Mazda E engine

The iron-block, alloy head E family was an evolution of Mazda's xC design. It was released in June 1980 with the introduction of the first front-wheel drive Mazda Familias and Ford Lasers. Some later variants of the E5-powered Mazda Familia and Ford Laser in Japan incorporated a full-time 4WD drivetrain. All E engines were chain-driven, 8-valve SOHC. Notable features include siamesed cylinders, aluminium rocker arms and pistons, thin block walls, and single valve springs - all in the interest of reducing weight.

E1
The 1071 cc E1 was found in the 1980–1985 Mazda Familia and Ford Laser. It used a 70x69.6 mm bore x stroke with 9.2:1 compression ratio and produced 55 PS and 88 Nm (DIN). It was not replaced when the new Familia/323 appeared in 1985. The E1 was strictly intended for export markets where taxes based on engine size made this a popular alternative. It was never available in Japan, nor in North America or Australia.

E3
The larger E3 displaces 1296 cc with a wider 77 mm bore and the same 9.2:1 compression ratio. It produced 74 PS and 103 Nm (JIS gross) in Japan or 60 PS and 93 Nm (DIN) for export market. It was found in the 1980–1985 Mazda Familia, Ford Laser and FWD 1981–1986 Mazda GLC. It was used until August 1994 for the Mazda Familia Van/Wagon (323) and continued until around 1997 for Ford Laser taxi fleets in Indonesia.

E5
The 1490 cc E5 pushed the stroke to an undersquare 77x80 mm with 9.0:1 compression ratio. It was used in the 1980–1985 Mazda Familia, Ford Laser and FWD 1981–1986 Mazda GLC. It was also fitted to the rear-wheel drive Familia Cargo/323 Wagon in the mid-eighties, replacing the earlier UC engine. This engine produced 85 PS and 120 Nm (JIS gross) in Japan and 69-75 PS and 109-112 Nm (DIN) for export market.

E5F
The E5F was a fuel-injected variant of the E5, released in 1982 and available only in Japan. It produced 95 PS and 124 Nm (JIS gross).

E5S
In certain markets a twin-carburetted, high-compression (10.0:1) version exists, dubbed the E5S. Available for Mazda 323 GT and Ford Laser Sport. For 1982 and 1983, this engine was equipped with two Hitachi DCT306W-L1/R1 carburettors, it produced 85 PS and 120 Nm (DIN). Late in 1983, new two Hitachi DCS306-31 carburettors appeared and produced 88 PS and 122 Nm (DIN).

E5T
The flagship turbocharged, lower-compression (8.2:1) pistons, fuel-injected and non-intercooled variant of the E5 was the E5T. Released in 1983 and available only in Japan, the E5T utilized an IHI-supplied VJ1 turbocharger running approximately 0.5 bar to produce as much as 115 PS and 162 Nm (JIS gross). Other notable advancements included an integrated knock sensor (supplied by Mitsubishi) and multi-point fuel injection as standard.

This was Mazda's first production 4-cylinder turbo engine and was found in the top-of-the-line 1982–1985 Mazda Familia XGi-R Turbo and Ford Laser S Turbo as well as the early Mazda Familia XG Turbo, XG-R Turbo and Ford Laser TX3 Turbo models. Most of the technological features found in this engine were carried over to the later Mazda B6T.

E5T Carb
A strange carburettor turbocharged version of the E5 was the E5T Carb. It was exclusively available in Australia as part of the White Lightning Ford Laser limited-edition package of just 300 cars released in June 1985. The engine started out as a normal E5S and then an IHI RHB52 turbocharger was fitted, setup in a blow-through style, with boost limited to just 5.1 psi. A modified version of the stock carburettor known as a "Solex 32 DIS (turbo)" was fitted to provide fuelling. A Compuspark ignition system with knock sensor was also added to prevent engine damage if the driver ever used a lower octane fuel than the 97 RON that was recommended. As the carburettors were not boost referenced, they were difficult to maintain and often suffered from float rupture or excessive flooding. Unlike its more reliable fuel-injected counterpart, the E5T carb turbo setup was notoriously difficult to maintain and some cars had the turbo systems removed instead of having them replaced. This engine produced 106 PS and 162 Nm.