How to tell if Gen1 or Gen2 MS3 engine?

[NeverEnough]

Buying my old MS6 back, but it now has an MS3 engine in it. Is there any easy way to tell if the engine is from a Gen 1 or Gen 2 MS3?

 

[JohnnyTightlips]

Buying my old MS6 back, but it now has an MS3 engine in it. Is there any easy way to tell if the engine is from a Gen 1 or Gen 2 MS3?

Gen Juan

• Valve cover Oil Cap not rasied, gen pu is raised up 1.5 inches ish
• Oil Filter is a cartridge and not a spin on filter, gen pu is spin only
• Valve Cover to Intake Tube is closer to maf, gen pu is closer to turbo
• Capacitor in coil harness, gen pu has one less wire and does not have it

That's all I can think of off the top.

 

[Mauro_Penguin]

That's just the valve cover. Not always the best method since some people swap to the gen2 valve cover.

Gen1 oil pans have a shield that is screwed on just below the harmonic dampener. Not sure what it's for, could be a window for the balance shaft during factory assembly. Gen2 have a solid oil pan with no shield cover.

Gen1 have a giant foam pad between the injectors and intake manifold to dampen sound, gen2 do not.

To be 100% certain you would need to insert a scope into a cylinder chamber and look at the piston tops. Gen1/ms6 have flat pistons, gen2 have an inverted dome design to swirl and mix fuel with air.

 

[NeverEnough]

What about gen 1 if you can feel/see the timing chain when you remove oil fill cap & gen 2 if there is a baffle there?

 

[mituc]

Buying my old MS6 back, but it now has an MS3 engine in it. Is there any easy way to tell if the engine is from a Gen 1 or Gen 2 MS3?

If the engine is stock then the only real difference between gen1/BK and gen2/BL engines are the pistons. BKs may also have upgraded valve covers, the block is identical so even if it's a gen2 engine it will still have the holes for the hydraulic steering pump, and so on.

If that engine was rebuilt then it doesn't matter.
So pull a spark plug and look at the pistons with a camera. If they are gen2 style then it's a gen2 engine

 

[Mauro_Penguin]

What about gen 1 if you can feel/see the timing chain when you remove oil fill cap & gen 2 if there is a baffle there?

That is correct, however that just means you have a gen1/ms6 valve cover.