How to tell if Gen1 or Gen2 MS3 engine?

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.

 

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.

 

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?

 

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

 

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