Dear Forum members, I have been doing battle with a nasty 3F-E engine for the last couple of months. I purchased this beast not knowing about the now known issues of this poorly powered motor. That having been said, it carried my family and I across Australia towing a trailer. We were lucky to get 250km to a tank! We had the head done before we left, now she is as rattley as all get out. Its going in tomorrow to have a valve adjustment which I hope will sort the old girl out. Have played with the desmog parts mentioned in this forum and it made a difference for sure. Added some fuel cleaner to the tank and it has run like a dog ever since. Under load she just cant peform at all, like its starving for fuel. On the flat it will get up to 100km and stay there, but with a shudder. Its not the wheel alignment as that was just done, its only started since the fuel cleaner was added. Anyone have any ideas? Great forum by the way fellas!
3F-E Shudder at 100kph No Power
- Thread starter sufferinghusband
- Start date
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ouch... You run a compression test?
How'd the cylinder walls look when the head was off? How many km's on the engine?
Do loose drive flanges cause shuttering?
Some other vibrations at speed that come to mind are from the engine...
Like a flexplate or balancer... and one more, but I don't want to jinx ya...
How'd the cylinder walls look when the head was off? How many km's on the engine?
Do loose drive flanges cause shuttering?
Some other vibrations at speed that come to mind are from the engine...
Like a flexplate or balancer... and one more, but I don't want to jinx ya...
Is the "shudder" tied to speed or load on the drivetrain? Can you feel the shudder through the steering wheel, as a vibration through the truck, or just hear it? Does it idle smoothly? Does it shudder from right from a stop up to cruising speed, or only when at higher speed? If only at higher speed, is it only when the torque converter is locked? (above 80km in my 62 with the same transmission) Does the transmission shift at decent points (like above 3200 rpm when you stomp on it) or does it seem like it is shifting early? Is the transmission fluid clean and red, or dark and smelly?
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fuel cleaner may have blocked something. check the screen filter in the tank, the main filter, and blow the lines out with compressed air.
sounds like a fairly easy problem to detect anyway since it's doing it all the time. a fuel pressure and flow meter and a quick run will tell you if it's fuel related.
if that's fine it's probably electrical.
as for power, the 3f is gutless. towing a trailer isn't doing it any favours. your mileage sounds about right too. It's a guzzler. You can always gas it though, they take it better than the 1fz.
- Thread starter
- #5
The block looked fine when the head was off. I made sure of that before the head went to get tested. The shudder is under load. If I backoff the accelerator it disappears completely. Gear changes have been a little erratic, feels like its changing too early. The tranny oil looks good and on the mark. Mechanic has just told me that the valves are adjusted but the top end is very worn. Explains the rattles. He reckons it shouldnt have been put back together in the state it is in. Am yet to pick it up to see how much better or worse it is. There is an FZJ80 engine for sale locally which I have my eye on, but are replacements easy?? Will update further once I get the old girl back. All feedback is appreciated greatly.
I agree with Rove, follow the suggestions.
Let us know how it goes.
Let us know how it goes.
- Thread starter
- #7
Some Success, but advice needed
Well friends I picked up the car from the mechanic who did the valve adjustment, and what a different car it is!! Heaps of power, no shudder, noise and can accelerate up hills that killed it before. HOWEVER, the mechanic told me two things:
1. the rockers are flogged and need to be changed (are 3f rockers the same?)
2. no oil or very little oil is getting to the rockers. Good oil pressure but it isnt getting up top in the quantity needed. Why would this be?
The mechanic who did the head is 5000km away, so I am guessing. IS A 3F AND 3F-E HEAD GASKET THE SAME?? I am thinking a blocked oil gallery if the wrong gasket was used, as I know he had issues with some gaskets. Anyone know?? Any other ideas? Thanks
Well friends I picked up the car from the mechanic who did the valve adjustment, and what a different car it is!! Heaps of power, no shudder, noise and can accelerate up hills that killed it before. HOWEVER, the mechanic told me two things:
1. the rockers are flogged and need to be changed (are 3f rockers the same?)
2. no oil or very little oil is getting to the rockers. Good oil pressure but it isnt getting up top in the quantity needed. Why would this be?
The mechanic who did the head is 5000km away, so I am guessing. IS A 3F AND 3F-E HEAD GASKET THE SAME?? I am thinking a blocked oil gallery if the wrong gasket was used, as I know he had issues with some gaskets. Anyone know?? Any other ideas? Thanks
- Thread starter
- #8
Gentleman, You will not believe this! I had to take the car back to the mechanic who did the valve adjustment as it just got unbearable to drive. He palmed me off to a head specialist. I told him what was going on, and right away he said "I KNOW WHAT IS WRONG< BRING IT DOWN!" His guess was correct. The idiot to did the head put the rocker assembly shaft in with the oil holes pointing up!! To top it off, he had to hit it with a hammer to get it back in! Not only were the rockers crap, but four push rods had their tops obliterated!!Today I picked up the car, and she is driving like a dream. So quiet it is unbelieveable.
From here on, never a bad word to say about a 3F-E. Cheers Gentlemen!
Hope you get some money back! Glad she is running good now!
matt.mcinnes
2F-ETI
2F, 3F and 3F-E head gaskets are all the same, however they can be fitted incorrectly blocking the oil feed. But with the head off this should have been noticed by the second Mech so i think it's unlikely.
