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VVT-i

Cutaway view of Variable Valve Timing with

intelligence on a ZR engine in Techniquest Glyndŵr
VVT-i, or Variable Valve Timing with
intelligence, is an automobile variable
valve timing technology developed by
Toyota. The Toyota VVT-i system replaces
the Toyota VVT offered starting in 1991 on
the 5-valve per cylinder 4A-GE engine. The
VVT system is a 2-stage hydraulically
controlled cam phasing system.

VVT-i, introduced on the 1JZ-GTE/2JZ-GTE

engine in 1996, varies the timing of the
intake valves by adjusting the relationship
between the camshaft drive (belt or chain)
and intake camshaft. Engine oil pressure
is applied to an actuator to adjust the
camshaft position. Adjustments in the
overlap time between the exhaust valve
closing and intake valve opening result in
improved engine efficiency.[1] Variants of
the system, including VVTL-i, Dual VVT-i,
VVT-iE, VVT-iW and Valvematic, have
followed.
VVTL-i

The 2ZZ-GE engine, the first to feature VVTL-i

VVTL-i (Variable Valve Timing and Lift

intelligent system) (also sometimes
denoted as VVT-iL or Variable Valve
Timing and Intelligence with Lift) is an
enhanced version of VVT-i that can alter
valve lift (and duration) as well as valve
timing. In the case of the 16 valve 2ZZ-GE,
the engine head resembles a typical DOHC
design, featuring separate cams for intake
and exhaust and featuring two intake and
two exhaust valves (four total) per
cylinder. Unlike a conventional design,
each camshaft has two lobes per cylinder,
one optimized for lower rpm operation and
one optimized for high rpm operation, with
higher lift and longer duration. Each valve
pair is controlled by one rocker arm, which
is operated by the camshaft. Each rocker
arm has a slipper follower mounted to the
rocker arm with a spring, allowing the
slipper-follower to freely move up and
down with the high lobe without affecting
the rocker arm. When the engine is
operating below 6000-7000 rpm
(dependent on year, car, and ECU
installed), the lower lobe is operating the
rocker arm and thus the valves, and the
slipper-follower is freewheeling next to the
rocker arm. When the engine is operating
above the lift engagement point, the ECU
activates an oil pressure switch which
pushes a sliding pin under the slipper-
follower on each rocker arm. The rocker
arm is now locked into the slipper-
follower's movements and thus follows
the movement of the high rpm cam lobe
and will operate with the high rpm cam
profile until the pin is disengaged by the
ECU. The lift system is similar in principle
to Honda VTEC operation.
The system was first used in 1999 Toyota
Celica with 2ZZ-GE. Toyota has now
ceased production of its VVTL-i engines
for most markets, because the engine
does not meet Euro IV specifications for
emissions. As a result, this engine has
been discontinued on some Toyota
models, including that of the Corolla T-
Sport (Europe), Corolla Sportivo
(Australia), Celica, Corolla XRS, Toyota
Matrix XRS, and the Pontiac Vibe GT, all of
which had the 2ZZ-GE engine fitted. The
Lotus Elise continues to offer the 2ZZ-GE
and the 1ZZ-FE engine, while the Exige
offers the engine with a supercharger.

Dual VVT-i

BEAMS 3S-GE 5th-generation engine ("Black Top").

The first to be fitted with Dual VVT-i
The Dual VVT-i system adjusts timing on
both intake and exhaust camshafts. It was
first introduced in 1998 on the RS200
Altezza's 3S-GE engine.

Dual VVT-i is also found in Toyota's new

generation V6 engine, the 3.5-litre 2GR-FE
first appearing on the 2005 Avalon. This
engine can now be found on numerous
Toyota and Lexus models. By adjusting the
valve timing, engine start and stop occurs
almost unnoticeably at minimum
compression. Fast heating of the catalytic
converter to its light-off temperature is
possible, thereby reducing hydrocarbon
emissions considerably.

Most Toyota engines including the LR

engines (V10, used in the Lexus LFA), UR
engines (V8), GR engines (V6), AR engines
(large I4), ZR engines (medium I4), and NR
engines (small I4) now use this
technology.
VVT-iE

The 1UR engine, the first to feature VVT-iE

VVT-iE (Variable Valve Timing - intelligent

by Electric motor) is a version of Dual VVT-
i that uses an electrically operated
actuator to adjust and maintain intake
camshaft timing.[2] The exhaust camshaft
timing is still controlled using a hydraulic
actuator. This form of variable valve timing
technology was developed initially for
Lexus vehicles. This system was first
introduced on the 2007MY Lexus LS 460
as 1UR engine.

The electric motor in the actuator spins

together with the intake camshaft as the
engine runs. To maintain camshaft timing,
the actuator motor will operate at the
same speed as the camshaft. To advance
the camshaft timing, the actuator motor
will rotate slightly faster than the camshaft
speed. To retard camshaft timing, the
actuator motor will rotate slightly slower
than camshaft speed. The speed
difference between the actuator motor and
camshaft timing is used to operate a
mechanism that varies the camshaft
timing. The benefit of the electric
actuation is enhanced response and
accuracy at low engine speeds and at
lower temperatures as well as a greater
total range of adjustment. The
combination of these factors allows more
precise control, resulting in an
improvement of both fuel economy, engine
output and emissions performance.

VVT-iW
VVT-iW (Variable Valve Timing - intelligent
Wide) was introduced with the 2.0L
turbocharged direct-injected 8AR-FTS
fitted to the Lexus NX200t. VVT-iW uses
VVT-iW on the intake valves and VVT-i on
the exhaust valves. The intake cam has
mid-position cam lock mechanism that
retards the continuously variable timing. It
offers expanded valve opening angles
(Wide) which enables the engine to
operate in a modified-Atkinson cycle at
low rpm for improved economy and lower
emissions, and in the Otto cycle at high
rpm for better performance, while
delivering high torque throughout the rpm
band.[3]
Valvematic
The Valvematic system offers continuous
adjustment to valve lift and timing and
improves fuel efficiency by controlling the
fuel/air intake using valve control rather
than conventional throttle plate control.[4]
The technology made its first appearance
in 2007 in the Noah[5] and later in early-
2009 in the ZR engine family used on the
Avensis. This system is simpler in design
compared to Valvetronic and VVEL,
allowing the cylinder head to remain at the
same height.

VVT-i Oil Supply Hose Issues

In 2010, Toyota USA announced a Limited
Service Campaign (LSC 90K) to replace the
rubber portion of the oil supply hose for
the VVT-i actuator on the 2GR-FE (V6)
engine, which were found to be defective.
In all, approximately 1.6 million vehicles
manufactured prior to 2008 were affected.
The defective oil supply hoses were prone
to degradation and eventual rupture,
causing oil to rapidly leak and resulting in
permanent engine damage.

In 2014, the LSC 90K Campaign was

extended to 31 December 2021[6] on
117,500 Toyota brand vehicles that were
"missed" during the initial campaign.

See also
Variable valve timing
 Variable valve lift
Gasoline Direct Injection (Toyota D4 and
D4-S)
Variable Length Intake Manifold
List of Toyota engines

References
1. "Variable Valve Timing Mechanism on
Toyota" . YouTube. 2006-09-10.
Retrieved 2009-06-29.
2. "Lexus LS engine page" . Archived
from the original on 2009-05-03.
Retrieved 2009-09-29.
3. "Camry in Europe features new 2.0L
engine with VVT-iW." Green Car
Congress. 2014-09-05. Retrieved
2016-06-27.
4. "Toyota Develops Next-generation
Engine Valve Mechanism —
'Valvematic' Achieves High Fuel
Efficiency and Dynamic Performance
 —" . TOYOTA. 2010-06-12. Retrieved
2009-06-29.
5. Nunez, Alex (2011-07-01). "Toyota
Noah / Voxy: Valvematic for the
people (movers)" . Autoblog.com.
Retrieved 2009-06-29.
6. "Extension of Limited Service
Campaign (LSC) 90K" (PDF). US:
Toyota. Retrieved 2016-10-08.

External links
Youtube video: How VVT-i system works
Toyota engine
VVT-i video animation
Video animation of VVT-i can be found
here (courtesy of PT. Toyota-Astra
Motor, Indonesia)
VVTL-i walkthrough
VVTL-i flash animation
Information about Toyota's Limited
Service Campaign 90k
Retrieved from
"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VVT-
i&oldid=934032051"

Last edited 28 days ago by an anonymous user

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