FAQ – What is the 7MGTE Engine?

The 7MGTE engine is the turbocharged inline six motor that preceded the legendary 2JZGTE. Produced between the years of 1986 and 1992 the 7MGTE is rated at 230 hp and 245 ft-lbs of torque. Toyota has used and raced this engine in rally and road race cars since the mid 80s, and a rare 7MGTE-U engine was at one time to most powerful engine in Japan. It’s most commonly found here in the 3rd generation Toyota Supra / Celica Supra Turbo.

The roots of the 7M engine reach far into Toyota’s history with the M family of engines. These straight 6 power plants were longitudinally mounted and powered some of Toyota’s most popular cars from the 60’s to the 90’s. Put into the Toyota Crown, Cressida and Celica Supra / Supra models, the 7MGTE Engine is also found in non turbocharged flavor, known as the 7MGE. Like most of the JDM turbocharged engines in this JDM Engine FAQ section like Toyota’s JZ series, Nissan’s RB series the 7MGTE block is made from cast iron.

Aluminum cylinder head and engine pistons help with rotational mass and weight, while improving heat dispersion. In typical Toyota fashion the engine is over engineered, but not quite to the levels of the JZ engines. The 7MGTE crankshaft is braced by 7 kelmet bearings specified by the inside of the crankcase, and the crankshaft is specially balanced for vibration and efficiency.

Like many of the other turbocharged JDM engines on our guide, the 7MGTE also uses oil squirters machined into the block to cool the pistons and connecting rods. The 7MGTE  ignition order is 1 -5-3-6-2-4. The cylinder head is made of aluminum alloy, with a cross flow type intake and exhaust layout and with pent roof type combustion chambers.

The 7MGTE Engine camshafts are secured by way of seven cam journals and lubrication of the cam journal and cam is supplied by the center oiler port machined into the 7MGTE cylinder head. Like the JZ family of engines, the 7MGTE valves can be adjusted by way of an outer shim system. Valve adjusting shims are mounted to the top of the valve lifters, making shim adjustment a breeze.

Although this engine can be sourced here in the US, the age of the MK III Toyota Supra makes this feat increasingly difficult. Despite the age of the motor, the 7MGTE is still a favored inline six cylinder capable of putting out some serious horsepower.

7MGTE pistons are made of high temperature resistant aluminum alloy, and depressions are built into the piston head to prevent interference with valves. Piston pins are the full-floating type with the pins fastened to neither the piston boss nor the connecting rods. Instead, snap rings are fitted on both ends of the pins, preventing the pins from tailing out.

The 7MGTE piston rings can be fickle and hard to find in the aftermarket segment. The No. 1 compression ring is made of stainless steel and the No. 2 compression ring is mode of cast iron. The oil ring is made of a combination of stainless steel. The outer diameter of each piston ring is slightly larger than the diameter of the piston and the flexibility of the rings allows them to hug the cylinder walls when they are mounted on the piston.

Compression rings No. 1 and No. 2 work to prevent the leakage of gas from the cylinder and the oil ring works to scrape oil off the cylinder walls to prevent it from entering into the combustion chamber. Most JDM 7MGTE engines come with the CT12 turbocharger or the CT26 turbocharger. For information on how to service your 7MGTE turbocharger, check out our How-To located here.

• Displacement: 2,954 cc (180.3 cu in)
• Bore: 83.0 mm (3.27 in)
• Stroke: 91.0 mm (3.58 in)
• Compression Ratio: 8.4:1
• Weight: 210 kg (463 lb)

Need the 7MGTE ECU pinout? Check it out here.

Have any questions about our 7MGTE Engine FAQ? Leave us a comment below and let us know!