keys for protecting 2.4 EFI from overheating (1 Viewer)

[Dianne]

Hi,
A month ago I bought a four cylinder automatic Prado with a 2.4 EFI turbo deisel which I have since learned has some issues with overheating. I took it up to Weaver Lake and the gage was climbing. The block is not cracked and everthing seems to be in working order. I want to keep it that way. Have you any suggestions as to what I can do to keep the Prado cool and not have the block crack in the future. I want to take preventitive action. Please keep it simple and specific for I understand very little as to how it all works. However, I am enjoying the ride and want to do what it takes to keep on keeping on. Thank you in advance for your advice.

Update on this post.
My cooling system has a modification that they did in Japan. There is a hose that they have taken from the radiator to the back of the engine. It must work because I took my Prado into a radiator shop. The radiator was 60% blocked. Not only that but I drove to from Vancouver to Kamloops with a little less coolent then I should have had in the system. The radiator leaks, and I was not smart enough to know that the fill tank is not the only guage of whether you have enough fluid. Anyhow, the head on my Prado is not cracked. I can only think that it is thanks to the modification. I am getting the radiator rebuilt, and also having the air conditioning unit which does not work removed. I then plan to have a fan with a toggle switch for extra cooling put in the place where the air conditioning is now. I may not need it, but I would guess that it might still be usefull for driving mountain passes at highway speeds. Well, as close to highway speeds as I can get.

I have learned that it is good to take it out of overdrive when climbing and to put it into a lower gear.
Thank you for the great advice.

 

[FloridaFJ80]

Dianne, I would first start checking all the components of your cooling system. I would check the radiator make sure its not clogged, maybe the fan, also the thermosat and your water pump.. also make sure that you have sufficient coolant in the radiator and reservoir.

keep us posted on your progress...

 

[TEPUI]

If it's a 2.4 this thread should be on the 70 series forum. I'll move the thread.

 

[beislebub]

If you do a search regarding the 2LTE or Prado, you'll get alot of the info your looking for. And it's the head your worried about.

I cracked the head on my 2LTE after about a year, but I also had my foot through the floor trying to make it up a hill, which took about 6 tries, and no rest in between

Joel.

 

[dberwin]

I have one as well (Cracked the head on the coquohalla out of Kelowna) and have put some guages in it to study what is happening.

I have a lower radiator hose guage, Tranny temp, Boost and EGT.
Results
EGT temp rises very quickly on long hill and will not stay under 1100 Post turbo without only half throttle. Let is slow down and go up the hill at half throttle.

Transmission temp proceeds water temp and is also heating the water. I put in a cooler but this only helps partly. Shift out of OD and into the gear approapriate for the hill. Even 2nd on steep hills at 60km

The radiator seems not to have enough cooling for prolong hills and when it runs out of cooling your guage inside rises. The radiator tempurature (water coming into the engine is over 180F) when your guage rises and you have no more cooling (water coming in is as hot as engine can stand). You must keep your guage inside from moving over 1/2. If it moves farther than this back out, slow down and shift gears.

Mine now has been running fine for 2 years, and I even tow a bit with it.

Daniel

 

[lowenbrau]

If I found myself with one of those timebombs I'd start saving for another motor but before I did I'd fill the thing with Evans waterless coolant and hope that works.

The trouble with Evans is that it gels at -25C or so. I'm not sure if the engine heat will re-liquefy it or if you'll end up with a frozen blob in the rad. The good news is that it doesn't boil until 375 F so you can run the engine without an effective rad for quite a while.

 

[prado t]

Hi, I used to have a 2lte prado myself . When climbing hills (like up to weaver lake) it is best to keep it the revs up. When climbing gentle hills the temp guage will climb if it struggling in a higher gear, it is best to slow down and shift down into 2nd on the auto tranny. Remember keep the revs up! And the egts down.

 

[Eric Winkworth]

All of these post offer the help I would assume you'd need

"EGT temp rises very quickly on long hill and will not stay under 1100 Post turbo without only half throttle"
"When climbing hills (like up to weaver lake) it is best to keep it the revs up"

Get some after market gauges yesterday, EGT, water temp, and oil pressure... Glance over at them every so often. Mostly pay attention to the EGT's. Although i've never owned a 2LT I know EGT's gotta be a huge part of the issue. Keep the EGT's low, by dropping gears on hills and let er rev...

I have a feeling you'll be very surprised at how hot they get under normal driving conditions

cheers

 

[Dianne]

Thank You

Thank you for your replies. I put it in 2nd and sometimes low and drove up to Maid Lake on the Island. It did not overheat even though it was a steep and prolonged climb. The drive was great and so was the fishing. I am looking forward to future trips to more remote lakes with what is a very fun vehicle.

I will have the cooling looked into before next summer, although I suspect it is just that the vehicle does not like being driven relatively slowly in Drive. Extra gages are an excellent idea. And when the head cracks I will not put in another 2.4 motor with their history of overheating.

Again, thank you.

 

[prado t]

Any time