Getting 17 mpg on my bj60

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

R

rustybucket

Joined
Jan 11, 2008
Threads
200
Messages
1,044
Location
Seattle
Truck now has 460,000 km. Have not rebuilt the injectors in a few years. What kind of millage/km should I be getting as the cruiser ages over time?
If the compression is low, are there copper additives to fill in the small groves in the cylinder walls to increase the compression?
What are symptoms of a worn Fuel injector pump?
IT has also been a few years since doing a valve adjustment. Would doing a adjustment increase the fuel economy?

I know doing valve adjustment on a gas engine increased the performance a bit.

Looking for a used fj60 but....I need to consider my engine, what can be done to extend its life other then a full rebuild?
Oil pressure is normal it rides at half way mark some times higher. So, replacing the cylinder liners, pistons, rings possibly the connecting rod shells and having the head checked for cracks and precups? I can do this work with the engine installed but what about cylinder liners? is there a press required to pull it and can it be rented in Vancouver bc?
 
Don't have a lot of answers for you…but wife's BJ60 consistently got about 22-24 mpg (US miles per gallon) and was going strong at 500,000km when she sold it. Injectors were never rebuilt during it's lifetime. Valve settings were done but never mattered. Never showed any changes in mpg regardless of the maintenance. Cold Edmonton winter driving, city driving, and hwy driving against strong winds were about the only things that impacted mpg. That's all I can offer…..
 
I'm no expert but a cursory look and repeated discussions with people a lot smarter than me indicated to me that:

If you are in a place where 3b engines are available (i.e. BC and Alberta esp.) you'd be way ahead to buy almost any running 3b and swap it. I would think you could accomplish that in 3 or 4 days pretty easily, and sell the remaining parts to defray the cost. If you are attempting to alleviate low compression with DIY engine rebuilding - in the truck- you are way tougher than I am:)
Also, if you are looking for an fj60, why do you care about 17mpg? That would be superb for most 2f's I think. Maybe I misread.
 
Fuel additives will never make up for lost compression.
The symptoms of a worn injector pump are when it loses power at the top end or makes horrible noises , or both.
Rebuild kits for 3B are dirt cheap. You are much better off pulling the engine out and doing it in a workshop. I think the liners need to be machined in situ once they are fitted to the block.
 
My previous career was as a shop mechanic so short block swaps is nothing news to me. I just have never worked on a diesel. If I had the $$, A two bay garage and time, Would have been hunting for a donar 3b or, another FJ60 and a temporary truck to continue my work long ago. I responded to a add in CL for a gas bj60. The owner said the reason he was selling it was because the v6 provided 11 mpg. After my preliminary inspection, the frame looked solid with surface rust. The Frame extensions that attach the rear bumper were starting to delaminate/swell. The first signs of corrosion at the wheel well corners were showing but..it was surface corrosion. Actual wheel wells as well as frame are still in good condition. Owner stated he would go as low as $4,000 for the 1987 cruiser.
 
rustybucket said:
Truck now has 460,000 km. Have not rebuilt the injectors in a few years. What kind of millage/km should I be getting as the cruiser ages over time?
If the compression is low, are there copper additives to fill in the small groves in the cylinder walls to increase the compression?
What are symptoms of a worn Fuel injector pump?
IT has also been a few years since doing a valve adjustment. Would doing a adjustment increase the fuel economy?

I know doing valve adjustment on a gas engine increased the performance a bit.

Looking for a used fj60 but....I need to consider my engine, what can be done to extend its life other then a full rebuild?
Oil pressure is normal it rides at half way mark some times higher. So, replacing the cylinder liners, pistons, rings possibly the connecting rod shells and having the head checked for cracks and precups? I can do this work with the engine installed but what about cylinder liners? is there a press required to pull it and can it be rented in Vancouver bc?
Click to expand...
Have you tested the compression?
Have you done a leak down test?
You should do things like valve adjustments as part of the regular engine maintenance (at specified intervals). Now with the rockers on the 3B there may be wear that gives you false readings when doing valve clearances. They might need sanding/grinding.
Injectors rarely need rebuilding, and honestly, all 3 engines I have done it in that had higher kilometers, I did not see noticeable improvement in performance or fuel economy. I'm sure the engine is happier but it wasn't noticeable by much (unless they are really bad).
No additive will magically fix the engine or successfully patch it in a way that will do good in the long run. If you are getting poorer fuel economy and it happened gradually then there likely is something associated with wear, you should have also noticed something else like either lack of power or more smoke out the exhaust, etc. If it was pretty drastic then something broke.
With the engine at 460,000km, if it was not maintained well then it might be due for a rebuild, if it was maintained then it should give you many more kilometers of diesel burning fun.
I would recommend a test of compression and a leak down test first.
 
Fantom,

I was in Port Coquitlam today doing a service call. Are you near Logheed mall? Anyway, do you have a diesel compression tester? If so, do you mind me coming over to see what the compression could be? The tail pipe does generate visible smoke going up highway 1 after exiting the north side of the Ironworker's bridge heading up that long hill.
 
Fantom said:
Sorry for the hijack, but the last time I priced out a good quality rebuild kit for a 3B it was $1200. That's not dirt cheap. If you know of a less expensive, good quality kit I'm interested.
Click to expand...

$1200 is the upper price I would pay for a quality kit. Its cheap for a japanese diesel and probably half the price of an OEM kit. I did see them a few years back for $500-600, dont know much about them. EDIT ,they are $800 at Noordeman diesel in australia
The point I was making is that by the time you do the pistons ring liners and big ends, you might as well keep going and do everything.
As I said before,you need to machine the liners once they are fitted to the block AFAIK, unless there is a machine that can do it with the engine in the engine bay.
By the time you have the head and pump removed on a diesel,there is only the gearbox and engine mounts holding it in.
 
Fantom,

If you know of some one who is about to be involved in a 3b engine rebuild, let me know. Like work work with the person, not on the engine removal, but the critical details of the parts replacement. I have done enough short block changes, that I would be beneficial to support who ever is doing the diesel change. I could learn a few things on my engine rebuild steps. I would not mind doing part time work for a shop working on these trucks :)


http://www.noordeman.com.au/kit/3b/
 
I was looking at SORs 3b kit price of 1900 dollars. WOW why so high compared the kit out of noordeman in Australia?
 
Magnus, what did you do to extract the cylinder liners? did you also take the block in to have it cleaned and all oil ports blown out? What about the head? The cam bushings need to be pressed out and pressed in? Again, did short blocks but...the block was rebuilt by a re-builder.
 
I currently have 590km on my 85/ 60 When I got the truck it had a blown head which I replaced from Dan at 4wd, As this is new territory for me venturing into the high milage I would consider doing all the necessary maintenance as suggested above.
In the winter with a full tank I get 600km / tank or higher. all other seasons I get 700km per tank. Highway drives for trips I get just shy of 800km.
My 85 is stock 5 speed with air running stock tires.
hope this helps !
Cheers
 
correct me if i am wrong, the tank volume is 25 gallona. if the truck was new it should get 28 mpg highway and 25 mpg city. I just went rhrough emission and passed. idle particulate opacity readung is 1.70 and max allowed to pass is 30.00. my avwrage reading at idle is 9.50 have been neglwcting the lattest oil change rhe last few times "really late". i was really suprised how well it did at the emissions test center. btw this is the LAST year britisholumbia will be doing emmissions. !z
 
would a block tank dip to clean the hlock be required after any machine work is done ? and who in vancouver region would do it? i imaging big end berrings and cylinder wall honed?
 
rustybucket said:
I was looking at SORs 3b kit price of 1900 dollars. WOW why so high compared the kit out of noordeman in Australia?
Click to expand...

They have been overcharging for years,whats new? I bet they get their kits from the same place Noordemans do.
 
Fantom,
Sorry have not made contact with you due to the Christmas season, looking for a new place to move to and so on. Will give you a call and see what works best for the both us.
 
FWIW, my bj60 gets about the same as a true average on winter fuel, between 13 and 14 L per 100km (i.e. around 17mpg). Has enough compression to start at -20 on a glow cycle, but I've never bothered to test it. Is capable of a bit better mileage on highway if I slow down and am running summer diesel, but that isn't how I use it :meh:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

FJ40SBC
  • Question
BJ60 Super Glow Troubleshoot
Replies
16
Views
1K
sodafeld1
S
charlay61
My t-belt warning wouldnt reset on hdj81 1hdft
Replies
3
Views
872
Dave 2000
Dave 2000
D
Not getting enough fuel to a 3l
Replies
2
Views
498
dsaw
D
S
Need some advice on where to source brakes for my rig...
Replies
5
Views
1K
Worth96HZj80turbo
Worth96HZj80turbo

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom