4Cruisers
SILVER Star
When I was back at my place in Nevada in mid-December, I started up my stock '84 FJ60 (~182,000 miles) to let it run for a while, as I usually do while I'm out there. It's been sitting (off and on) for almost nine years. Just before I parked it nine years ago I installed new plugs and wires (plugs still looked good in December). In the last nine months I've replaced the fuel pump, drained and refilled the tank with fresh gasoline, and replaced the original carburetor (which I had rebuilt once in the past) with a freshly rebuilt carburetor. The oil level is good, but I know I need to change the oil (the oil's old, and it's probably been "watered down" with gasoline as a result of the fuel pump failure). It's been starting up fine and, with the freshly rebuilt carburetor, it now idles OK. However, when I started it up in December again it developed a loud knock right away. Mine sounds just like this (video in Post #4):
1985 fj60 engine hard knocking - help
I'll be going back out there in the next month or two so I've been doing some more research into the knock and am just now putting together a plan to diagnose/repair exactly what's wrong. Here's a prioritized list of what I think I need to do, thanks to the advice given others here on MUD:
1. Install mechanical oil pressure gauge:
- I have an old Sunpro gauge, but sitting on the shelf it reads a little shy of 15 psi @ 7,240 feet.
- Is the gauge bad?
- Any recommendations on a new/better gauge?
2. Change oil and filter:
- Probably Castrol conventional 10W-30 oil and a Wix filter (NAPA Gold).
3. Start engine and try to isolate source of knock:
- I was thinking of buying an automotive stethoscope - I found one by Lisle that got decent reviews.
- Where on the engine should I focus?
- How should I document what I find so I can get the best help on diagnosing the problem?
- On the thread linked above someone posted that you should remove the plug wires one at a time.
- If the knock goes away or gets quieter with a plug wire removed, what does that tell you? Why?
4. Remove valve cover:
- Check to see if there's anything visually obvious - should I do this first?
- Maybe if I'm lucky it's "just" a push rod issue like in the linked thread.
5. Anything else I can do while I'm out there?
Thanks in advance for any help. I'd really like to get the vehicle running well again.
1985 fj60 engine hard knocking - help
I'll be going back out there in the next month or two so I've been doing some more research into the knock and am just now putting together a plan to diagnose/repair exactly what's wrong. Here's a prioritized list of what I think I need to do, thanks to the advice given others here on MUD:
1. Install mechanical oil pressure gauge:
- I have an old Sunpro gauge, but sitting on the shelf it reads a little shy of 15 psi @ 7,240 feet.
- Is the gauge bad?
- Any recommendations on a new/better gauge?
2. Change oil and filter:
- Probably Castrol conventional 10W-30 oil and a Wix filter (NAPA Gold).
3. Start engine and try to isolate source of knock:
- I was thinking of buying an automotive stethoscope - I found one by Lisle that got decent reviews.
- Where on the engine should I focus?
- How should I document what I find so I can get the best help on diagnosing the problem?
- On the thread linked above someone posted that you should remove the plug wires one at a time.
- If the knock goes away or gets quieter with a plug wire removed, what does that tell you? Why?
4. Remove valve cover:
- Check to see if there's anything visually obvious - should I do this first?
- Maybe if I'm lucky it's "just" a push rod issue like in the linked thread.
5. Anything else I can do while I'm out there?
Thanks in advance for any help. I'd really like to get the vehicle running well again.