Motors have more moving parts than an electric motor, but what does this comparison have to do with today’s article? Well, more moving parts should theoretically mean a greater chance of a part failing, but it’s common for a well-built engine to be extremely reliable, and that’s exactly what today’s article is about.
Toyota
- Set up
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August 28, 1937
- Founder
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Kiichiro Toyoda
- Headquarters
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Aichi, Japan
- Owned by
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Publicly traded
- Current CEO
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Koji Sato
Today we are talking about the most reliable engine ever fitted to an SUV, and it is not surprising that it comes from a brand known for its reliability: Toyota. Toyota knows how to make reliable carsand yet sometimes they manage to create a vehicle with an engine that surpasses even their already legendary reliability. Is this an engine that refuses to die, and what other things should you know about the most reliable engine ever fitted to an SUV?
To provide the most accurate and up-to-date information, this article uses data sourced from various manufacturers and authoritative sources.
Say hello to the 22R four-cylinder mill
Toyota is legendary reliability is embodied in the 22Ra 2.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine that refuses to die. Maintenance of these engines is so routinely easy due to the mechanical simplicity of the engine. As a result, as mentioned at the beginning of this article, simplicity is the key to reliability. The 22R was released in 1981, originally with 96 hp and a carburetor, but this engine was eventually produced in two additional versions that dictated their era.
The fuel injection era begins in 1982
In 1982 the 22R-E was born, with E indicating that it now came with electronic fuel injection. This not only improved fuel consumption, but also increased power from 96 to 116 hp. The carbureted engine would eventually be discontinued in 1988. The 22R-E’s simplicity also meant it was underpowered – at least by 2025 standards. In a world where a 1.5-liter non-turbo four-cylinder can easily reach 120 horsepower, this 2.4-liter 22R/22R-E seems underpowered.
A derivative has been created for California, the 22R-EC. It is designed to meet California’s stricter emissions standards, including components such as an auxiliary accelerator pump, mixture control systems and a warm air intake. Regardless of whether you had the 22R, 22R-E or 22R-EC, all three engines were so mechanically simple that this is the only reason these engines refused to die out.
The turbo era starts in 1985
In 1985, the 22R-E evolved to also take advantage of turbocharging. Unlike the 22R and 22R-E, the 22R-TE was short-lived and only produced until 1988. The introduction of turbocharging also meant that Toyota had to significantly change the base 22R engine. These include:
A unique engine block and head
A unique shape for the combustion chambers
Unique oil passages
Domed pistons
As a result of these changes, the 22R-TE’s power increased again to 135 hp. The 22R-TE was usually fitted to the 4Runner and Pickup (yes, that’s what it’s called), and in the 4Runner all models came with an automatic. For the Toyota Pickup you could get this with a manual.
An engine you hardly have to worry about
If you decide to own a Toyota with the 22R, 22R-E or even the 22R-TE engines, you will hardly have to worry about reliability. In fact, even if these engines are negligent in maintenance (which we obviously strongly advise against), they can stay alive.
It’s not powerful, and that’s the point
Even compared to the engines Toyota made at the time, the 22R and its derivatives were far from powerful. To criticize this engine for being underpowered is to miss the point. Toyota designed the engine to be downright rugged and reliable, not powerful and exciting. This is reflected in the vehicles that received this engine, such as the first generation 4Runner and the Pickup (known elsewhere as the Hilux). It was also fitted to the Toyota Corona and Toyota Land Cruiser.
If you want something powerful and emotional, engines like the 4AGE used in cars like the Corolla Levin AE86, Celica and MR2 will suit you perfectly, but that doesn’t mean the 22R has never seen service in a sports car, as you’ll see below.
Yet they also saw the sports car obligation
The 22R engine and its derivatives were used in the Toyota Celica. Did you know that this bike finished third behind two V-6-powered BMWs at the 1985 Macau Grand Prix? Powering a Toyota Celica GTS, a lightweight rear-wheel drive (RWD) coupe, the modified 22R-E, which, let me remind you, is a four-cylinder, managed to keep pace with two six-cylinder BMWs at the lead of the race. This event was apparently the highest ever finish for a Toyota with a 22R-E in motorsports.
What to check on a 22R engine
The 22R engine is so reliable and robust that you’re probably wondering if this engine needs another major overhaul. Well, like any old vehicle, some parts are so old that they need to be replaced. Fortunately, none of these are major problems and there is only one component that causes a lot of concern for owners.
Check that the timing chain guides are present
Timing chains are virtually a lifelong component of an engine, so on the 22R one part that will be of greater importance is the timing chain guides. On the other hand, out of concern, it is something that has lasted owners over 100,000 miles. Due to their age, these timing chain guides may have already been replaced, but if not (which is highly unlikely in 2025), take a look at how these things have held up.
Other parts that can fail include valve stem seals, gaskets and the like, but they are also parts that are so easy to replace and repair. It’s quite common that none of these parts are replaced by the owners, even if they have been driving these cars for over 20 years.
Here’s a Toyota pickup with a million miles
And as proof that this engine really is extremely reliable, the 22R engine is the engine of this Toyota Pickup, which covers millions of kilometers. The owner of this vehicle is also the original owner from 1980. Certainly, due to its age, the vehicle itself is not in the best condition, with broken leaf springs and a chassis that now flexes when taken off-road. Yet the owner of this thing never treated the Pickup like a baby – he destroyed it within an inch of its life over more than 40 years of ownership. Although the chassis is not in good condition, the engine is.
It should be noted that a 1980 Toyota Pickup never came with the 22R engine. What happened here is that the owner swapped the 20R for the 22R, not because of reliability issues. Heck, the 20R lasted 250,000 miles with just routine maintenance. The engine change was due to the fact that the owner wanted to get more power from the Toyota Pickup. The four-speed manual transmission was also switched to the five-speed manual from a 1983 model, and the Toyota Pickup could happily cruise for another 900,000 kilometers with this engine. Yes, the engine may be leaking various fluids now, but even then the 22R refuses to die.
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