacity, liter | 3.2 |
| Fuel type | petrol |
| Euro standards | EURO 0 |
| Fuel consumption, L/100 km (for Toyota Corolla 1990) — city — highway — combined |
8.2 5.9 6.9 |
| Engine lifespan, km | ~230 000 |
| Weight, kg | 110 |
Disadvantages of the Toyota 3E engine
Usually, the carburetor can be adjusted to stop the motor from operating unsteadily;
This power unit frequently cracks the cylinder head gasket because it is afraid of overheating;
Here, lubricant consumption occurs and valve stem seals are tanned for the same reason;
Piston rings also lie at 150,000 kilometers, which adds to the amount of oil used;
Here, there are no hydraulic compensators; instead, the valves’ thermal clearances need to be changed.
