The

Mazda , commonly referred to as simply Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Fuchū, Hiroshima, Japan. In 2015, Mazda produced 1.5 million vehicles for global sales, the majority of which (nearly one m ...

K-series

automobile A car or automobile is a motor vehicle with Wheel, wheels. Most definitions of ''cars'' say that they run primarily on roads, Car seat, seat one to eight people, have four wheels, and mainly transport private transport#Personal transport, pe ...

engine is a short stroke 60° 24-valve V6 with belt-driven

DOHC An overhead camshaft (OHC) engine is a piston engine where the camshaft is located in the cylinder head above the combustion chamber. This contrasts with earlier overhead valve engines (OHV), where the camshaft is located below the combustion c ...

and all-aluminium construction. Displacements range from 1.8 L to 2.5 L. They all use a 27-degree DOHC valvetrain with directly actuated hydraulic bucket lifters. The K-series also features a highly rigid aluminum split-crankcase engine block design with 4-bolt mains with additional bolts securing the lower block, an internally balanced

forged steel Forging is a manufacturing process involving the shaping of metal using localized compressive forces. The blows are delivered with a hammer (often a power hammer) or a die. Forging is often classified according to the temperature at which it ...

crankshaft A crankshaft is a mechanical component used in a piston engine to convert the reciprocating motion into rotational motion. The crankshaft is a rotating shaft containing one or more crankpins, that are driven by the pistons via the connecting ...

with lightweight powder forged carbon steel

connecting rod A connecting rod, also called a 'con rod', is the part of a piston engine which connects the piston to the crankshaft. Together with the crank, the connecting rod converts the reciprocating motion of the piston into the rotation of the cranksh ...

s. They were designed with the intent of being as compact as possible for short-hood

front-wheel drive Front-wheel drive (FWD) is a form of engine and transmission layout used in motor vehicles, where the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel drive vehicles feature a transverse engine, rather than the conventional longit ...

applications. One unique innovation of the K-series was the introduction of Variable Resonance Induction System (VRIS). Based on the

Helmholtz resonance Helmholtz resonance or wind throb is the phenomenon of air resonance in a cavity, such as when one blows across the top of an empty bottle. The name comes from a device created in the 1850s by Hermann von Helmholtz, the ''Helmholtz resonator'', wh ...

principle, the intake manifold is equipped with 3 chambers tuned to a specific resonant frequency. The computer dynamically switches between each resonant chamber to achieve the appropriate resonant frequency for the engine's rpm. This effect optimizes volumetric efficiency over a given rpm range to provide maximum torque over the entire rpm range. VRIS is used on the K8, KF, and KL but nearly all modern Mazda V6s are now using this technology. The K-series all have a 7,000 rpm redline with 7500-7800 rpm limiter, which given the engine design is conservative. The KJ-ZEM

Miller cycle In engineering, the Miller cycle is a thermodynamic cycle used in a type of internal combustion engine. The Miller cycle was patented by Ralph Miller, an American engineer, dated Dec 24, 1957. The engine may be two- or four-stroke and may be r ...

engine had a 6,000 rpm redline, but was only available with an

automatic transmission An automatic transmission (sometimes abbreviated to auto or AT) is a multi-speed transmission used in internal combustion engine-based motor vehicles that does not require any input from the driver to change forward gears under normal driving c ...

K8

The K8 is among the smallest production V6 engines ever; and also the first K-series engine to be used in a Mazda car (in the

Mazda MX-3 The Mazda MX-3 is a four-seat coupé front wheel drive manufactured and marketed by Mazda, introduced at the Geneva Auto Show#1991, Geneva Auto Show in March 1991 and marketed for model years 1992–1998. The MX-3 was also marketed as the Mazda ...

). It was a

4-valve design with

VRIS In internal combustion engines, a variable-length intake manifold (VLIM),variable intake manifold (VIM), or variable intake system (VIS) is an automobile internal combustion engine manifold technology. As the name implies, VLIM/VIM/VIS can vary ...

and a bore and stroke of . It produced in US trim (sometimes referred to as "K8-DE"), and in Japanese trim (the "K8-ZE") on introduction in 1991 and and at its best. The displacement was held under 2000cc to minimize the annual Japanese

road tax Road tax, known by various names around the world, is a tax which has to be paid on, or included with, a motorised vehicle to use it on a public road. National implementations Australia All states and territories require an annual vehicle registra ...

obligation. Applications: *

Eunos 500 500 may refer to: * 500 (number) * 500 BC * AD 500 Buildings and places * 500 Boylston Street of Boston * 500 Brickell in Miami * 500 Capitol Mall in Sacramento * 500 Fifth Avenue * 500 Renaissance Center, one of seven buildings in the GM Rena ...

KF

* 2.0 L KF - bore and stroke - The 2.0 L KF engine was available in various states of tune. The KF-DE produced and and later on and . The JDM version KF-ZE engine produced and . The Lantis Type R variant produced and . * 1991-1997

Mazda MX-6 The Mazda MX-6 is a front-engine, front-wheel-drive coupé manufactured and marketed by Mazda from 1987-1997 across two generations. Mechanically identical to the Capella/626 and its hatchback platform mate, the Ford Probe, these cars shared t ...

* 1992-1993

, * 1993-2002

Eunos 800 The Mazda Millenia is an automobile which was manufactured by Mazda in Japan from 1993 to 2002. The Millenia was originally planned as the second of three models for Mazda's proposed luxury brand Amati Cars, Amati. As the company's dwindling fin ...

* 1992-1998 Efini MS-8 * 1993-1999

Xedos 6 The Mazda Xedos 6 and Eunos 500 are compact executive cars that were produced between 1992 and 1999, with the Xedos 6 being sold in Europe by Mazda, and the Eunos 500 being sold in Japan and Australia by Eunos. The cars were not sold in North A ...

* 1993-2002

Xedos 9 The Mazda Millenia is an automobile which was manufactured by Mazda in Japan from 1993 to 2002. The Millenia was originally planned as the second of three models for Mazda's proposed luxury brand Amati. As the company's dwindling finances caused ...

* 1993-1996

Mazda Lantis The Mazda Lantis is a series of two cars sold in Japan from 1993 to 1998. In the rest of the world it was also known as 323F, Astina, Allegro Hatchback or Artis Hatchback. The Mazda Lantis used Mazda's CB platform, which means close relations t ...

Type R 170 hp (124 kW; 172 PS) 190 N•m (140 lb•ft) * 1994-1996

Mazda 323 The , also marketed prominently as the Mazda 323, Mazda Protegé and Mazda Allegro, is a small family car that was manufactured by Mazda between 1963 and 2003. The Familia line was replaced by the Mazda3/Axela for 2004. It was marketed as the '' ...

f V6 GLX * 1996-1998

f ZXi * 1992-1995

Ford Telstar The Ford Telstar is an automobile that was sold by Ford in Asia, Australasia and Africa, comparable in size to the European Ford Sierra and the North American Ford Tempo. It was progressively replaced by the Ford Mondeo. It was named after the Te ...

TX5 Ghia * 1993-2003

Mazda 626 __NOTOC__ Year 626 ( DCXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. The denomination 626 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar e ...

KJ-ZEM

The bore and stroke, KJ-ZEM was one of Mazda's most technologically advanced engines. It employs the "

" which uses a

supercharger In an internal combustion engine, a supercharger compresses the intake gas, forcing more air into the engine in order to produce more power for a given displacement. The current categorisation is that a supercharger is a form of forced induct ...

to increase compression efficiency by decreasing the compression losses (i.e., flywheel energy used to compress the intake charge in the cylinder); and thereby increasing the net power output of the V6. It was used in the T-platform cars. The supercharger used is the twin-screw type with electronic boost control. Power output was and . The KJ-ZEM was on the

Ward's 10 Best Engines 10 of the World's best engines is an annual list of the ten ''"''best''"'' automobile engines available in the U.S. market, that are selected by ''Ward's AutoWorld'' magazine. The list was started in 1994 for Model Year 1995, and has been drawn eve ...

list for 1995 through 1998. Applications: *

Mazda Millenia The Mazda Millenia is an automobile which was manufactured by Mazda in Japan from 1993 to 2002. The Millenia was originally planned as the second of three models for Mazda's proposed luxury brand Amati. As the company's dwindling finances caused ...

S *

Mazda Xedos 9 The Mazda Millenia is an automobile which was manufactured by Mazda in Japan from 1993 to 2002. The Millenia was originally planned as the second of three models for Mazda's proposed luxury brand Amati. As the company's dwindling finances cause ...

KL

The KL family uses an bore and stroke. It includes the Japan-only KL-ZE, which produced and . Another variant, the KL-DE (also known as the KL-03 outside the US, and fitted to 2.5-litre

Ford Probe The Ford Probe is a liftback coupé produced by Ford, introduced in 1988 and produced until 1997. The Probe was the result of Ford's collaboration with its longtime Japanese partner Mazda, and both generations of Probe were derived from the front ...

s) was the worldwide version, with in various applications. In 1998 a revised version of the KL known as the KL-G4 was used in the 626. It featured solid lifters, a cast crankshaft to reduce rotating mass and a reworked intake system. The distributor was replaced with a Ford EDIS coil-pack ignition. Mazda introduced a key technology with these engines, known as the Variable Resonance Induction System (VRIS). A series of two butterfly valves coupled with electronically controlled actuators varied the volume and length of a resonant chamber within the intake manifold. The valves actuate at particular engine frequencies (i.e. rpms) to produce optimal torque/horsepower output at any given engine speed. The valve operates to create three specific first-order resonant frequencies that increase cylinder air charge. All three resonances are used from 0 to 6250 rpm (6800 for the KL-ZE). Above that threshold, the first primary resonant chamber is again used, but at this engine speed the pressure wave from the second-order resonant frequency aids in charging the cylinder. * KL-DE ** 1993-1997

LS (A spec) ** 1993-1997

GT ** 1992-1995

TX5 Ghia, TX5 Ghia 4ws ** 1993-1997

ES, LX (after 1994) ** 1995-2002

L * KL-ZE ** 1997

Mazda Capella The Mazda Capella, also known as the 626 in North America and Southeast Asia, is a mid-size car that was manufactured by Mazda from 1970 until 2002. Sold in the Japanese domestic market under the Capella name, the vehicle was also commonly known ...

''Wagon'' ** 1993+ Mazda 626 Jspec ''Sedan'' ** 1993+ Mazda MX-6 Jspec ** 1993+ Mazda MS-8 (Japan) ** 1993+ Mazda Eunos 600/800 (Japan) * KL-G4 ** 1998-2002

ES, LX

External links

Mazda New Lightweight and Compact V6 Engines SAE article 920677
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mazda K Engine K V6 engines Gasoline engines by model