Checking engine condition + other questions

[4A-G3]

OK well im looking to get back into toyota's


im looking at a ae86, only thing i really want to know is what to look out for with buying them and is 190,000kms on a JDM 16V Bigport 4age engine 96kw alot

what is Match porting & Ultra CDI ?

any information is helpful thanks guys

[Sam-Q]

match porting is die grinding the head/intake so that there are no steps between them. Ultra CDI is some kinda high powered multispark igniton system which is more relevant to single/twin coil V8s instead of out type of engines that arn't you know.. crap

I also edited the title if your thread to be more descriptive, it helps to do this

[4A-G3]

thanks yea i didnt really know how to put the title into words

so match porting and the ultra cdi thing are good ?

[Sam-Q]

yeah no problem, that's my job in here anyway so no big deal.

I doubt the CDI thing would do anything for a 4age engine. Match porting will work on a 20V for sure but I don't know how good the matching of the 16V engine is to the manifold.

[4A-G3]

hmm so what are the options that im looking at ? the motor seems to run fine would that stuff have any effect on the performance of the engine also how much do low km 16v's go for roughly

[Sam-Q]

well you can check the matching of the manifold but it's only something you would do if you are also porting the head at the same time. I don't know how much it changes things.

An engine can last 5000km to 400,000 depending on how it's treated, however a bit of a clue is that 4age engines commonly have worn down oil rings in their later years. Accelerate hard with someone behind you and watch for smoke, also do the usual compression check.

[Nikkojoe]

190,000km could be ok if looked after. Remove oil cap and check inside head for oil condition, if lightly to a goldish colour, oil has been changed very regularly and has been doing it's job all it's life (or its been recently rebuilt if its silver inside still). If a darker golden to more of a red-brown colour with no carbon deposits, the oil has been changed reguarly but sometimes a little late. When you start getting caking it's because the service intervals (and probably cheaper oil) have always been overdue.

I've seen 4a's last 300,000km although they start to blow some smoke due to the valve stem seals going hard (as most do anyway now due to their age).

If your engine fails, you could always pick up another bigport from aus delivered ae82's cheaply, or find a newer smallport and bolt your stuff onto it (using an adaptor plate for intake, and run the same bigport management, and accessories).