FAQ: Mazda B-Series Engine Codes explained

[Gro Harlem]

Well, I just had a long arguement with one of my friends about the engine codes on my Protege. He has done a crapload of research and found out that the real designation is BP-ZE not BP-DE like everyone has been using.

I also found out the real engine code for the B6T isn't B6-DET, it is B6-ZET, just like the BPT is the BP-ZET.

I found out that the old engine codes for the 1.3 and 1.5 "B" engines used to be E3 and E5. They are identical otherwise. When the 1.6 and 1.8 engines were being developed, mazda decided to rename the E3 and E5 to B3 and B5. This happened sometime in the early 80's.

I also learned the true meaning of the suffix lettering in the naming of the motors.

basically it goes like this for the B-series:

B1 means 1.1 liter
B3 means 1.3 liter
B5 means 1.5 liter
B6 means 1.6 liter
B8 means 1.8 liter
BP means 1.8 liter as well (and is always DOHC)

The suffix lettering is as follows:

No suffix indicates the engine is a SOHC 8v carbuerated model. For example "B3" alone.

an "M" is for SOHC 16v versions. My friend says it stands for "more valves" but that doens't sound right.

an "E" is for "electronic fuel injection". So this means the correct name for the B6 8v sohc is B6-E (unless its an older carbed version of course)

a "D" is for "dohc" which means "dual-overhead camshaft".

a "Z" is supposed to mean "performance version" which means higher compression, aggressive camshafts, and often larger valves and/or intake & exhaust ports.

a "V" stands for variable valve timing.

So here is the B-series list that I know of for North American cars (a list of jdm cars would be soooo long and confusing).

B3: 88-89 carb Festiva models
B3-E: 89-93 EFI Festiva, 94-97 Aspire
B5: 82-84 GLC (might have been fuel injected..i'm not sure)
B6: 88-89 Tracer (some say this is carbed only, but again, i'm not sure, the power rating is 77 instead of 82 like on the 323's)
B6-E: 85-89 323, 90-94 323
B6-ME: 92-93 MX3 RS, 90-94 323 (cali)
B6-DE: 94-96 MX3 RS, 90-94 Capri
B6-ZE: 90-93 Miata
B6-ZET: 87-88 323 GT, 88-89 323 GTX, 90-94 Capri XR2
B8-ME: 90-94 Protege DX
BP-DE: 95-98 Protege ES, 94-97 Sephia
BP-ZE: 90-94 Protege LX, 91-96 Escort GT & LX-E, Mercury Tracer LTS, 94-97 Miata
BP-VE: 99+ Miata

might have missed one or two. I think the previous generation GLC (79-81) had the b5 as well, but i'm not sure on the year-span.

I know for a fact there are numerous Kia Sephia's and other models that used the B-series engines. But all of the earlier Kia's were sold in California only, so I don't know what engines each had. I know some used B6-ME's, B6-DE's and BP-ZE's as well as the BP-DE listed above.

You might have noticed that the 90-94 Protege LX has a BP-ZE while the newer Protege and Sephia have a BP-DE. I almost couldn't convince myself to believe that my Protege had a BP-ZE "performance" version until I researched a few japanese websites to find the information I discovered is consistent. The only real "performance" oriented things on the older BP-DE from the 1st gen Protege is the addition of an oil cooler, and the more agressive camshafts, and slightly different design intake manifold.

<small>[ November 19, 2003, 12:03 PM: Message edited by: MX-3.com ]</small>

[torpedan]

HRmm no responses.. this deserves a lot of love..

Good work man

[Josh]

thats awsome that you got all that info. the only question i have is on my 95 B6 when i swaped in miata cams, i found that my cam pullys have I for intake E for exaust but they also had a Z. and when i put my new engine in it was from a 94, and it didnt have a Z just E, I. whats also odd is that the Z has its own timing slot. i have called and talked to several shops but have come up empty handed to what the Z timing setting is for. and also since it has a Z does this mean it might be some kind of ZE. if anyone knows please tell me.

thanks

[maldo]

This is straight from Randy Stocker's webpage. This info has been around for quite some time, not sure if you used it for your research. Mazda Engine History