ABOUT: guide to Mazda V6 engine types + specifications
 

I have this thing under my bonnet a big noisy thing that makes my car go but it has no name and feels unloved.

when referring to the little info panels and the manual I am given about 5 different names/ref s (eg KL01C) none of them match.

I am having a fair bit of trouble finding stuff for the engine (headers, ignition cables etc) when I ask for anything to fit a V6 Astina, I usually get a quick puzzeled look and then “nah they don’t make them”.
I think this might be a bit easier if I can give them the engine’s name or ref code.

I have been told it is on my rego papers but they were left at my mum’s place and she has recently moved, she said she will find them for me if I really want her to but I doubt she will be able to she isn’t a highly organised person and she doesn’t recall seeing them.

So in short what is my engine’s name?

96 BA V6 2.0L

It's a KF.
You can hug it and pet it and stroke it and I think I'd call it George :lol:

(someone grew up watching waaaaaaaay too much Loony Toons) :oops:
If they look in the book again they will find it.

Its a KF.

I'm not too sure of the extra letters for the particular engine that is in our cars though (ie, -ZE, -DE, etc). I think the Eunos 500s have the KF-ZE in them as I think theirs is a more tuned up version. (don't know where I got that from so can't back it up but I've always thought that was the case).

KL = 2.5L (MX-6, 626, Probe, Telstar V6)
KF = 2.0L (AstinaV6, Eunos 500)
K8 = 1.8L (Eunos 30X)

There's some interesting info on the Mazda K series V6 engines here. Hope this helps.

Champion good read,
would read more but finished work for the day hehehe and heading home.

One thing does confuse according to that the KL (2.5L) is smaller than the KF (2.0L) as in smalled in dimensions.

I have been told the KL is to large to fit in our engine bays so the manifold must be retained, but this seems to go aginst that.

Is it simply a different fit issue instead of a size issue?

its the intake manifold that wont fit under the bonnet of the astina, as the engine dimensions are identical, from memory.

hardtops have a bit more space in regards to bonnet clearance than the hatch, but there's still not enough room.

also

KL-03 - the 2.5 as fitted in the MX6/probe (australian delivered)
KL-ZE - the 2.5 fitted to some Jap MX6 - with 200hp as standard

and the eunos 500 has the KF, not the KL :)

That's what I said silly :P

Yeah, I'm also a bit confused about the outside dimensions of the KL but they do fit. Mr-MX6 in Perth has put a -ZE in his MX6 and then took the Australian KL-03 out of that and fit it into his Astina with no problems. Goes like the shower of sh!t apparently.
From what I've read, you basically have to swap over the inlet manifold (like Dan said as it won't fit under the bonnet) and the distributor if you're running on the Australian ECU and do something funky with the Air Flow Meter. But that's only for an imported -ZE. For a KL-03 out of a MX6, 626, Telstar it should go in without changing the distributor I think.

whoops so you did. i swear i read it differently! :oops:

there's threads about MrMX6's conversion in here...might be in performance tho...

Anyone got a list of what cars the KF engine came in worldwide?

Would be very helpful for sourcing/researching parts from OS,

Sort of like the one ABC did but only for the KF.

Asian Market
Mazda MX6
Ford TX5
Mazda Eunos 500

European Market
Mazda Xedos 6
Mazda 323f

a few amendments ;)

K8 - V6 piston engine/1.8 litre
Eunos 30X/Mazda MX3/Precidia/Presso/AZ-3 (one car..so many names!)

KF - V6 piston engine/2.0 litre
Mazda Astina/323F/Lantis Type R
Mazda Eunos 500/Xedos 6

KL - V6 piston engine/2.5 litre
Mazda MX6
Mazda 626/Capella/Cronos/Efini MS-6
Mazda Eunos 800/Xedos 9
Autozam Clef/Efini MS-8
Ford Probe
Ford Telstar/TX5

KJ-M - V6 piston engine (Miller cycle)/2.2 litre
Mazda Eunos 800M/800M SP/Xedos 9 Miller

unsure what Mazda did but the Eunos 500 got 2kw less than the Aus astina
Must be down to someting like emission control
The ZE motor never made it to Australia in any form but there are some lucky examples in NZ

Engine info

http://www.mazdaxedos6.com/english-main.htm

mods - can you change the title and make this a sticky?

NO! :P

There is more than one K series motor it is true..
The main difference is not the peek HP but the torque..

There is a K8 ~ 140HP found in the eunos 30x (MX3)
KFZE ~160 that is the V6 2ltr found in the A spec (Australian) astina
KLDE ~165 HP found in the A spec ford probe and Telstar, MX6& 626.
And the top of the tree is the KLZE ~200HP found in the Jspec (Japanese) probe/tellstar/mx6/626.

The motors are physically virtually identical externally..
Only difference is the mounting holes for the half shaft..
The main external differences is in the intake..
I have successfully, and easily fitted a ZE & a DE under the hood of an Astana V6 hardtop..
The difference is in the ECU and the injectors..
The VIRS system has different actuation points for each motor (air intake system valves)
But as long as you use the injectors for the motor you have newly fitted you will have very little if any hiccups.

My latest member of the family is a KC Laser with a ZE in it.. not quite as simple a swap..

Would that be KL’s or KF’s?

hmmm

so Mr MX6 you say that u have successfully, and easily fitted a ZE, DE under the hood of an Astana V6 hardtop.. and The difference is in the ECU and the injectors..

Hmmmm.... im very interested .... if you could rip out a 1.8ltr hardtop astina ... and drop that 2.5 jap spec sucka in....

Like....... ummm i want to do that... but i never really seen much talk bout it... only people mentioning it.. but i would love to actually do it =D

So what did you do... and yeh stuff like that =D

lol its late so sorry if this message makes no sense =P

Taking ou a 1.8 and putting in a 2.5 is just asking for trouble 4-->6 cyl how fat can one mans wallet be
The swap is only plausable for those with the KF to go to the KL
The differenes between the DE and the ZE are as follows
1: flat top pistons in the ZE(compression ratio 10:1) as compared to the dished tops in the DE (compression ratio 9.2:1)
2: camshafts KL-31 in ZE (max power @6500rpm) and KL-01 in DE (max power @6000rpm)
3: intake ports in ZE heads are square and are oval shaped in the DE (comparasin)
4: Intake manifold in ZE has a long neck or a curved neck and larger internal dimeter to LHS merge (after VRIS) compared to the short neck on the DE
5: ECU is different between the two engines
6: And there are differences in the Airflow meter

Thats about all I can come up with for now so if thats not good enough then poo to you all.

The kf has a maf and the kl uses a vaf airflow meter..
The difference between the ze & ld is just in the calibration not the design .. Basically the KL36 ecu for the ze uses the same vaf as the mx3 (30x). but I think it is hardly worth the effort fitting the J-spec ecu

when I put the kl motor in to the astina I fully intended to use the kl ecu..
but it proved to be a bit much (as I would have to rewire every thing (they don’t just swap/plug in) .
but like I said it works with the kf loom and ecu .. the extra fuel needed for the 2.5 is not controlled by the time the ecu keeps the injector open .. but by the size/flow rate of the injectors (open for the same interval).
the only problem is the virs. I used a stand alone window switch to control the system.. Actually tuned up a bit better than stock..

there is one other thing I forgot before. the intermediate drive shaft has a mount with 3 holes on the kl and only 2 on the kf..
you will require the mount from a kl (as it bolts on to the motor, I didn’t know this until my swap was well underway , so I just temporally used the kf one.. you can do this but only one bolt lines up..

oh....lol..

well yes... i think ill just dream for now.. =D

hehehe maybe buy the V6 car later in the future... or just go for sumptin else =D

heheh