4.5 Reliability (1 Viewer)

[ZA-CRUISER]

On the South African cruiser forum (www.landcruiserclub.co.za) we have a guy who's an ex-Toyota mechanic and still does a lot of work on cruisers in his own business. He is also the guy who helped another South African member, Bongani, to sort out his Birf and vibration problems. This week he posted that he saw the inside of a 4.5 for the first time. I find that amazing, 12 years after the 4.5 was launched in SA.

Here's his post:

A lot off people have asked me in the past about reliability off the Land Cruiser 4.5 engine. My words, i think its a wonderful engine, very reliable, my choice off engine in any Land Cruiser. But i never seen one opened yet, not even an cylinder head removed in all my life.Wel yesterday i had the oppertunity to removed ones cylinder head, dropped the engine sump and removed the timing cover to replace the timing chain and rails, " what a pleasure to worked on this engine " Even took some pics off it stripped, but dont know how to post it here
While working on it, again realise why its sutch a strong, reliable beast just by looking at the basic design.
What more can i say, i love working on them, what a pleasure

We then asked what happened and how long he has been working on cruisers and this is what he replied:

Want to take some more pics, then post it to you next week.The cruiser is close to 300 000km and reason for removing the head was sudden water loss and start to overheat. Heard off two simalar problems on 4.5 before, cylinder head gaskets blown at no 1 cylinder for no reason at all. The one had corrosion at the front water jacket close to the cylinder sleeve, due to either none or little antifreeze and rust inhibutor ( also done 370 000 km ). The other one i had no info off why it have happened, but also high millage done.
Whilst cleaning the engine block surface with the one im bussy with, i noticed that the left hand side off the timing chain guide rail is rather short. By closer examinition saw thats its being broken off. The top piece was lying at the bottom against the chain and realy been shaved by the chain. It was pure luck that it havent been caught between the lower sprocket and chain. Can only assume that to much slack in the chain cause it to brake the guide.
Other than this could not see anything abnormal with engine doing that milage. Even the honing marks on the cylinder sleeves is stil there.
And Barto, to answer you, started working for Toyota in 1988 and ended it in 1998 before went on my own. Started the years when the old faithfull FJ60 and FJ62 was still roming king off the 4x4's ( My opinion )

 

[Junk]

Pretty amazing that he's only heard of 2 similiar problems on the 4.5 before.

Guess he doesn't hang on ih8mud

 

[Bongani]

He is also the guy who helped another South African member, Bongani, to sort out his Birf and vibration problems.

Yea, out of phase front props rocks.

 

[OZCAL]

Great story. Makes me want to change the oil

David