Builds My LC 80 thread. (5 Viewers)

[kevsta]

Hi Dave

glad to hear she's back on the road and emissions wasn't a problem for you, can you remember your testing score?

i was at the station in a friend's Hilux MK7 3.0 d4d a few weeks back and he breezed through at 0.45. makes my 3.07 - 6.25 look a bit dirty huh.. curious to know what we should be aiming at with these?

 

[Dave 2000]

Hi Kev, not with the car at the moment, the honeymoon did not last long after rescuing her from my mate.

Sitting in the driver's seat, I reached over the back to make sure 'Cookie' (my little dog) was clipped to the seat belt, the guardia activity horrendous over the last few weeks, I even got done myself for speeding!

Anyway, the drivers seat just collapsed on one side. It was the side next to the centre console, it is basically a hinge, the adjuster mechanism being on the outer edge of the seat. It really was a minor design flaw, the welds do not run the lengh of the hinge, this allowed the hinge to flex over the years, absolute doddle to fix, perhaps 15 minutes?

Re gas testing, the inspector did not mentioned emmisions but they were checked, and I was too busy discussing about the AC having packed up very suddenly with another of the inspectors, they get to test their English and me my Spanish , I will go to the garage later and bolt the seat back, when I do I will grab a look at the sniff test.

Other than 35°C in the shade all good, all OK your end I guess?

Regards

Dave

 

[Dave 2000]

So, apart ftom the seat repair mentioned above I thought I would look at the reason for the sudden failure of the AC. With the engine running I touch 12v to the compressor terminal, the clutch engaged but the compressor did not turn. It was as if it seized overnight, so I gently turned the compressor with a pair of stilsons, lo and behold it turned, a little tight at first, a couple of turns and connected the 12v temporary supply, sure enough it started working, a few seconds later and the electric engine cooling fan cut in at the programmed 50% speed, AC cooling as good as ever but, no 12v supply when switched from the dashboard?

So why did it semi seize? Perhaps a bearing is on the way out, cooled and jammed? Why have I lost dashboard control apparently simultaneously?

So I will be looking into that once my work van is tidied and all tools put where they belong, it's been a busy week! I might get a few minutes on the 80 but come 12.00 - 13.00 it is waaay to hot to work, and it is party time tomorrow night anyway.

@kevsta as promised I checked my emissions figures, 1.54, just the usual, floor the throttle, let it idle.....passed, job done.

Plenty of little odds and ends to sort, update as I move through list.

Many thanks

Regards

Dave

 

[Dave 2000]

So to the AC.

As above, driving to the test station and AC suddenly goes from blowing ice out of the vents to bringing in the high ambients.

I got some time this morning and got it sorted.........well sort of. Compressor after being freed off (see above) would work fine with 12v feed direct.

All buttons lit up normally but nothing happening, then I realised the relay I have heard in the left hand footwell was not making any sound, so I pulled the centre dash piece and checked connections, all good. I remembered I had a problem with the 'AUTO' function on the switch panel many years ago, I had found one on eBay and the wrong one arrived, one is for normal AC, and the other version (mine) is climate.

So I dug out the one sent incorrectly, plugged in all was working, then I remembered the auto/man switch on the back of my climate version. Switched it to manual and all was working, looking at the FSM wiring diagram it seems a climate sensor failure for example the one behind the front grill may disable the AC? By switching it to manual I have in effect lost 'AUTO' function but retain all ither functions, just means adding a bit of heat ftom the slider myself if it gets too chilly. At the moment that will have to do, when I get time I will check out the various sensors.

An upcoming trip is looming fast so need to get other 'stuff' sorted, drove the 80 through a couple of tracks today to check the usual stuff like lockers ect, all good so a grease up coming on Wednesday.

Thanks for reading,

Regards

Dave

 

[Dave 2000]

Just being curious I put the 80 on a weighbridge, it is verified for industrial use so should be fairly accurate, and for the princely sum of €1.00 or $1.14 to you guys across the pond cheap enough.

I weighed whole vehicle, and then the front axle and rear, then filled with diesel, I could use the additional fuel (75 litres), to verify bridge accuracy, I then weighed her again.

So, for future reference my HDJ80 weighs 2,420kg.

That is:

Brimmed fuel tank, oil, screen wash, coolant plus about 28 litres of shower water in the right rear wing, all eight seats fitted, two small tool rolls......oh and my Cookie the ' I will rip you limb from limb' little dogs additional 10kg.

This is how the car is generally used, I will in the next 9 days load up my full off road kit, so thats three seats out, and then the usual drawer unit, fridge, wardrobe, you know the score, the roof rack will also go on as well with RTT, awning, sand ladders, 60" hi lift, 40 litres of diesel, and a second spare wheel.

I will update the loaded figures as soon as she is loaded. Later in September there are a couple of small units to be built inside, I can weigh these individually and will add accordingly.

None of this is a pointless exercise, I will be changing the suspension next year, using this data I should be able to get the springs right first time...............mental crossing of fingers.

Regards

Dave

 

[kevsta]

Hi Dave. yea all good here thanks, well Cruiser-wise anyway, it's doing the workhorse job I bought it for unfailingly, as both my Audi and KTM are both being prima donas requiring attention, the Audi has a fast-destructing CV joint that needs changing before she can move and the KTM clutch cable broke last time out (just about the only thing not changed on the last rebuild!)

1.54 on the emissions huh, so that's what I need to aim at. Is not due until early next year (well Nov but there's like a 3-4month waiting list here for booking them, so we get 15-16 months between tests)

PS. FYI my "Eco" button mod has settled in at around the +10% fuel economy mark over 5 or so full tanks now. that sounds good doesnt it, but has effectively taken it from 19mpg to 21 mpg, ..not world-shattering, but OK I suppose given muds, the extra weight and roof rack aerodynamics.

I do love this truck, she has never let me down whatever I ask of it, for coming up 40k miles (6 years ownership in Sept) now (apart from day 1 of ownership when the ignition switch packed up) with the kart onboard she's carrying +320Kg, +400Kg with a full tank, and as shown above still not squatting past horizontal at the back there with the OME standard height kit (heavy front, medium rear) plus 20mm/30mm F/R spacers. ..with the boot area empty (apart from permanent drawers tools etc I now have 760mm from all wheels (bottom of rim) to arch.

she also made a new friend, a very old lady from Holland showed up..

 

[Dave 2000]

Hi Kev, yes they are proper work horses.

21 MPG with the mod? Something wrong there mate, I see 27 - 30 MPG, fair comment it is stock bar the VC but IMO you have an issue somewhere?

I do have an electric engine cooling fan, perhaps worth 1 or 2 MPG, perhaps more in winter?

Given your high emissions at the test station, something is not quite right?

Nice Dutch truck

Enjoying the heat? Knocking the nuts out of me!

Take it easy,

Regards

Dave

 

[kevsta]

Well, yes. I am still thinking I prolly have an injector issue, because the rough idle if she gets hot enough, (seen it just start to happen a couple of times so far this year, but go away again quickly once moving) because the not-great fuel economy, and the borderline emissions..

otherwise she runs lovely though, so it's not like there is "a problem" as such, just could be better still.

I think the 24v s were a little better mpg anyway, weren't they? plus auto box, and roads where idiots often keep me at just below OD kicking in, (indicated 40mph exactly, 42mph when accounting for the 285s) for miles on end.

plus muddies, weight, rack drag etc. I would expect -3 or 4mpg from all my nonsense really?

but I am thinking about a new set of injector nozzles soon, have you done that job Dave, is it difficult? what special tools will we need if any?

ps heat. keep reminding yourself it's what we moved here for makes me go swimming, or 5 cold showers a day..

 

[Lumpskie]

Hi Kev, yes they are proper work horses.

21 MPG with the mod? Something wrong there mate, I see 27 - 30 MPG, fair comment it is stock bar the VC but IMO you have an issue somewhere?

I do have an electric engine cooling fan, perhaps worth 1 or 2 MPG, perhaps more in winter?

Given your high emissions at the test station, something is not quite right?

Nice Dutch truck

Enjoying the heat? Knocking the nuts out of me!

Take it easy,

Regards

Dave

Wow, you guys are getting much better mileage than me. I usually see between 18 and 19 mpg. I'm armored wiht 35s but it still seems like there should be less of a difference.

 

[JOHN OF LONDON]

I am part way through my long summer trip to the Caucasus and have, for the first ever, been keeping a record of fuel consumption. The car is well loaded with camping kit, tools and spares with a spare wheel and roof top tent up above. Driving has been a complete mixture, from 120kph days on the motorway to full days on mountain tracks in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus. Average consumption to date; a bit under 8,000 miles, has been 22.40mpg with the best tank full making 26.4mpg, and the worst, 19.59mpg.

 

[kevsta]

I have to say mine is basically on the urban cycle the whole time, there are no motorways as such here at all, which is probably why Im 20+/- continually, she may do more on a good run, especially in eco mode

 

[Dave 2000]

Mines a 12 valve same as yours Kev. I do know I can get over 30 but, TBH I get bored, treating the throttle with the featherlight touch. So a good regular 28 MPG is my typical figure.

It's also fair to say the auto's are bit thirstier, I have changed the iniectors on a customers car, but gave them to diesel shop to fit new nozzles and calibrate them.

@JOHN OF LONDON Good to see the holiday is going well.

@Lumpskie Apart from armour I see you have a different turbo, larger turbine?

Regards

Dave

 

[Lumpskie]

Yes sir, I have the Gturbo Grunter. I believe that it has the standard turbin and a larger compressor wheel but I'mnot 100% sure.

Mines a 12 valve same as yours Kev. I do know I can get over 30 but, TBH I get bored, treating the throttle with the featherlight touch. So a good regular 28 MPG is my typical figure.

It's also fair to say the auto's are bit thirstier, I have changed the iniectors on a customers car, but gave them to diesel shop to fit new nozzles and calibrate them.

@JOHN OF LONDON Good to see the holiday is going well.

@Lumpskie Apart from armour I see you have a different turbo, larger turbine?

Regards

Dave

 

[JOHN OF LONDON]

My figures are in full sized Imperial gallons, not little American ones, might this be the difference?
TBH I'm a bit disappointed with the mileage figures I've been getting. Dave, are your figures for the same sort of mixed use I've been doing cos if they are I think I need to be looking at the injectors etc.

 

[Dave 2000]

My figures are in full sized Imperial gallons, not little American ones, might this be the difference?
TBH I'm a bit disappointed with the mileage figures I've been getting. Dave, are your figures for the same sort of mixed use I've been doing cos if they are I think I need to be looking at the injectors etc.

Good point about the gallon size John, @Lumpskie perhaps your figures are not so bad if your using USA gallons to measure and with a bigger turbo/fuelling mods?

My use is very varied John but we do have a lot of bypasses around here, and of course rough....ish tracks, we (those with 4x4's) use these to move between areas quite a lot, in particular during July and August when the town is busy.

It's also interesting that if you look back at the beginning of this thread, that my 80 still returns the same numbers after around eight years of ownership? I use the thread as my service/repair/mod record, so pretty comprehensive. I am also not known to be a slow driver either, but am consistent.

You may have seen my posts on the 80's weight earlier this week John? I am preparing for a few days out with Rodger from the UK LC club, and he drives a nice 40, and I will be following him. He is not a racing car driver and his pace will control mine. The trip will be some motorway to get to the venue, and the perhaps four days off road, and motorway back, the 80 will be fully loaded and weighed for future reference, I will brim to brim the tank, and also put exact amounts in the jerry cans on the roof, I am a tad anal about exact numbers.

I get the jerry cans emptied asap to keep the COG down.....a little, so their contents needs to be accurate as well.

Regards

Dave

 

[kevsta]

Wow, you guys are getting much better mileage than me. I usually see between 18 and 19 mpg. I'm armored wiht 35s but it still seems like there should be less of a difference.

lol, with a GTurbo and fuel turned up? surely we are expecting it to use more fuel than normal now?

 

[kevsta]

Mines a 12 valve same as yours Kev. I do know I can get over 30 but, TBH I get bored, treating the throttle with the featherlight touch. So a good regular 28 MPG is my typical figure.

It's also fair to say the auto's are bit thirstier, I have changed the iniectors on a customers car, but gave them to diesel shop to fit new nozzles and calibrate them.

@JOHN OF LONDON Good to see the holiday is going well.

@Lumpskie Apart from armour I see you have a different turbo, larger turbine?

Regards

Dave

Ah, dont know why I thought you were HDTFE. so I could def be getting more from mine then.

Ok so getting the injectors out was do-able? how did you get them to let go, theyre stuck in there pretty tight no?

 

[Dave 2000]

Injectors can be removed with what you find in a typical tool box, for injector replacement a low yield torque wrench the only fly in the oinment.

IIRC they came out easier than I expected, so I would not be too concerned.

For my service record.

Today @ 262,529 miles both propshafts and steering track rod ends (4) greased.

Regards

Dave

 

[Lumpskie]

@JOHN OF LONDON @Dave 2000
Good point about the imperial gallons... I hadn't thought of that. That would put be in the 21-23 imperial mpg range. Maybe it's not as bad as I thought... and probably not worth digging into an incredibly reliable setup to find out!

 

[Dave 2000]

Today @262,612 miles,

Topped up moly grease in knuckles, fixed shower pump, drained and refilled shower bladder with a strong bleach and bottled water mix, this will stay in for a couple of days, and then be pumped out and refilled again with bottled water, this will have a couple of caps of bleach added, I don't drink the water although Cookie the dog does, but I could if an emergency arose, bleach makes it safer.

Arrived home and house AC has packed up, FFS!

Regards

Dave