3FE oil galley plug failure - how common?

[jonnyd42]

How common is this? I have 304k on the clock of my 89 FJ62. About to do a long road trip with hills.

Cooling system works great, no oil leaks, and have an external trans cooler. The engine has never had the head off...it's the original head gasket.

 

[RevISK]

 

[toy_tek]

I still haven't done it... I'm at 270k.

 

[tmxmotorsports]

Fix it now! Unless you don't like your landcruiser. Pretty sure the fix is in faq section. Look it up

 

[Skniper]

It happens, or it may never happen. But It happened to my fj62 early in my ownership numerous years ago, bone stock etc etc.
I had just exited the highway, parked, and saw the huge puddle of oil draining across the parking spot when I got out, oil spewed everywhere under then hood. I was lucky.
I had no time to deal with it so had a local shop hammer in a new oem plug, been fine ever since. I will tap and screw that plug before I die.

 

[tmxmotorsports]

It happens, or it may never happen. But It happened to my fj62 early in my ownership numerous years ago, bone stock etc etc.
I had just exited the highway, parked, and saw the huge puddle of oil draining across the parking spot when I got out, oil spewed everywhere under then hood. I was lucky.
I had no time to deal with it so had a local shop hammer in a new oem plug, been fine ever since. I will tap and screw that plug before I die.

I did mine after driving across country from outer banks nc to Breckenridge Colorado and back at that time I had no idea about it good thing I didn't know and nothing happened. Mine wasn't leaking or anything just did it for peace of mind.

 

[Skniper]

I did mine after driving across country from outer banks nc to Breckenridge Colorado and back at that time I had no idea about it good thing I didn't know and nothing happened. Mine wasn't leaking or anything just did it for peace of mind.

Peace of mind is a good thing. I continued to flog the sh!t outta my 3FE for many years after the incident with no issues, but the plug has always been in the back of my mind in a small dark uncomfortable place.

 

[RevISK]

^^^^

My truck is at 164,xxx and it isn't done. When I first read about this I checked my 40 and my 62. Of course the 40 had been done by the PO. Naturally, it is the far easier one to do it on. I need to do it though, with everything I just went through with this truck I'd lose my S if something happened. I watch the oil pressure like a hawk as it is.

 

[LCnAZ]

For a little extra peace of mind, you might consider the step to have a real oil pressure gauge and 5psi low pressure alarm. This post has a video of how it works.

Builds - Sentimental Restoration of Family 1990 FJ62 - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/sentimental-restoration-of-family-1990-fj62.1095049/page-10#post-14126142

If you have a sudden loss of oil pressure that you don't catch on the gauge, you're going to get a loud alarm when it falls below 5psi...signaling you need to make an emergency landing and save your engine.

 

[pawnthatdude]

People are going to absolutely hate me for this:

I put JB Weld putty on mine 5 years ago and it's still there.

 

[LCnAZ]

People are going to absolutely hate me for this:

I put JB Weld putty on mine 5 years ago and it's still there.

Hey, no judgement...I did the same. Then I did the gauge and alarm.

 

[RevISK]

For a little extra peace of mind, you might consider the step to have a real oil pressure gauge and 5psi low pressure alarm. This post has a video of how it works.

Builds - Sentimental Restoration of Family 1990 FJ62 - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/sentimental-restoration-of-family-1990-fj62.1095049/page-10#post-14126142

If you have a sudden loss of oil pressure that you don't catch on the gauge, you're going to get a loud alarm when it falls below 5psi...signaling you need to make an emergency landing and save your engine.

Does that alarm sound every time you start your truck?

 

[pawnthatdude]

Hey, no judgement...I did the same. Then I did the gauge and alarm.

That's pretty slick. I wouldn't add an extra gauge to mine but the alarm would be nice peace of mind.

 

[RevISK]

Added gauges seem cool and all, but first I'll properly fix the potential root problem.

 

[LCnAZ]

Does that alarm sound every time you start your truck?

Yes, for that short couple of seconds before the pressure up; exactly as in the video. This is essential because it is your test of the system function reliability. It's like a "press to test" but without a button. You just "test" it each time you start up.

 

[RevISK]

Yes, for that short couple of seconds before the pressure up; exactly as in the video. This is essential because it is your test of the system function reliability. It's like a "press to test" but without a button. You just "test" it each time you start up.

oof, I don't know if I could live with that. I like the idea of the alarm though, I just think it would drive me bonkers to hear it everytime.
Is your Oil Galley Plug still stuffed with JB Weld or did you properly tap and fix?

Love your truck by the way, read through a lot of your thread.

Ian

 

[LCnAZ]

Added gauges seem cool and all, but first I'll properly fix the potential root problem.

I understand and agree. This was actually an add-on project, the ATF temp gauge being the primary need since there is none in the vehicle, and that ATF runs mighty hot if not managed (cooler, exhaust shielding, etc). It seemed a step towards what modern vehicles do in such cases.

 

[Mark W]

How common is this? I have 304k on the clock of my 89 FJ62. About to do a long road trip with hills.

Cooling system works great, no oil leaks, and have an external trans cooler. The engine has never had the head off...it's the original head gasket. Truck burns no oil in between 4000 mile oil changes.

It is not common at all. It happens but it is far from common. I was one of the first to spread the word about the risk of it. But I have only seen one complete failure, one screaming "fix me" and two "seepers" in the 30 years since I first encountered it. I always check the plug any time an F series engine passes through the shop but it is not a common problem.

Mark...

 

[RevISK]

I understand and agree. This was actually an add-on project, the ATF temp gauge being the primary need since there is none in the vehicle, and that ATF runs mighty hot if not managed (cooler, exhaust shielding, etc). It seemed a step towards what modern vehicles do in such cases.

I 100% get the need for an atf meter. If you've followed any of my woes, I just had a terrible run of two A440f's taking a dump on me in a row. I am manual now, but if I still had an auto, I'd have every trick in the book to monitor its health.

 

[LCnAZ]

oof, I don't know if I could live with that. I like the idea of the alarm though, I just think it would drive me bonkers to hear it everytime.
Is your Oil Galley Plug still stuffed with JB Weld or did you properly tap and fix?

Love your truck by the way, read through a lot of your thread.

Ian

Thanks for the kind words.

I'm are retired fighter pilot...so gauges and alarms are within my comfort zone. I understand, though. It is quite loud off the shelf. I put a layer of electrical tape across the alarm "mouth" to knock it down just a little. If and ever it goes off, I want it to seriously get my attention, though. No, my plug is not really stuffed, just "capped." Living in warm AZ I'm not too concerned about the plug blowing...and that's a fairly involved job to do thoroughly.