Guys, I haven't posted much, I don't have any useful answers to contribute to anyone, just a bunch of questions!
Earlier this summer I fulfilled a long-held desire and finally got myself an 80-series. It's a '97 that is in terrific shape, engine starts and runs smoothly and with good power, does not leak anything anywhere, body and paint excellent, interior beautiful. It drives like a dream on the streets and highway, I have not been off-road with it yet. It has 149,000 miles on the clock. It had a fair amount of work done under the hood in the past year or so by the seller: timing chain assembly, water pump, starter, PHH, valve adjustment.
Since I got the thing, I have been itching to order the usual lift, bumpers, roof rack, fridge, etc, etc. But I felt it would be prudent first to just get familiar with the thing and drive it around a while and learn its habits. I have been very pleased with it. It's a ton of fun to drive and gets a lot of nice looks and comments.
The one thing about it is that it uses more oil than I would have thought, in a shade under 2000 miles that I have put on it I have had to add a quart and a half to keep it topped off. As I mentioned it does not leak, garage floor and undercarriage are bone dry. There is a quick puff of white smoke from the tailpipe on first start-up in the morning but that's all I have seen. As a final check before my mods ordering frenzy I decided to do some testing to see where things stand with the engine.
I scheduled a compression test with a well-regarded local foreign independent shop, whose most experienced mechanic has taken good care of my wife's R-class for the past 4 or 5 years, I have come to trust his opinions and recommendations. They are not Land Cruiser specialists but I am told they used to care for most of the 80s in this area, although there are only a few left around here now. They're the closest thing we have to a specialist around here. Here is the result of his compression test:
"Engine has 185 on cylinders 1 and 2, 190 on 3, 4, and 5, and 185 on cylinder 6. Given margin of error on compression gauge vehicle is well within acceptable range of a healthy engine. Very good compression considering mileage of vehicle." Because of the excellent compression numbers he did not do a leak-down test.
BUT he did raise a concern about the engine sound. I thought some tapping with these things is normal but he feels that the engine noise is excessive. I know the valves were adjusted before I bought it. The mechanic is concerned that the cam lobes may be worn and making noise and even the head may be worn. I have attached a short video of the engine running. I took it with my iPhone so I don't know how much you can tell from it but give it a look and see what you think.
Then, my results from Blackstone arrived. I have attached the file. It looks like I am in for a new head gasket at some point. Fair enough, I did enough reading prior to purchase to know that it's not IF, it's WHEN. The vehicle is in good enough shape that I am willing to lay out for it.
Anyway, thanks for reading, that's my story, now we get to the audience participation.Answer if you would, these questions:
1. What's the best next step? Act now or wait? At what point do I act? What to look for?
2. Where's the oil going?
3. What would you do?
The mechanic here did not seem to be too impressed with the Blackstone report when I told him about it. He seems to be more concerned about the cam. I mean, he's talking about the head may need replacing when it comes down to it. By the way, he knows that I may or may not use him for any work done. If I need anything major done I'm thinking about shipping it to ACC in Atlanta. He says that I may have trouble next week, or it may go a good long while just like it is, so go ahead and get what ever mods I want and put them on.
What do you think? Suggestions appreciated. Thanks, namsag.
Addendum: sorry guys I suck at posting stuff. Having trouble with YouTube. Video is here:
Sorry. Thanks.
Earlier this summer I fulfilled a long-held desire and finally got myself an 80-series. It's a '97 that is in terrific shape, engine starts and runs smoothly and with good power, does not leak anything anywhere, body and paint excellent, interior beautiful. It drives like a dream on the streets and highway, I have not been off-road with it yet. It has 149,000 miles on the clock. It had a fair amount of work done under the hood in the past year or so by the seller: timing chain assembly, water pump, starter, PHH, valve adjustment.
Since I got the thing, I have been itching to order the usual lift, bumpers, roof rack, fridge, etc, etc. But I felt it would be prudent first to just get familiar with the thing and drive it around a while and learn its habits. I have been very pleased with it. It's a ton of fun to drive and gets a lot of nice looks and comments.
The one thing about it is that it uses more oil than I would have thought, in a shade under 2000 miles that I have put on it I have had to add a quart and a half to keep it topped off. As I mentioned it does not leak, garage floor and undercarriage are bone dry. There is a quick puff of white smoke from the tailpipe on first start-up in the morning but that's all I have seen. As a final check before my mods ordering frenzy I decided to do some testing to see where things stand with the engine.
I scheduled a compression test with a well-regarded local foreign independent shop, whose most experienced mechanic has taken good care of my wife's R-class for the past 4 or 5 years, I have come to trust his opinions and recommendations. They are not Land Cruiser specialists but I am told they used to care for most of the 80s in this area, although there are only a few left around here now. They're the closest thing we have to a specialist around here. Here is the result of his compression test:
"Engine has 185 on cylinders 1 and 2, 190 on 3, 4, and 5, and 185 on cylinder 6. Given margin of error on compression gauge vehicle is well within acceptable range of a healthy engine. Very good compression considering mileage of vehicle." Because of the excellent compression numbers he did not do a leak-down test.
BUT he did raise a concern about the engine sound. I thought some tapping with these things is normal but he feels that the engine noise is excessive. I know the valves were adjusted before I bought it. The mechanic is concerned that the cam lobes may be worn and making noise and even the head may be worn. I have attached a short video of the engine running. I took it with my iPhone so I don't know how much you can tell from it but give it a look and see what you think.
Then, my results from Blackstone arrived. I have attached the file. It looks like I am in for a new head gasket at some point. Fair enough, I did enough reading prior to purchase to know that it's not IF, it's WHEN. The vehicle is in good enough shape that I am willing to lay out for it.
Anyway, thanks for reading, that's my story, now we get to the audience participation.Answer if you would, these questions:
1. What's the best next step? Act now or wait? At what point do I act? What to look for?
2. Where's the oil going?
3. What would you do?
The mechanic here did not seem to be too impressed with the Blackstone report when I told him about it. He seems to be more concerned about the cam. I mean, he's talking about the head may need replacing when it comes down to it. By the way, he knows that I may or may not use him for any work done. If I need anything major done I'm thinking about shipping it to ACC in Atlanta. He says that I may have trouble next week, or it may go a good long while just like it is, so go ahead and get what ever mods I want and put them on.
What do you think? Suggestions appreciated. Thanks, namsag.
Addendum: sorry guys I suck at posting stuff. Having trouble with YouTube. Video is here:
Sorry. Thanks.
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