2L-TE overheating. How far to go?

[Radd Cruisers]

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

We have not had any repeat failures, but I live on Vancouver Island where 30,000 kms/year is considered a lot of driving. In places like the prairies, you can do that just running to the grocery store to pick up milk every week for a year.

The "3L" head is not a true fix, it's simply a head replacement. It's the only head that, afaik, is available for the later L series engines.

Cooling systems issues on the JDMs are so common, I would say that nearly 100% of JDMs have compromised cooling systems and many are seriously compromised (to the point of not functioning).

This topic has been covered dozens of times in this forum and in the diesel section. It is not new news.... these engines are time bombs - it really just boils down to how long before the time runs out and the bomb goes off.

Fixing it is the least costly way to go. Expect from $4000 to $5000 for a decent job from a shop that has done a few of these. Ideally the rings should get replaced too - they stick and cause smoking issues, but these little buggers smoke even if you do the rings... there is no magic wand for these little suckers. They are nasty from start to finish, and it's such a shame because the vehicles themselves are quite nice.

I will not warranty the repairs on these engines, I will not warranty that you will not have smoke after the repairs. Pay your money, take your chances.


~John

 

[Gun Runner 5]

Thanks John, I guess it boils down to a couple of options....either move to Vancouver Island or don,t buy a LJ78...................1978HJ45

 

[crushers]

i had an opportunity to move to Duncan on the island to work with John ... but ... as they say, you snooze you loose. he hired someone else.
(and i don't even own a LJ78)

 

[Gun Runner 5]

i had an opportunity to move to Duncan on the island to work with John ... but ... as they say, you snooze you loose. he hired someone else.
(and i don't even own a LJ78)

You could always buy a LJ78 and regain some of your dignity
......1978HJ45

 

[crushers]

corrected :whoops:

You could always buy a LJ78 and lose some of your dignity
......1978HJ45

 

[Gun Runner 5]

corrected :whoops:

I believe changing my response violates several copy right laws.
If I was not saving money to buy a replacement engine I would probably hire a lawyer. ........1978HJ45

 

[Toyo Boyo]

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

When I bought my JDM Surf 8 years ago - 2.4 LTE - it had a cracked head.

I replaced it with a 3L head and drove for the next 6 years and 200,000 kms and had no issues with it again.

Regular maintenance of course, but that truck used to get a hammering - lots of off roading and lots of towing a couple of ponies and daughters to many, many competitions (kids, eh?).

HOWEVER - I also .................

Fitted an intercooler (easy to do and cheap)
Blocked off the EGR (ditto)
Removed the engine bay skirts (ditto)
1.5'' body lift - massive improvement in air flow around the tranny
Auto tranny cooler - easily the best cooling mod you will ever fit (if you have an auto that is)

And I used to run 33'' tyres most of the time too - it was my daily driver.

I agree that the 2LTE can be 'fragile', but after a while I stopped checking the water level, such was my confidence in the truck. I actually miss the old girl........nah, only joking lol

 

[Gun Runner 5]

Regular maintenance and realizing the LJ78 is a heavy and underpowered Cruiser will probably go a long way. ( At least I hope so) ..........1978HJ45

 

[Toyo Boyo]

Regular maintenance and realizing the LJ78 is a heavy and underpowered Cruiser will probably go a long way. ( At least I hope so) ..........1978HJ45

Drive like you've got a tack stuck in your foot!

I wheeled my Surf with a LJ70 series and they are great trucks - a solid front axle (IIRC) made it very able - stock against my modded Surf and it went everywhere I did. That one had the 2.4LT - might have been the LTE?.

You've got the truck - you might as well change the head when it is in bits. Then enjoy it.

Make sure you fit new head bolts. If a shop is fitting the head, hand them the new bolts as they fit them so you know for sure.

 

[Gun Runner 5]

Original head has already been changed. The LJ78 currently has a 3L head, recored radiator running "Evans" coolant, rebuilt turbo, 2-1/2" exhaust, Pyrometer, Boost gauge and aftermarket water temp. and oil pressure gauge. 161,000 kms ( so far so good)
............1978HJ45

 

[JuanJ]

Regular maintenance and realizing the LJ78 is a heavy and underpowered Cruiser will probably go a long way. ( At least I hope so) ..........1978HJ45

Hello,

I agree on a small diesel moving a big, heavy Cruiser.

It is also important to follow the owner's manual warning about letting the engine cool itself after running at high speed/high revs.

I think JDM LJ7x's drivers did not care about this, nor about proper maintenance, abusing their mounts to the point damage was beyond repair. That the 2L engine cannot dissipate heat efficiently under stress makes things even worse.

Too bad.




Juan

 

[Gun Runner 5]

"It is also important to follow the owner's manual warning about letting the engine cool itself after running at high speed/high revs."

I learn something new everyday...I did not know my LJ78 was capable of "high speeds/high revs" .......1978HJ45

 

[JuanJ]

Hello,

According to the manual it is. I posted this a while ago; you might find it useful:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/diesel-tech-24-volts-systems/408243-2l-t-engine-warning.html

This warning led me to think about JDM LJ7x's being abused by their original owners.





Juan

 

[crushers]

high revs and high speeds are dependent on who is the viewer.
to me high speeds and high revs are 180 k/h and 4500 rpm in a land cruiser,but to an LJ owner it would be more along the lines of 110 k/h and 3000 rpm ...

 

[gotoy]

On the subject of 2l/2lt/3l...

Here in Malaysia I noticed for all the vehicles containing the 2l/2lt/3l engines purchased new, there is in general no issue with these engines provided they have been looked after. Not so many of the famous head cracks.

What I have noticed is that for all those 2nd hand, used, engines imported from Japan, there is a tendancy for overheating and head cracks.

The 3L and 2L engines are actually quite bullet proof. The 3L especially being renowned as a work horse. I had a 2L engine with 600000km on the clock and have known the 3L to exceed well over 400000km. No coments on the 2l-t.

No wonder there are so many compaints against the L series, they are all used imports in US and Canada.

 

[Gun Runner 5]

You have to wonder how many LJ78's are being sold (auctioned) in the Pacific Rim that already have engine issues and these issues are not being disclosed by the seller. These problems manifest themselves within weeks after some poor sap in North America buys the Cruiser. There are honest and legit importers
(many on this Forum) however just like some who sell via Ebay there are those who are simply out for a quick buck.
....I limit my LJ78 to roughly 2500 rpm/ 100 kph/ 900 degrees (C)
on the pyrometer ( I am at the age where going fast is no longer appealing) ................1978HJ45

 

[crushers]

<all good natured digs aside>
what speeds are being driven in the UK? Malaysia? Africa? New Zealand?
what are the elevation changes that are rutinely being transversed?
what 'head wind' speeds for what duration are you experiencing in addition to the 'traveling' speed?

i "suspect" a 2LT, 3L MIGHT survive in rural Ontario, Quebec and the eastern provinces due to the slower speeds, minor elevation changes and non-constant head wind issues (the roads twist and turn irraticly here). BUT, I will still not recommend them to my customers. there are better choices to choose from. better reliability, better performance, better fuel economy and just as capable.

i would like to hear the drving habits and terrain being covered on a normal drive of these high mile vehicles.

i also suspect that if these engines NEVER get overheated (and being driven by a person that respects the capibilities of the engine) they will last a long time but with the faulty factory temp gauge, and aggressive driving style of the normal North American individual (non-turbo would be pushed even harder trying to move down the road), severe elevation changes (non-turbo will need pushed to the floor to maintain the desired speed instead of the desire of the engine it is the desire of the driver), strong constant head winds (again, pushed)... it is a matter of time till the first overheating will occur ... and then ... sooner or later ... tick ... tick .. tick . tick

 

[Gun Runner 5]

Here in Southern Georgia ( not the one near Russia) we admittingly don't deal with high elevation, steep inclines or headwinds ( except during hurricane season and you should not be out driving anyway). We do however deal with very hot Summers where ambient temps. can reach 40+ on occasion.
These high temps. don't directly effect the 2L-TE operating temp. until you throw the A/C switch. The A/C condenser can raise the radiator temp. by as much as 25 degrees (F) and then the small hill that was not a factor in the Winter becomes an issue.
..............1978HJ45

 

[crushers]

thanks for the description, appreciated.

 

[Gun Runner 5]

thanks for the description, appreciated.

Even though I would not come during the Summer you are welcome to visit any time as long as you bring maple syrup. .............1978HJ45