Dusted Hilux? (1 Viewer)

[Grease106]

Gday all, I’m new to IH8MUD, and have a question about my Fram filter.
The vehicle is a 1990 LN106 Hilux wih the 3L motor, plus turbo.
The 3L is currently being assessed for cause of cracked piston (that’s another story), and while checking through the empty engine bay I found dust in the ’clean’ side of the factory airbox.
The filter is a paper cartridge Fram replaced a few months ago.
As you can see in the image, the seal surface appears OK and there is no damage to the airbox, but dust is present on both sides of where the filter sits.
Has anybody had issues with Fram air filters?
Is it worth trying a K&N or even doing away with the factory airbox and building a custom one?
Hope to hear back from someone.
Cheers!

 

[ALX4X4]

Hard to answer now but was that dust there before the filter swap maybe ?

 

[Grease106]

Hard to answer now but was that dust there before the filter swap maybe ?

Good point, if it was, last filter was Fram also and not excessively dirty. Seals on cowling are ok too.

 

[John in Utah]

I always used toyota filters in my 106 and never had any dust issues. The factory set up is really quite good, I only had dust issues with cheap "cold air" filters.

Check your box to make sure it's not cracked. How do the impeller blades on the turbo look?

 

[Grease106]

I always used toyota filters in my 106 and never had any dust issues. The factory set up is really quite good, I only had dust issues with cheap "cold air" filters.

Check your box to make sure it's not cracked. How do the impeller blades on the turbo look?

Thankyou for that, no cracking that I can see. Here’s a pic of the turbo.
The CT20 turbo had started leaking oil into the intake at the time of engine removal too. It was reconditioned approx 3 years/25k km ago.

 

[ALX4X4]

Have a look here too.

 

[Grease106]

Have a look here too.

Cheers mate, that’s all hunky dory on mine.

 

[duncanrm]

• That air filter looks like its been compressed down a little, are you confident its height is the same as factory?
• What are the 4 bands around it from?
• I smear grease top and bottom of my air filter to ensure a perfect seal.

 

[hj 60]

I also dump some wd40 or oil behind the filter so the grease holds the dirt if it enters, seems not to pass the filter (with snorkel)

 

[roscoFJ73]

I believe Toyotas filtration system is better than anything K&N make. Something wrong with the fit of that filter. Ive used that similar design on Landcruisers for 15 years and never had dust get past the filter.

 

[Grease106]

• That air filter looks like its been compressed down a little, are you confident its height is the same as factory?
• What are the 4 bands around it from?
• I smear grease top and bottom of my air filter to ensure a perfect seal.

It may have been slightly compressed by doing the retaining nut up too tight (I didn’t trust a wing-nut). I’m not sure that would matter as there is still pressure on the seals. The 4 bands were already on the filter from new. Yep I also apply grease, cheers though.

 

[serenity]

I find the best place to start is returning everything to oem. The wing nut has worked flawlessly on Toyota air cleaners for decades.

Also that turbo compressor wheel looks fried.

 

[roscoFJ73]

The wing nut has worked flawlessly on Toyota air cleaners for decades.

I agree, and you can undo it it the middle of no where with your fingers. I also have wing nuts on battery terminals, they saved my first cruiser from going up in flames from an electrical fire caused by the PO's dodgy wiring.

 

[Grease106]

I find the best place to start is returning everything to oem. The wing nut has worked flawlessly on Toyota air cleaners for decades.

Also that turbo compressor wheel looks fried.

Good plan, I’ll try a genuine Toyota filter and a wingnut. Thankyou.
I’m no expert on turbos, what looks buggered? Is it the polishing on the tips?

 

[Grease106]

I agree, and you can undo it it the middle of no where with your fingers. I also have wing nuts on battery terminals, they saved my first cruiser from going up in flames from an electrical fire caused by the PO's dodgy wiring.

Dead right, might have to do that too. Cheers

 

[serenity]

Good plan, I’ll try a genuine Toyota filter and a wingnut. Thankyou.
I’m no expert on turbos, what looks buggered? Is it the polishing on the tips?

The polishing would be from the dust ingress. But the big notch on the outside of each blade is the main concern, it would be hugely detrimental to efficiency. It looks to me like someone did a hack job when it was reconditioned and machined it to remove damage from the blade tips.

 

[serenity]

This is what a new ct20 compressor wheel looks like for comparison. Also it’s hard to tell with photos but the clearance between to comp wheel and housing could be excessive.

The 3L is known for not overly enjoying life with a turbo, I’m assuming the whole setup was swapped from a 2.4 turbo motor. I don’t know the details on your cracked piston but an underperforming turbo could have contributed to it

 

[Grease106]

Thanks for your ideas Serenity! Yep I can see the notches you mean, and must have indeed had dust going through. Interesting, yes it’s all from a 2LT or 2LTE motor and had my engine and turbo rebuilt before fitment 3 years ago. Been running 8-10 psi and 1/4 turn on the fuel, big exhaust etc. Hopefully the engine specialists can find the cause. Hoping it was just a faulty injector etc…

 

[serenity]

Thanks for your ideas Serenity! Yep I can see the notches you mean, and must have indeed had dust going through. Interesting, yes it’s all from a 2LT or 2LTE motor and had my engine and turbo rebuilt before fitment 3 years ago. Been running 8-10 psi and 1/4 turn on the fuel, big exhaust etc. Hopefully the engine specialists can find the cause. Hoping it was just a faulty injector etc…

Just make sure you get that turbo repaired or replaced by a reputable shop, it would have increased exhaust manifold pressure to offset the drop in efficiency. It’s gonna mean more heat held in the head. It would also be the perfect time to install a pre turbo egt sensor.

 

[Grease106]

Just make sure you get that turbo repaired or replaced by a reputable shop, it would have increased exhaust manifold pressure to offset the drop in efficiency. It’s gonna mean more heat held in the head. It would also be the perfect time to install a pre turbo egt sensor.

Very interesting, will do, still not sure whether to keep the turbo or return the engine to N/A… I’ve been running a pre turbo sensor, never had it over 500°C, but didn’t help it was only sensing #4 when #3 piston cracked.