2L-TE overheating. How far to go?

[Lee777]

Hi to all you 2L-TE owners:

Funny how I knew there was a potential with overheating/head issues with this engine but guess what, I bought it anyway

I own a 1991 Prado Ex5 with a 2L-TE engine with added temp/boost guages and I love it. But recently it overheated. Took in into the shop.

-Rad pressure is good
-Failed an emission test which detects fluent in the combustion gasses.

Conclusion: definitely a leak somewhere, is it just a gasket or is it a cracked head?

Now here is my question; Should I just go for it --> get a new head/timing belt/pump/thermostat....(from 4wheelauto) etc and be done with it OR

should i just replace the gasket if its just a gasket.

Im leaning towards the former option based on what I have read about these engines but am looking for some direction from you guys who are more exprienced With these modifications do you think I will be able to run this engine up to the 400-500k mark like my 3B?


thanks for your help.

lee

 

[simonliew]

once you got the head out,if you see a crack line between the intake and exhaust valves,the head is cracked,usually on number 3 and or number 4 cylinder.
l hav replaced many heads.
Simon
TLC winnipeg

 

[DanS HJ-45]

Replace the whole thing. You'd hate to do a head gasket and a few months later have the head itself fail. Besides, you'll get a little piece of mind with a new head (a little, mind you).

But then, I've debated just replacing my head, even though mine runs beautifully (knock on wood) just for the piece of mind it might give me...

Dan

 

[gotoy]

The obvious thing to do would be to remove the head and have it inspected. If the head is ok and no signs of cracking then do a clean up and install a new gasket. I would only replace the head if its absolutely necessary. As for water pump and timing belt, a good time to do.

Don't overboost and keep a good eye on the temperature.

 

[Gun Runner 5]

Talk to Radd Cruisers...............1978HJ45 ( 1990 LJ78 )

 

[crushers]

tick, tick, tick ......... BANG.
and another one bites the dust.

DO NOT put a head on it.
DO NOT put a gasket on it (and IF it is a gasket then it will be the first i have seen)

drop a different engine into it and NOT a KZ.
gas 22R
V6
V8
1PZ
1HZ

L = problems
KZ = problems

i have to ask, WHY did you think it wouldn't happen to you? what was the convincing argument you or the seller used to convince you it was a good investment?

 

[Lee777]

tick, tick, tick ......... BANG.
and another one bites the dust.

DO NOT put a head on it.
DO NOT put a gasket on it (and IF it is a gasket then it will be the first i have seen)

drop a different engine into it and NOT a KZ.
gas 22R
V6
V8
1PZ
1HZ

L = problems
KZ = problems

i have to ask, WHY did you think it wouldn't happen to you? what was the convincing argument you or the seller used to convince you it was a good investment?

When i brought up the issue with the PO, they acted like they had no idea what i was talking about. I kept bringing it up, but they had no comments regarding it. I can say I bought i knowing this could happen but for some reason it didnt deter me... I like playing around with cruisers and i guess, i just saw it as a challenge to manage if were ever to come up. I love the trucks design, and my wife loves all the electricals (i dont) so it won us over.

I was told by 4wheel auto that the new 2l-t3 head brought in from toyota is an improved design with greater heat dissipation and as such provides the fix as opposed top trying to go for another model head. Is switching the engine necessary to get around the overheating problems or is replacing the head/pump/therom/timing belt + regular radiatior maintenanc, driving within its limits (using the guages) all a good option?

oh and dropping a v6 in that puppy would be awesome! just little out of my league right now!

thanks
Lee

 

[DanS HJ-45]

When i brought up the issue with the PO, they acted like they had no idea what i was talking about. I kept bringing it up, but they had no comments regarding it. I can say I bought i knowing this could happen but for some reason it didnt deter me... I like playing around with cruisers and i guess, i just saw it as a challenge to manage if were ever to come up. I love the trucks design, and my wife loves all the electricals (i dont) so it won us over.

I was told by 4wheel auto that the new 2l-t3 head brought in from toyota is an improved design with greater heat dissipation and as such provides the fix as opposed top trying to go for another model head. Is switching the engine necessary to get around the overheating problems or is replacing the head/pump/therom/timing belt + regular radiatior maintenanc, driving within its limits (using the guages) all a good option?

oh and dropping a v6 in that puppy would be awesome! just little out of my league right now!

thanks
Lee

I don't think anyone can really call the new head design a true fix, because they haven't been around all that long, and there have reportedly been failures with them.

That said, I wouldn't swap motors, unless you have a 1HZ or 1PZ just lying around ready to go. The cost of a new head for your 2LT-E will be much less than any engine swap you might try, and I just consider the head of a 2LT-E to be a consumable item (just like the timing belt and water pump). It's an expensive item, to be sure, but I've simply decided to live with my 2LT-E. The ONLY gripe I have about it is the head and the head cracking issue (even though I have been lucky and not had to replace mine--yet). I don't think it's underpowered (and I drive up a big, steep hill every time I drive to and from town), it's plenty efficient, it wheels well for me, and mine has been reliable for 80,000 miles almost all of which is up here in the mountains of Colorado and New Mexico.

I just do regular maintenance, drive like a grandma (I have a pyro, but that's the only addition to the stock gauges), and mine has been pretty good to me. Do I like the fact that I will have to replace the head one of these days? Not really. But since I have the truck, love the truck, and would be into a world more work to swap it to something else I'll live with the head cracking issue looming.

Dan

 

[pradocruzer]

If you can do the head job yourself, replacing the head will be the most money conscious plan of attack. As long as your cooling system is in good shape and you drive it with in it's limits watching your gauges, you should be ok. An engine swap is your over all best choice but very costly and a ton of custom fabbing. The least difficult engine swap would be a 22-re but in my books just a slight step higher then the 2lte from experience of say 20 plus heads, gaskets and timing covers. If you choose to do a engine swap it would be nice to see it come from a dead cruiser not a drivable one.
There fun trucks enjoy.

Take care

 

[gotoy]

When i brought up the issue with the PO, they acted like they had no idea what i was talking about. I kept bringing it up, but they had no comments regarding it. I can say I bought i knowing this could happen but for some reason it didnt deter me... I like playing around with cruisers and i guess, i just saw it as a challenge to manage if were ever to come up. I love the trucks design, and my wife loves all the electricals (i dont) so it won us over.

I was told by 4wheel auto that the new 2l-t3 head brought in from toyota is an improved design with greater heat dissipation and as such provides the fix as opposed top trying to go for another model head. Is switching the engine necessary to get around the overheating problems or is replacing the head/pump/therom/timing belt + regular radiatior maintenanc, driving within its limits (using the guages) all a good option?

oh and dropping a v6 in that puppy would be awesome! just little out of my league right now!

thanks
Lee

I would not trust that info on the 2l-t3 head.

Take off your head and find out the situation. If its cracked, then you have to replace. If not, put a new gasket in and do the pump, timing belt and radiator while you are there.

Drive carefully and dont trash the engine. Might run ok, might blow, its 50:50.

Start thinking about an engine change and save a little cash for it each month.

1Hz..would be a nice choice.

 

[crushers]

first, it is a design flaw for all the L series engines.
so
3L head is NOT a cure, and i proved this one personally a few years back.
next, by the time you upgrade the rad, eliminate the EGR, install head, water pump, increase the exhaust, install the proper gauges etc etc etc then you will be right in the $6000+ range.
AND
you can STILL have the issue come up (proved that also)

so, you bought what is basicly a great truck with a time bomb under the hood. eliminate the time bomb (like Bub and I have) and you will be a happy camper.
or
spend the money on a new head and upgrades and be unhappy and poorer

and then do as suggested now.

your money, your time, knock yourself out

but
think of it this way, you didn't listen last time and look where you are now.

 

[Gun Runner 5]

tick, tick, tick ......... BANG.
and another one bites the dust.

DO NOT put a head on it.
DO NOT put a gasket on it (and IF it is a gasket then it will be the first i have seen)

drop a different engine into it and NOT a KZ.
gas 22R
V6
V8
1PZ
1HZ

L = problems
KZ = problems

i have to ask, WHY did you think it wouldn't happen to you? what was the convincing argument you or the seller used to convince you it was a good investment?

Remember young grasshopper to view the glass as half full
..........1978HJ45

 

[Gun Runner 5]

The "change the engine" theme seems to be fairly common on the Forum when it comes to the LJ78 (2L-TE). In the event that someones actually decides to go with the engine swap, do you Canadian fellas have 1PZ / 1HZ engines setting around in a warehouse up there somewhere or would it involve a prolonged search to find a donor engine? Just curious ...............1978HJ45

 

[crushers]

me, since i have access to the 15BT then i would go:
15BT (not cheap)
1PZ (not cheap)
1HZ (not cheap)
22R (cheap and better power, fuel economy than the 2LTE)

warehouse, not here but i do have a 1HZ/H55F sitting on the shelf in excellent shape. I also have a 3B II with H41 that has excellent compression.
i have a set of frame horns that you will need for the swap and access to a complete HD 70 front clip.

 

[Scud1373]

Get the head done cause it is going to fail sooner or later. It's not worth the headache when it does fail and screws you over on the side of the road!

J

Hi to all you 2L-TE owners:

Funny how I knew there was a potential with overheating/head issues with this engine but guess what, I bought it anyway

I own a 1991 Prado Ex5 with a 2L-TE engine with added temp/boost guages and I love it. But recently it overheated. Took in into the shop.

-Rad pressure is good
-Failed an emission test which detects fluent in the combustion gasses.

Conclusion: definitely a leak somewhere, is it just a gasket or is it a cracked head?

Now here is my question; Should I just go for it --> get a new head/timing belt/pump/thermostat....(from 4wheelauto) etc and be done with it OR

should i just replace the gasket if its just a gasket.

Im leaning towards the former option based on what I have read about these engines but am looking for some direction from you guys who are more exprienced With these modifications do you think I will be able to run this engine up to the 400-500k mark like my 3B?


thanks for your help.

lee

 

[crushers]

you will NEVER see 400K to 500K with a 2LTE (even if you do change out the head) ...
it really is that simple.

 

[Gun Runner 5]

Crushers......PM Sent .............1978HJ45

 

[Radd Cruisers]

The head gaskets are not the failure point on the 2LTE, it's always the head. The MLS gaskets are not prone to failures and are super robust.

The heads are not very strong and the engines generate a lot of heat.

I would suggest that you take a serious look at the cooling system and fan clutch at the same time as you do the head.

Price things around a little, I think you will find that there can be some variability in the price of repair parts for these engines.


~John

 

[crushers]

John,
even if you do upgrade the rad to a 4 core 1/2", even if you install the "upgrade high flow" water pump, you can still have the head crack the second time.
the cost of the parts isn't the big cost on these things, it is the labor. most shops charge $80 to $110 an hour to work on the imports, doesn't take long to rack up a couple grand in labor.

you can"
increase the rad
fix mount the fan
install the high flow water pump
increase the exhaust size
increase the boost
install the "upgrade" 3L head
block off the EGR system
install the guages

and still end up with a cracked head within a year or two.

but i know what you are saying, IF you are doing the head make sure you check it all over.

 

[Gun Runner 5]

Hi John, From your experience and based on work performed in your shop, have you seen repeat failures with the 3L head installed? I was under the impression, when installed properly, that the 3L head was holding up better than the original head. Just curious....1978HJ45