1977 Diesel 'B' High Fuel pressure pump question.
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Hello Tom,
Well its been a few weeks and we have had a diesel specialist check out the FJ40. He checked out the the pump and determined that the pump was not the problem but that it is the engine. He basically said that the engine is not reaching the necessary temperature in order to effectively get the engine started and keep it running. The diesel tech said that he had to use some ether in order to get the engine started and to keep it running. So now we are wondering what our next move should be. Should we take if to another diesel specialist or should we replace the motor? If we replace the motor, what is the best motor to replace the diesel motor with that would be compatible with the model 77 FJ40? Let me know your thoughts when you get a chance.
Best,
Alex
Well its been a few weeks and we have had a diesel specialist check out the FJ40. He checked out the the pump and determined that the pump was not the problem but that it is the engine. He basically said that the engine is not reaching the necessary temperature in order to effectively get the engine started and keep it running. The diesel tech said that he had to use some ether in order to get the engine started and to keep it running. So now we are wondering what our next move should be. Should we take if to another diesel specialist or should we replace the motor? If we replace the motor, what is the best motor to replace the diesel motor with that would be compatible with the model 77 FJ40? Let me know your thoughts when you get a chance.
Best,
Alex
Sounds as reliable a diagnosis as your first mechanic.. has he done a compression test, have the glow plugs been checked/changed? Has fuel delivery at the fuel injectors been confirmed?
Tom,
This is what the Diesel Specialist did when he worked on our FJ40:
"REPAIRED FUEL SUPPLY LINE AND REPLACED HAND PRIMER TO CORRECT FUEL SUPPLY PROBLEM. REPLACED STARTER TO CORRECT SLOW CRANKING SPEED. PULLED AND CHECKED FUEL INJECTORS, CHECKED GLOW PLUG OPERATION, BOTH OK. FUEL SYSTEM SEEMS TO BE WORKING PROPERLY AND DELIVERING FUEL TO THE ENGINE. ENGINE STILL WILL NOT START UNLESS YOU SPRAY STARTING FLUID INTO INTAKE DURING CRANKING. AFTER ENGINE WAS RUNNING IT WAS OBSERVED THAT IT HAS EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF BLOW BY COMING FROM CRANKCASE, THIS IS MOST LIKELY WHAT IS CAUSING ENGINE NOT TO START COLD. RADIATOR WAS 1 GALLON LOW ON COOLANT. ENGINE COULD HAVE POSSIBLY OVERHEATED AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO PISTONS."
Your thoughts on where we should go from here. We we're considering replacing the motor. I would love to get your input. Thanks.
Alex
This is what the Diesel Specialist did when he worked on our FJ40:
"REPAIRED FUEL SUPPLY LINE AND REPLACED HAND PRIMER TO CORRECT FUEL SUPPLY PROBLEM. REPLACED STARTER TO CORRECT SLOW CRANKING SPEED. PULLED AND CHECKED FUEL INJECTORS, CHECKED GLOW PLUG OPERATION, BOTH OK. FUEL SYSTEM SEEMS TO BE WORKING PROPERLY AND DELIVERING FUEL TO THE ENGINE. ENGINE STILL WILL NOT START UNLESS YOU SPRAY STARTING FLUID INTO INTAKE DURING CRANKING. AFTER ENGINE WAS RUNNING IT WAS OBSERVED THAT IT HAS EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF BLOW BY COMING FROM CRANKCASE, THIS IS MOST LIKELY WHAT IS CAUSING ENGINE NOT TO START COLD. RADIATOR WAS 1 GALLON LOW ON COOLANT. ENGINE COULD HAVE POSSIBLY OVERHEATED AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO PISTONS."
Your thoughts on where we should go from here. We we're considering replacing the motor. I would love to get your input. Thanks.
Alex
Hi there Alex.
I've just got back from a few days away but Duncanrm and myself are on the same wavelength here so his responses are as good as (if not better than) mine anyway.
(If the engine had simply not been getting warm enough to start then it should have made the mechanic/specialist immediately check the preheat/glowplug system and that should have been easy to fix.)
But this latest specialist's report doesn't make me question this person's competence at all:
Do you think overheating could have been causing the drop in power you experienced here:
Overheating can massively accelerate wear to cause poor compression (from compression ring damage, valve seat damage, etc) and this will definitely make an engine hard to start (even when it has proper/working preheat).
Was there a working temperature gauge for the above trips? Did the engine smell hot and/or make sizzling/crackling noises? Was the radiator coolant level being monitored?
Have you been given any explanation from the first mechanic as to why he blamed the injector pump? (Was he perhaps testing it with the fuel control lever in the "off" position?)
I'm very sorry to hear of all this costly work when now there appears to be a possibility (if it is confirmed to have poor compression figures etc) that the engine may now be cheaper to be replaced. (If replacement does end up on the agenda, then 3B, 13BT, 4B, and others, are all engine upgrades over the 2977cc B-engine that don't involve drastic amounts of work because they're still B-series.)
I've just got back from a few days away but Duncanrm and myself are on the same wavelength here so his responses are as good as (if not better than) mine anyway.
(If the engine had simply not been getting warm enough to start then it should have made the mechanic/specialist immediately check the preheat/glowplug system and that should have been easy to fix.)
But this latest specialist's report doesn't make me question this person's competence at all:
Do you think overheating could have been causing the drop in power you experienced here:
Overheating can massively accelerate wear to cause poor compression (from compression ring damage, valve seat damage, etc) and this will definitely make an engine hard to start (even when it has proper/working preheat).
Was there a working temperature gauge for the above trips? Did the engine smell hot and/or make sizzling/crackling noises? Was the radiator coolant level being monitored?
Have you been given any explanation from the first mechanic as to why he blamed the injector pump? (Was he perhaps testing it with the fuel control lever in the "off" position?)
I'm very sorry to hear of all this costly work when now there appears to be a possibility (if it is confirmed to have poor compression figures etc) that the engine may now be cheaper to be replaced. (If replacement does end up on the agenda, then 3B, 13BT, 4B, and others, are all engine upgrades over the 2977cc B-engine that don't involve drastic amounts of work because they're still B-series.)
Hello Tom,
I was wondering if you could suggest any gas engines that would be compatible with the 77 FJ40 that we have been discussing. I will research all of the above diesel engines that you suggested. But, if there is a gas engine that you recommend please let me know know. Thank you.
Alex
I was wondering if you could suggest any gas engines that would be compatible with the 77 FJ40 that we have been discussing. I will research all of the above diesel engines that you suggested. But, if there is a gas engine that you recommend please let me know know. Thank you.
Alex
I'm no engine transplant guru but the 2F engine (as found in an FJ40 of the same year) is what I am immediately thinking of.
But with my 1979 BJ40 my gearbox input shaft is longer and with a different spline-count compared to the input shaft for a 2F-powered (petrol) FJ40 so I'm guessing the same applies to your 1977.
So if you do go down the route of fitting a 2F engine it might pay source it complete with the bellhousing, clutch and transmission. (Engine mounts are different so they'd need replacing too.)
Alex.
What was the story on you engine? I am having the exact same issue, not on start up, but when going up hills. My first drive home from the PO went great. 50 miles, no problem. 3 days later and my 1980 FJ40 won't make it up a neighborhood hill.
Thanks
Hey RoscoFJ73.
My 1980 has the exact same diesel engine as that spoken about int his forum and my Toyota B engine is experiencing the exact same symptoms.
Thanks.
So instead of saying that I have an "FJ40", I should say that I have an "FJ40 Diesel"?
I am new here and new to this car, purchased 2.5 weeks ago, so I am learning the lingo. Also, I suspect, based on your comment, that this vehicle likely came with a petrol engine when it was first built?
I am new here and new to this car, purchased 2.5 weeks ago, so I am learning the lingo. Also, I suspect, based on your comment, that this vehicle likely came with a petrol engine when it was first built?