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Isuzu 3CE1 Engine

The Isuzu 3CE1 is a 1.6 L 3-cylinder naturally aspirated engine rated at 1800 rpm, producing up to 23.4 kW. It powers generator sets from Generac and Isuzu, including the MIH1.2, MIH400HC and 3CE1BDZP. It holds 6.3 L (1.7 gal) of oil and 2.1 L (0.6 gal) of coolant.

Also known as: ISUZU 3CE1, 3CE1

1.6 L

Displacement

Cylinders

1800 rpm

Rated speed

23 kW

Gross power

On this pageSpecs Generator sets Maintenance FAQ

Engine specifications

Oil capacity	6.3 L
Coolant capacity	2.1 L
Displacement	1.6 L
Cylinders	3
Aspiration	Naturally aspirated
Rated speed	1800 rpm
Gross power	23 kW

Generator sets powered by this engine

Shared across brands: Generac, Isuzu

Generac MIH1.2Generac MIH400HCIsuzu 3CE1Isuzu 3CE1BDZPIsuzu 3CE1BDZP1

This engine also powers 1 machine(s) on Power Equipment Info.

Troubleshooting

Symptoms & remedies

Symptom	Cause	Remedy
Engine will not crank	Low battery output voltage or discharged battery	Charge or replace batteries. See Battery Inspection.
Engine will not crank	Loose or corroded connections	Clean and tighten connections.
Engine will not crank	Faulty start circuit relay	Contact a GMASD.
Engine will not crank	Blown fuse	Replace fuse.
Engine will not crank	Faulty main switch or start safety switch	Repair switch as required.
Engine will not crank	Faulty starter solenoid	Replace solenoid.
Engine will not crank	Faulty starter	Replace starter.
Starter cranks slowly	Low battery output voltage or discharged battery	Charge or replace batteries. See Battery Inspection.
Starter cranks slowly	Excessive crankcase oil viscosity	Drain crankcase oil and replace with correct viscosity oil. See Draining and Refilling the Oil.
Starter cranks slowly	Loose or corroded connections	Clean and tighten connections.
Hard to start or will not start	Engine starting under load	Disengage PTO.
Hard to start or will not start	Incorrect starting procedure	Review starting procedure. See Pre-start Checklist and Engine and Heater Startup.
Hard to start or will not start	Restricted exhaust	Inspect and correct exhaust restriction.
Hard to start or will not start	No fuel	Check fuel tank.
Hard to start or will not start	Air in fuel line	Purge fuel lines. See engine manual.
Hard to start or will not start	Poor fuel quality	Drain fuel and replace with proper grade and quality of fuel for operating condition.
Hard to start or will not start	Water, dirt, or air in fuel system	Drain, flush, fill, and purge fuel system.
Hard to start or will not start	Fuel filter restricted or full of water	Replace fuel filter or drain water from fuel filter.
Hard to start or will not start	Dirty or faulty fuel injectors	Contact a GMASD.
Hard to start or will not start	Electronic fuel system failure
Hard to start or will not start	Cold weather	Use cold weather starting aids (see engine manual).
Hard to start or will not start	Excessive crankcase oil viscosity	Drain crankcase oil and replace with correct viscosity oil. See Draining and Refilling the Oil.
Hard to start or will not start	Electronic control system problem or basic engine problem	Contact a GMASD.
Engine misfiring or runs irregularly	Poor fuel quality; incorrect fuel/dirty fuel	Test fuel, drain water from fuel bowl.
Engine misfiring or runs irregularly	Restricted fuel filter	Replace fuel filter element.
Engine misfiring or runs irregularly	Water, dirt, or air in fuel system	Drain, flush, fill, and purge fuel system.
Engine misfiring or runs irregularly	Low coolant temperature	Remove and check thermostat.
Engine misfiring or runs irregularly	Dirty or faulty fuel injectors	Contact a GMASD.
Engine misfiring or runs irregularly	Electronic fuel system problem
Engine misfiring or runs irregularly	Electronic control system problem or basic engine problem
Lack of engine power	Restricted air intake	Service air cleaner.
Lack of engine power	Restricted exhaust	Check and correct exhaust restriction.
Lack of engine power	Poor fuel quality	Drain fuel and replace with proper grade and quality of fuel for operating condition.
Lack of engine power	Restricted fuel filter	Replace fuel filter elements.
Lack of engine power	Engine overloaded	Reduce engine load.
Lack of engine power	Incorrect crankcase oil	Drain crankcase oil and replace with correct viscosity oil. See Draining and Refilling the Oil.
Lack of engine power	Low coolant temperature	Remove and check thermostat.
Lack of engine power	Incorrect valve clearance	Adjust valve clearance or contact a GMASD.
Lack of engine power	Dirty or faulty fuel injectors	Contact a GMASD.
Lack of engine power	Air leak in engine intake or exhaust manifold	Check intake and exhaust manifold gaskets and manifolds; repair as required or contact a GMASD.
Lack of engine power	Engine is in derate due to DTC	Contact a GMASD.
Lack of engine power	Electronic control system problem or basic engine problem
Engine idles poorly	Poor fuel quality	Drain fuel and replace with proper grade and quality of fuel for operating condition.
Engine idles poorly	Electronic control system problem or basic engine problem	Contact a GMASD.
Excessive fuel consumption	Engine overloaded	Reduce engine load.
Excessive fuel consumption	Restricted or dirty air cleaner	Replace air cleaner element as required.
Excessive fuel consumption	Insufficient compression	Determine cause of low compression and repair as required.
Excessive fuel consumption	Leaks in fuel supply system	Locate source of leak and repair as required.
Excessive fuel consumption	Poor fuel quality/improper type of fuel	Drain fuel and replace with proper grade and quality of fuel for operating condition.
Excessive fuel consumption	Incorrect valve clearance	Adjust valve clearance or contact a GMASD.
Excessive fuel consumption	Dirty or faulty fuel injectors	Contact a GMASD.
Excessive fuel consumption	Electronic fuel system failure
Excessive fuel consumption	Electronic control system problem or basic engine problem
Excessive fuel consumption	Low engine temperature	Remove and check thermostat(s).
Fuel in oil	Restricted fuel return line	Check and fix fuel return lines.
Fuel in oil	Engine load too light	Increase engine load.
Fuel in oil	Leaking fuel injectors	Contact a GMASD.
Low-pressure fuel system — fuel pressure low	Restricted fuel filter	Replace fuel filter.
Low-pressure fuel system — fuel pressure low	Restricted fuel line	Locate restriction, repair as required.
Low-pressure fuel system — fuel pressure low	Faulty transfer pump	Contact a GMASD.
Low-pressure fuel system — fuel pressure low	Faulty high-pressure fuel pump	Remove fuel pump, repair/replace pump as required.
Abnormal engine noise	Worn main or connecting rod bearings	Contact a GMASD.
Abnormal engine noise	Excessive crankshaft end play
Abnormal engine noise	Loose main bearing caps
Abnormal engine noise	Worn connecting rod bushings and piston pins
Abnormal engine noise	Scored pistons
Abnormal engine noise	Worn timing gears or excess backlash
Abnormal engine noise	Excessive valve clearance
Abnormal engine noise	Worn camshaft lobes
Abnormal engine noise	Worn rocker arm shaft(s)
Abnormal engine noise	Worn valve guides
Abnormal engine noise	Damaged valve retainers
Abnormal engine noise	Loose or worn rocker arms
Abnormal engine noise	Bent pushrods
Abnormal engine noise	Broken valve springs
Abnormal engine noise	Bent connecting rods
Abnormal engine noise	Worn flywheel
Abnormal engine noise	Loose flywheel
Abnormal engine noise	Excessive piston to liner clearance
Abnormal engine noise	Excessive thrust bearing clearance

Fault codes and symptom→remedy steps extracted from this engine’s service/owner documentation; verify against the official manual before servicing. Showing the first 80 of 152 entries.

Common problems

Abnormal engine noise
Cause: Worn main or connecting rod bearings
Fix: Contact a GMP ASD.
Excessive oil consumption
Cause: Insufficient crankcase oil viscosity
Fix: Drain crankcase and refill with correct viscosity oil. See Draining and Refilling the Oil.
Hard to start or will not start
Cause: Incorrect starting procedure
Fix: Review starting procedure. See Before Starting Engine and Engine and Heater Startup.
Engine overheats
Cause: Restricted or dirty air cleaner
Fix: Replace air cleaner element as required.
Lack of engine power
Cause: Restricted air intake
Fix: Service air cleaner.
Excessive fuel consumption
Cause: Engine overloaded
Fix: Reduce engine load.
Engine misfiring or runs irregularly
Cause: Poor fuel quality; incorrect/dirty fuel
Fix: Test fuel, drain water from fuel bowl. Replace with proper fuel.
Engine will not crank
Cause: Low battery output voltage or discharged battery
Fix: Charge or replace batteries. See Battery Installation and Replacement.
Engine emits white smoke
Cause: Insufficient engine compression
Fix: Determine cause of low compression and repair as required, or contact a GMP ASD.
Coolant in crankcase
Cause: Faulty cylinder head gasket
Fix: Contact a GMP ASD.
Engine emits black, gray, or blue smoke
Cause: Restricted or dirty air cleaner
Fix: Replace air cleaner element as required.
Generator overheating
Cause: Overloaded generator
Fix: Reduce load. Contact a GMP ASD.
Thermostat not functioning
Cause: Incorrect wiring
Fix: Contact a GMP ASD.
Low-pressure fuel system — fuel pressure low
Cause: Restricted fuel filter
Fix: Replace fuel filter.
Starter cranks slowly
Cause: Low battery output voltage or discharged battery
Fix: Charge or replace battery. See Battery Installation and Replacement.

Compiled from service & troubleshooting documentation across every generator set that uses the Isuzu 3CE1.

Maintenance schedule

Item	Spec	Capacity	Part #	Interval
Air filter			—
Fuel filter			—	1000 hr
Oil filter			—	500 hr
Battery	Battery—Type: Wet cell; Battery—Group Number: 24; Battery—Rating: CCA 720		—	720 hr
Belt			—	2000 hr
Coolant	Use demineralized or distilled water for best results. Hard water causes scale deposits, which reduces cooling efficiency and raises internal temperatures, possibly leading to engine damage.	5.2	—	1000 hr
Coolant filter			—
Oil	7 qt (6.7 L)	7.0 qt	—	1200 hr
Spark plug			—

Pooled from every document that names this exact engine — confirm the interval and part number against your unit's serial number.

Aftermarket parts that fit this engine

5864003910 FridayParts $199.00 5864019640 FridayParts $199.00 5864001510 FridayParts $199.00 5864002200 FridayParts $189.99 4HK1-XYGD04 FridayParts $233.96 8-98182-491-0 FridayParts $233.96 xygd04 FP-XP-0005904 G240 FridayParts $19.80 5-13610-038-1 FridayParts $93.66 SinoCMP $199.00 FP-XP-0011900 FP-XP-0011600 FP-XP-0011510 D201 FridayParts $15.48 44-7711 FridayParts $38.50 FP-XP-0033823 FP-XP-0022411 FP-XP-0022168 FP-XP-0001906 FP-XP-0001905 4EC1-NA FridayParts $78.86 FP-XP-0001904 FP-XP-0001903 4fc1j FridayParts $68.80 FP-XP-0001833 FP-XP-0001832 4FC1J-T FridayParts $68.60 FP-XP-0001831 094000-0400 FridayParts $1599.99 8-97602488-0 FridayParts $1599.99 FP-XP-0013163 294000-2580 FridayParts $799.85 8-97435556-0 FridayParts $799.85 FP-XP-0013146 294050-0640 FridayParts $43.65 SinoCMP $599.00 8-98239521-0 FridayParts $539.89 SinoCMP $599.00 8-98239521-1 FridayParts $539.89 FP-XP-0013145 104139-1040 FridayParts $155.95 FP-XP-0012891 33-792 FridayParts $55.60 FP-XP-0017751 894450-7231 FridayParts $59.99 MV1-40 FridayParts $59.99 FP-XP-0036192 FP-XP-0032805 FP-XP-0042185 FP-XP-0042161 8-98177447-0 SinoCMP $379.00 FridayParts $386.93 8-98177448-0 SinoCMP $379.00 FridayParts $386.93 zx350 FridayParts $26.99 SinoCMP $109.00 zx350l zx400w FP-XP-0032414 Z-5-13713-030-0 FridayParts $25.89 FP-XP-0027665 5-13610-009-0 FridayParts $134.50 FP-XP-0011493 11-4576 FridayParts $76.50 FP-XP-0011336

Parts listed by aftermarket suppliers as fitting this engine — leads compiled from supplier catalogs; verify the exact part for your serial number.

Common questions

What is the oil capacity of the Isuzu 3CE1?

The Isuzu 3CE1 engine has an oil capacity of 6.3 liters.

What is the displacement of the Isuzu 3CE1?

The Isuzu 3CE1 has a displacement of 1.6 liters with 3 cylinders.

Which generators use the Isuzu 3CE1 engine?

The Isuzu 3CE1 powers 5 generator set(s), including Generac MIH1.2, Generac MIH400HC, Isuzu 3CE1, Isuzu 3CE1BDZP, Isuzu 3CE1BDZP1.

How often should you change the oil in the Isuzu 3CE1?

The Isuzu 3CE1 oil change interval is every 1200 hours.

What is a common problem with the Isuzu 3CE1 engine?

A commonly reported issue on generators using the Isuzu 3CE1 is: Abnormal engine noise. Cause: Worn main or connecting rod bearings. Fix: Contact a GMP ASD..