Hey y'all! I just bought a 3L Hilux (no turbo), recently imported from Japan, two weeks ago, it's my first diesel and I already made some mistakes. I was driving out to Colorado and ran out of fuel on the Penna Pike (4 miles from the non-gouging station, because I didn't know there was no tank low light). The tow truck driver who came to bring me diesel convinced me to spray ether into the engine instead of bleeding the air, and I was naive/stupid enough to allow it (I'm still kicking myself). Before this, there was some black smoke coming out when accelerating hard, and sometimes when trying to maintain highway speeds (60-70 MPH) in 4th/5th gear. After, I sometimes have huge puffs of black smoke on cold start, when shifting into first. Driving through Iowa I was filling up at Casey's and could only maintain about 55 MPH, and I had added in LiquiMoly in Chicago. After filling up at a Shell, I was suddenly able to maintain 70 MPH, but that only lasted about 200 miles, and I haven't been able to since. Not sure if Shell fuel actually correlates with better performance, or that was just a fluke, because I haven't been able to recreate the effect. I'm also in Colorado now, so I'm not sure how much elevation has to do with it. Driving on the highway yesterday I lost even more power. If I started up a hill in third gear at ~40MPH, I couldn't accelerate at all and felt the engine was incredibly weak. There's also consistent smoke coming out (seems white, I can only see it at night by headlights behind me) when I'm at highway speeds.
The fuel filter was replaced about 1yr/8000 miles ago, the oil was changed two weeks/2000 miles ago (with 15W-40 synthetic, and a 90915-YZZD3 Toyota filter, which I found out is undersized), changed out the alternator, PS, AC belts as well. The gasket between the exhaust manifold and downpipe completely deteriorated, I ordered a replacement and am going to install when it arrives.
My current plan of action is to attempt to bleed the fuel lines, add an oil additive, drive a few hundred miles (is this a bad idea?), and get an oil change using Rotella T5 10W-30, and replace the filter with the correct, bigger 90915-40002 Toyota Filter.
Questions:
Strangely, during cold starts in the morning the engine seems to turn right over, but starting a warm engine (waiting for glow plugs), takes a few seconds of cranking. Any ideas why?
My understanding of bleeding the fuel lines:
1) Remove the fuel filter
2) drain it
3) refill it with diesel
4) reinstall it
5) Loosen all of the injectors one turn
6) start pressing on the hand pump on top of the fuel filter until fuel starts to come out at the injectors.
Are any of these steps incorrect? Am I missing anything?
Is there anything special I do to install the manifold gasket? Should I grease or oil it before installing?
What fuel/oil additives are recommended? Has anyone used FTC/FOC products or Fuel Ox and had success?
Does anyone know a trusty diesel mechanic in the Southwest (preferably near Denver) who has experience with these imported Toyota diesels? I want to get a compression test and find out if there are serious issues.
Has anyone purchased the gregory's or ellery's repair manuals? Thinking of buying one but they're gonna take a while to arrive... Has anyone used reliable-store's 1997 Hilux LN106 manual? Not sure if I should trust the site...
Any and all advice is welcome!!
I took a cold start video this morning but read that I can't share links and can't upload videos, so not sure if that's helpful or how to start it.
Cheers!
The fuel filter was replaced about 1yr/8000 miles ago, the oil was changed two weeks/2000 miles ago (with 15W-40 synthetic, and a 90915-YZZD3 Toyota filter, which I found out is undersized), changed out the alternator, PS, AC belts as well. The gasket between the exhaust manifold and downpipe completely deteriorated, I ordered a replacement and am going to install when it arrives.
My current plan of action is to attempt to bleed the fuel lines, add an oil additive, drive a few hundred miles (is this a bad idea?), and get an oil change using Rotella T5 10W-30, and replace the filter with the correct, bigger 90915-40002 Toyota Filter.
Questions:
Strangely, during cold starts in the morning the engine seems to turn right over, but starting a warm engine (waiting for glow plugs), takes a few seconds of cranking. Any ideas why?
My understanding of bleeding the fuel lines:
1) Remove the fuel filter
2) drain it
3) refill it with diesel
4) reinstall it
5) Loosen all of the injectors one turn
6) start pressing on the hand pump on top of the fuel filter until fuel starts to come out at the injectors.
Are any of these steps incorrect? Am I missing anything?
Is there anything special I do to install the manifold gasket? Should I grease or oil it before installing?
What fuel/oil additives are recommended? Has anyone used FTC/FOC products or Fuel Ox and had success?
Does anyone know a trusty diesel mechanic in the Southwest (preferably near Denver) who has experience with these imported Toyota diesels? I want to get a compression test and find out if there are serious issues.
Has anyone purchased the gregory's or ellery's repair manuals? Thinking of buying one but they're gonna take a while to arrive... Has anyone used reliable-store's 1997 Hilux LN106 manual? Not sure if I should trust the site...
Any and all advice is welcome!!
I took a cold start video this morning but read that I can't share links and can't upload videos, so not sure if that's helpful or how to start it.
Cheers!