Does your car have an interference or non-interference engine? In this article, I will provide an interference engine list for several automotive brands. But what exactly is an interference engine?
Interference engines are common among the latest automotive models. Moreover, it refers to a 4-stroke internal combustion piston engine where the valves are completely open. Lastly, these valves extend to any area through which the piston may travel.
The lists of interference engines provided in this article include the following, among others:
- GM Interference Engine List
- Ford Interference Engine List
- Toyota Interference Engine List
- Honda Interference Engine List
- Nissan Interference Engine List
Read on to learn more about the different automotive brands with interference and non-interference engines, the impact of interference engines on your vehicles, and more.
What Is an Interference Engine?
An interference engine refers to a 4-stroke internal combustion piston engine type. Moreover, its valves are completely open and extend into areas through which the piston can travel.
This engine type relies on timing belts, chains, or gears. Additionally, they prevent the piston from hitting the valves. They make sure that the valves are all closed when the piston is near the top dead center.
On the contrary, a non-interference engine does not allow the piston to travel into any area where the valves open.
How to Distinguish Interference from Non-interference Engine
The latest vehicle models feature interference engines. This is because vehicle manufacturers aim to make engines increase their efficiency. You can do it by improving the compression ratio and allowing the valves to improve airflow.
To increase the compression ratio, the volume of the combustion chambers will have to be minimized. At the same time, the valves will need to have a wider opening to improve airflow.
If you are not sure whether your vehicle has interference or a non-interference engine, bring it to a car care shop. Better yet, on your next oil-change schedule, ask the mechanic about it. Technicians also have service manuals to check if the vehicle model features an interference or a non-interference engine.
Another way is to find out your car’s engine model and check its engine type using the lists below.
The following lists will allow you to determine whether your vehicle has an interference engine or not.
GM Interference Engine List
- 1.0L Interference
- 1.3L Interference
- 1.4L Non-Interference
- 1.5L Interference
- 1.6L (Chevette & 1000) Non-Interference
- 1.6L (LeMans) Non-Interference
- 1.6L (Tracker 16 Valve) Interference
- 1.6L DOHC (Aveo) Interference
- 1.6L DOHC (Nova) Non-Interference
- 1.6L SOHC (Nova) Non-Interference
- 1.8L Diesel Interference
- 1.8L Gasoline Non-Interference
- 1.9L Ecotec SOHC Interference
- 1.9L Ecotec DOHC Interference
- 2.0L Non-Interference
- 2.2L Diesel Interference
- 2.3L Non-Interference
- 3.0L Interference
- 3.2L Interference
- 3.4L Non-Interference
- 3.5L Non-Interference
- 3.6L Interference
Ford Interference Engine List
- 1.3L Non-Interference
- 1.6L DOHC Non-Interference
- 1.6L SOHC Interference
- 1.8L Non-Interference
- 1.9L Non-Interference
- 2.0L DOHC (Contour, Escape, Focus, Mystique, ZX2 & 1999-2002 Cougar) Non-Interference
- 2.0L DOHC (Probe) Interference
- 2.0L Diesel Interference
- 2.0L SOHC Gasoline (Escort, Focus & Tracer) Non-Interference
- 2.0L SOHC Gasoline (Capri, Pinto & Ranger) Non-Interference
- 2.2L Interference
- 2.3L Diesel Interference
- 2.3L SOHC Gasoline Non-Interference
- 2.4L Diesel Interference
- 2.5L SOHC 4 Cyl. Non-Interference
- 2.5L V6 Non-Interference
- 3.0L SOHC Interference
- 3.0L & 3.2L SHO Non-Interference
- 3.3L Interference
Toyota Interference Engine List
- 1.5L (1A-C, 3A-C & 3E) Interference
- 1.5L (3E-E & 5E-FE) Non-Interference
- 1.6L DOHC (4A-F & 4A-FE) Non-Interference
- 1.6L DOHC (4A-GE & 4A-GZE) Non-Interference
- 1.6L SOHC Non-Interference
- 1.8L Diesel Interference
- 1.8L DOHC Gasoline Interference
- 1.8L 7AFE, 4AFE, 4AF Non-Interference
- 2.0L Non-Interference
- 2.2L Diesel Interference
- 2.2L Gasoline Non-Interference
- 2.4L Diesel Interference
- 2.5L Non-Interference
- 2.8L Non-Interference
- 3.0L Inline 6 (Except 1998 2JZ-GE) Non-Interference
- 3.0L Inline 6 VVT-i (1998 2JZ-GE) Interference
- 3.0L V6 Non-Interference
- 3.3L 3MZ-FE V6 W / V VTi Interference
- 3.4L Non-Interference
- 3.5L V-6 Non-Interference
- 4.7L Interference
Explore my newest article titled “Which Toyota Models are Included in the Non-Interference Engine List?” right here.
Honda Interference Engine List
All Honda engines are Interference except 3.0L & 3.2 which are Non-Interference.
Nissan Interference Engine List
All Interference.
Audi Interference Engine List
- 1.8L 1.9L Interference
- 2.8L V6 90 100 Quattro A4 A6 Interference
BMW Interference Engine List
- 2.5L 325I 525I Interference
- 4.0L 740I Interference
Acura Interference Engine List
- All except SLX Interference
- SLX Non-Interference
Chrysler Interference Engine List
- 1.4L, 1.5L & 1.6L Interference
- 1.7L Non-Interference
- 1.8L Interference
- 2.0L DOHC Interference
- 2.0L SOHC Interference
- 2.2L DOHC Interference
- 2.2L SOHC Non-Interference
- 2.22L SOHC Interference
- 2.3L Diesel Interference
- 2.4L DOHC Non-Interference (Valves may hit if camshafts turn out of time)
- 2.4L SOHC Interference
- 2.5L 4 Cyl. Non-Interference
- 2.5L V6 Interference
- 2.7L Interference
- 3.0L SOHC 12 Valve Engine Non-Interference
- 3.0L DOHC Interference
- 3.0L SOHC 24 Valve Engine Interference
- 3.2L Interference
- 3.3L Interference
- 3.5L Interference
- 3.8L Interference
- 4.0L Interference
- 5.7 Hemi Interference
Fiat Interference Engine List
- 1.3L 128 Series Interference
- 1.5L Stranda Interference
- 1.6L 124 Series Interference
- 1.8L 124 Series Interference
- 1.8L 131 Series, Brava Interference
- 2.0L Brava, Spider Interference
GEO Interference Engine List
- 1.0L Interference
- 1.3L Interference
- 1.5L Interference
- 1.6L DOHC (1989-92 Prizm GSI) Non-Interference
- 1.6L DOHC (1989-97 Prizm Except for 1989-92 GSI) Interference
- 1.6L DOHC (Storm) Interference
- 1.6L SOHC (Prizm) Non-Interference
- 1.6L SOHC (Storm) Non-Interference
- 1.6L SOHC 8 Valve Engine (Tracker) Non-Interference
- 1.6L SOHC 16 Valve Engine (Tracker) Interference
- 1.8L DOHC (Prizm) Interference
- 1.8L DOHC (Storm) Interference
Hyundai Interference Engine List
All Interference.
Infinity Interference Engine List
3.0L & 3.3L Interference.
Isuzu Interference Engine List
- 1.5L Interference
- 1.6L DOHC Interference
- 1.6L SOHC Non-Interference
- 1.8L Diesel Interference
- 1.8L DOHC Gasoline Interference
- 2.0L Interference
- 2.2L Diesel Interference
- n2.2L Gasoline Interference
- 2.3L Interference
- 2.6L Interference
- 3.2L Interference
- 3.5L Non-Interference
Jeep Interference Engine List
- 2.0L Non-Interference
- 2.1L Diesel Interference
- 2.4L DOHC Interference
- 2.8L Diesel Interference
Kia Interference Engine List
- 1.5L DOHC Interference
- 1.6L DOHC Interference
- 1.6L SOHC Non-Interference
- 1.8L DOHC Interference
- 2.0L DOHC Interference
- 2.0L SOHC Non-Interference
- 2.4L DOHC Interference
- 2.5L DOHC Interference
- 2.7L DOHC Interference
- 3.5L DOHC Interference
Lexus Interference Engine List
- 2.5L Non-Interference
- 3.0L V6 Non-Interference
- 3.3L V6 Non-Interference
- 3.0L Inline 6 (1992-97) Non-Interference
- 3.0L Inline 6 VVT-i (1998-2006) Interference
- 4.0L Interference
- 4.3L Interference
- 4.7L Interference
Mazda Interference Engine List
- 1.5L Non-Interference
- 1.6L Non-Interference
- 1.8L 4 Cyl. Non-Interference
- 1.8L V6 Non-Interference
- 2.0L Diesel Interference
- 2.0L DOHC (626, MX-6 & Protege) Non-Interference
- 2.0L DOHC (Tribute) Non-Interference
- 2.0L SOHC Non-Interference
- 2.2L Interference
- 2.3L 4 Cyl. (B2300) Non-Interference
- 2.3L V6 Non-Interference
- 2.5L 4 Cyl. (B2500) Non-Interference
- 2.5L V6 Non-Interference
- 3.0L DOHC Interference
- 3.0L SOHC Interference
Mercury Interference Engine List
- Villager 3.0 Non-Interference
- Villager 3.3 Non-Interference
Mitsubishi Interference Engine List
- 1.5L Interference
- 1.6L DOHC Interference
- 1.6L SOHC Interference
- 1.8L Interference
- 2.0L DOHC Interference
- 2.0L SOHC Interference
- 2.3L Diesel Interference
- 2.4L DOHC Interference
- 2.4L SOHC Interference
- 3.0L DOHC Interference
- 3.0L SOHC 12 Valve Engine Non-Interference
- 3.0L SOHC 24 Valve Engine Interference
- 3.5L DOHC Interference
- 3.5L SOHC Interference
- 3.8L Interference
Porsche Interference Engine List
- 2.0L 924 Turbo Interference
- 2.5L 944 Interference
- 2.7L 944 Interference
- 3.0L 944 Interference
- 4.5L 928 Interference
- 4.7L 928 Interference
- 5.0L 928 Interference
- 5.4L 928 Interference
Subaru Interference Engine List
- DOHC Interference
- SOHC Non-Interference
Suzuki Interference Engine List
- 1.3L DOHC Interference
- 1.3L SOHC Interference
- 1.6L 8 Valve Engine Non-Interference
- 1.6L 16 Valve Engine Interference
- 2.0L DOHC Interference
Volkswagen Interference Engine List
- TDI 1.8L – 8 valve Non-Interference
- 2.0L – 8 valve Non-Interference (However, there have been instances of bent valves)
- 16 valve diesel Interference
- VR6 Interference
Volvo Interference Engine List
- B200 (E, F, G, GT, FT) Interference
- B204 (E, F, GT, FT) Interference
- B230E (high-compression) Interference
- B230 Non American – Interference
- B234 (F, G) Intereference
- 240DL 2.3 Non-Interference
- B5XXX five-cylinder inline engines – Interference
- 6XXX six-cylinder engines Interference
- FK Non-Interference engine
- 240 SOHC Non-Interference
- 740 SOHC Non-Interference
- 940 SOHC Non-Interference
- The 16 Valve Volvo engines are all Interference
- 850 Interference
- 960 Interference
- S40 Interference
- S / V / C 70 Interference
- S60 Interference
- S80 Interference
- XC90’s Interference
If the Timing Belt Breaks While Driving an Interference Engine
If the timing chain or timing belt breaks or gets loose, it will skip a few teeth on the crank gear or cam. Suffice it to say that the rotation of both the camshaft and the crankshaft fails to synchronize.
With an interference engine, a malfunctioned timing belt can cause the pistons to strike the valves. This is because pistons will continue moving, which will most likely hit valves in a completely open position. Unfortunately, this scenario can damage the valves. However, the worst-case scenario is the possibility that the engine will get extremely damaged.
If the timing belt or timing chain breaks, assess the damage as soon as possible. Moreover, you can bring your vehicle to a car care shop for a leak-down cylinder test or a valve-gap check. In most cases, there is a bent valve if there is a large valve gap.
You can also have your vehicle checked for cylinder damage. And if you bring your vehicle to a car care shop, the mechanic will use a borescope camera to assess your vehicle. The camera will be inserted through the spark plug hole. Thus, this way, they will be able to check if there are damages inside the cylinders.
Bent Valve Repair Options
There is no standard repair process for bent valves. This is because repair options vary, depending on the type or severity of the damage.
For instance, if the cylinders and pistons are damaged, there is no other option but to replace or rebuild the engine. If the cylinders and pistons are in place, but several valves are bent, there might not be any need to replace or rebuild the entire engine. Instead, you can have the cylinder head rebuilt and the bent valves replaced. You can have several timing belt components replaced too.
Unfortunately, with this type of car issue, there is a huge amount of labor involved. So, you have to expect that repair will be costly. In some cases, mechanics would even suggest replacing the entire engine instead. It doesn’t have to be a brand new engine. A used but running unit will already do the job. They are reasonably priced too.
Conclusion – Interference Engine List
Interference engines are common among the latest automotive models. It refers to a 4-stroke internal combustion piston engine wherein the valves are in a completely open position. Moreover, these valves extend to any area through which the piston may travel.
The lists of interference engines provided in this article include the following, among others:
- GM Interference Engine List
- Ford Interference Engine List
- Toyota Interference Engine List
- Honda Interference Engine List
- Nissan Interference Engine List
If you are not sure about the type of engine your vehicle has, the list above is expected to help you identify it.
You might ask, is it important to know whether your car has an interference or non-interference engine? Well, it might not be that important for you because you can always bring your vehicle to a car care shop when needed.
However, when you own a vehicle, you must know its features. It’s basically the same as any gadget or electronic items that you own. You have to know the features of each one of them. Besides, it always pays to know.
Related reading:
What Does Hemi Mean? What Is a Hemi Engine?