The Toyota 4Runner, available with various engine variants over five generations from 1984-present, requires a comprehensive understanding of cylinder numbering for maintenance, diagnostics, and troubleshooting purposes. Each engine type, like I4, V6, and V8, has a distinct cylinder arrangement.
The 2.4-liter 22R-E I4 engine in Toyota 4Runner features a straightforward 1-2-3-4 cylinder arrangement, while the 3.0-liter 3VZ-E, 3.4-liter 5VZ-FE, and 4.0-liter 1GR-FE V6 engines have a V-shaped layout with cylinders numbers as 1-3-5 on the left bank and 2-4-6 on the right. The 2.7-liter 3RZ-FE I4, in contrast, has a linear arrangement with cylinders numbered 1-2-3-4 from front to back. Finally, the 4.7-liter 2UZ-FE V8 utilizes a unique V-shaped layout, with bank #1 on the right having cylinders 1-3-5-7 and bank #2 on the left with cylinders 2-4-6-8, all counting from front to back.
We will explain whether diesel and gasoline-powered 4Runners share the same cylinder numbering, the location of the first cylinder in V6 and I4 engines, and the position of cylinder 8 in the 4.7-liter V8 engine.
Cylinder numbering for different engine variants for Toyota 4Runner
The Toyota 4Runner has a wide range of engine variants to suit various driving needs from 1984-2023 in its 5 generations. Understanding the cylinder numbering for each engine type is crucial for maintenance, diagnostics, and troubleshooting.
2.4-liter 22R-E I4 engine
The 2.4-liter 22R-E I4 is an electronic fuel-injected variant of the 22R I4 engine with a carburetor from the 1984-1988 model years. It has 4 cylinders arranged in a row, as is mentioned as I4 in its name.
Its Single Overhead Camshaft (SOHC) design has 2 valves per cylinder, totaling 8 valves. In this, the cylinder numbering follows a straightforward pattern of 1-2-3-4.
Standing in front of the vehicle, the cylinders are numbered from left to right, with cylinder 1 closest to the front and cylinder 4 towards the back of the engine. The same pattern is also valid for its turbocharged version having code name 22R-TE I4.
3.0-liter 3VZ-E V6 engine
The 3.0-liter 3VZ-E V6 engine has 6 cylinders arranged in 2 banks in a V-shape at a 60-degree angle. To be more specific, it is available in 2nd generation Toyota 4Runner from 1990-1995 models.
When looking from the front of the vehicle, the cylinders are numbered from front to back, with cylinder 1 located at the left front and cylinder 6 towards the right rear.
The left side from the front or passenger’s side bank has cylinders in the order 1-3-5 from front to back, while on the right side or driver’s side of the engine, the cylinder numbering is 2-4-6.
The same pattern is also valid for other variants, including turbocharged ones and additional features.
3.4 liter 5VZ-FE V6 engine
It is a dual overhead camshaft (DOHC) engine available in the 3rd generation of Toyota 4Runner from 1996-2002 models. It has 6 cylinders with 3 on each bank arranged in a V-shape at a specific angle.
The reference position for its cylinder numbering is standing in front of the vehicle such that the passenger side is on your left and the driver side is on your right for US drive configuration.
The left side of the engine has cylinder numbers 1,3 and 5 from front to back, according to your reference position.
While on your right or driver’s side, it is 2,4, and 6, counting from front to rear of the engine. You will find the same pattern throughout all model years with the 5VZ-FE option.
2.7-liter 3RZ-FE I4 engine
The 2.7-liter I4 is an inline-4 engine with a DOHC configuration and 4 valves per cylinder. It is available in the 1996-2000 model years of the Toyota 4Runner version for the North American market.
It has a total of 4 cylinders arranged in a line. Its cylinder numbering is 1-2-3-4 while standing in front of the engine and counting from front to back.
It means cylinder #1 will come first if you stand in front of the SUV while looking under the hood, and cylinder #4 will be at the rear.
You can use the same numbering sequence for all model years with the 3RZ-FE I4 option.
4.0 liter 1GR-FE V6 engine
4.0-liter V6 is available in 4th and 5th generation Toyota 4Runner from 2003-present model years. It is a DOHC engine with 4 valves per cylinder and has 2 generations with VVTi and dual VVTi technologies, respectively.
You will find 6 cylinders in the engine having a V-shaped arrangement of 2 sides at an angle of 60 degrees. It has the same cylinder positions as other V6 engines by Toyota.
Standing in front of the vehicle, your left or passenger’s side of the SUV has a cylinder numbering 1-3-5, counting from front to back.
While on your right side or driver’s side of the vehicle, it has numbers 2-4-6 from the front of the engine to its back side. This numbering sequence remains fixed for all Toyota vehicles having 4.0-liter V6 motors.
4.7 liter 2UZ-FE V8 engine
The 2UZ-FE engine variant is available in the 4th generation of Toyota 4Runner from the 2003-2009 model years of the SUV. It has a DOHC design with 4 valves per cylinder and a total of 32 valves. It is available in 2 variants with several additional features and upgrades.
The 4.7-liter has 8 cylinders in a V-shaped configuration of its two banks at an angle of 90 degrees.
You have to stand in front of the SUV to start the numbering pattern. Bank #1 is on your right or driver’s side. It has cylinder positions 1-3-5-7 going from front to back.
While bank #2 on the left or passenger’s side of the vehicle has cylinder numbering 2-4-6-8, counting from front to back according to your reference position.
This numbering pattern applies to both generations of 4.7-liter V8 in different models.
Do diesel-powered and gasoline-powered 4Runner has the same cylinder numbering?
Yes, in the case of the Toyota 4Runner, diesel-powered and gasoline-powered models with the same engine variant share the same cylinder numbering.
Toyota has diesel-powered variants of the SUV available for different markets other than the US. Therefore, if both models have an engine option with the same displacement and number of cylinders, they have the same cylinder positions.
Moreover, diesel engines with different displacements and the same number of cylinders as gasoline engines have the same numbering pattern.
Location of 1st cylinder in V6 engines vs. I4 engines for Toyota 4Runner
In V6 engines like the 3.0-liter 3VZ-E, 3.4-liter 5VZ-FE, and 4.0-liter 1GR-FE, you will always find the first cylinder on the left side of the passenger’s side when facing it from the front. Moreover, it will also be on the front of the motor as well as on the SUV.
Moreover, for I4 engines like the 2.7-liter 3RZ-FE, all 4 cylinders are in a line from front to back. Therefore, the first cylinder will be on the front of the SUV. While for the 2.4-liter 22R-E, it is on the left side when standing in front of the Toyota 4Runner.
The difference in cylinder positions for both I4 engines is due to their different orientation under the hood. You will find the one placed horizontally while the other is in a vertical arrangement, looking from a reference position.
Location of cylinder 8 in 4.7 liter V8 in Toyota 4Runner
The 4.7-liter V8 engine in Toyota 4Runner has a different cylinder pattern than other V6 or i4 engines.
They have cylinder #1 on the left or passenger’s side of the vehicle while looking from the front, while the 4.7-liter V8 has it on the right or passenger’s side.
Considering this convention, cylinder #8 is the last one at the rearmost position on bank #2 on the left or passenger’s side of the SUV, counting from front to back.
Because of starting side reversal in V8 compared to other options, you should be careful and follow this numbering pattern for the 4.7-liter V8.
Toyota 4Runner error codes involving cylinder numbering
You will observe different diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) using OBDII tools for all 4,6, or 8-cylinder engines involving cylinder numbering to locate them easily.
For example, code P0300 indicates a random misfire in any cylinders. While code P0301- P0308 depicts misfiring problems in cylinders #1 to #8, respectively, for V8 engines.
The code pattern is from P0301 to P0304 for I4 engines and P0301 to P0306 for V6 engines in Toyota 4Runner.
Therefore, this knowledge is imperative to easily locate the faulty cylinder and troubleshoot its components like ignition coils, spark plugs, or valve timing to resolve the faults.
Similarly, codes P0201-P0206 are for the problem in the cylinders #1 to 6 injector circuit for V6 motors.
Moreover, it is also applicable for I4 and V8 engines, with the number of codes changing according to the number of cylinders.
Related Articles: