Should I rebuild mine or not?

[at1992]

Hi,

I have an LX450. 1997. 1FZ-FE obviously.
The engine is totally not a sport car but it a real pig on gasoline.
I have a fews sign that may want want me to rebuild the engine.

- Small amount of intermittent smoke from the tail pipe, don't know if its white or blue it's really small amount. (no Coolant lost at all, and no milkshake either)
- TERRIBLE GAS MILAGE, 6 to 7MPG, maybe less. (35s, stock gearing)
- Oil consumption.
- Sluggish (timing adjustment seems to make it better)
- A knock noise when start up from Cold. (maybe rod knock?)
- A Good amount of Oil leak around the Timing Cover.
- Gasoline smell from the Oil Cap

So are those sign need a maintenance or a Rebuild?
I just want to keep her for another 200K. I love the truck! She is awesome in every-way! (I'm coming from a 3rd Gen 4runner)

Thank you
And here is my truck

 

[inkpot]

Are you calculating in the oversized tires for your mpg?
Small amounts of smoke may well be worn valve seals.

 

[DirtScaresMe]

What front bumper is that?

 

[at1992]

What front bumper is that?

Build it myself

 

[jpoole]

Some of the issues in your list probably deserve attention but none stand out as that big of a deal. Get caught up on maintenance and you may well see more than your desired mileage without major overhaul work needed.

Other folks will have more to say on that I'm sure but I really just wanted to post to say AMAZING BUMPER! I'm guessing you go right over the top of whatever wildlife or small trees/shrubs get in your path and that as a bonus small cars pull over when they see you in their mirror. Is that a fairly common setup there in Cambodia? Any details on the build or how it works for you?

 

[DancesWithMutts]

I'd recommend a compression test.

 

[ewillis]

The poor gas mileage may be attributed to aerodynamic drag from that bumper!

 

[LandCruisinMy93]

That's a pretty sweet house in the background. Anyway, if you don't like the mileage and it's sounds and acts like it needs rebuilt, why waste the money on the 1fz-fe? You might as well start gathering parts for a motor swap while it still runs like I'm doing. Or keep pumping that sweet sweet maintenance money into it like I have been doing for the last 4 years an thousands of dollars in Toyota parts. Im personally past that and moving forward with a motor swap.

 

[at1992]

hahah

Some of the issues in your list probably deserve attention but none stand out as that big of a deal. Get caught up on maintenance and you may well see more than your desired mileage without major overhaul work needed.

Other folks will have more to say on that I'm sure but I really just wanted to post to say AMAZING BUMPER! I'm guessing you go right over the top of whatever wildlife or small trees/shrubs get in your path and that as a bonus small cars pull over when they see you in their mirror. Is that a fairly common setup there in Cambodia? Any details on the build or how it works for you?

!

haha! Yeah our trail around here is pretty wild! Small bamboo, tress over on it etc etc we need protection! and that bumper is build for that purpose and sure it does help in the city also in this crazy traffic world. Thanks for you all your replies here! I may have some photos and may start a build thread but not yet have anytime!

 

[at1992]

The poor gas mileage may be attributed to aerodynamic drag from that bumper!

hahha! I used to hear that! to best honest I dont care much about Milage! as long as I got the Power I'm fine! my 3rd gen 4runner was around maybe 12MPG on 33s which is a lot for a medium truck! so a 7 or 10MPG on the fat ass LX450 would be fine but I need POWER!

 

[DirtScaresMe]

Build it myself

Looks dope man, good work.

 

[at1992]

That's a pretty sweet house in the background. Anyway, if you don't like the mileage and it's sounds and acts like it needs rebuilt, why waste the money on the 1fz-fe? You might as well start gathering parts for a motor swap while it still runs like I'm doing. Or keep pumping that sweet sweet maintenance money into it like I have been doing for the last 4 years an thousands of dollars in Toyota parts. Im personally past that and moving forward with a motor swap.

What motor did you swapped? 6BT? LS2? or V8? Here I have access to the Turbo Diesel from the LC also! 1HDT, 1HDTF, and 1HDTFE but they are freaking expensive and old! so I may keep my 1FZ-FE!

 

[BILT4ME]

Do you have any codes? Does your Service Engine light work?

One thing that has actually helped my mileage is to unplug the battery for about 20 minutes, then hook it back up. The truck "learns" your driving style and over the course of about 60 start cycles, it locks in operating parameters.

Unhooking the battery clears and resets these codes. For me, since I DD my truck and I end up with short trips, it sets it up for that. Then when I hit the highway and go for a trip, I get terrible mileage.

If I reset it, THEN go for a trip, my mileage on the trip MAY improve as much as 2 MPG.

It sounds to me like your truck may not be getting out of open loop mode (cold running and dumping in fuel) due to short trips, bad O2 sensors, or a CEL that has been removed.

Good Luck!

 

[baldilocks]

Nice rig and badass bumper!

 

[Comet]

My issues were just like yours. Valve seals would have done the trick but NO.....I had to go and refresh the entire thing. Just do some basic maintenance and see what issues go away. Or you could do what I did and deplete the savings account.

 

[DirtScaresMe]

I have a 94. My current plan, written in the sand at low tide, is to drive my gas engine until and possibly past a head gasket rebuild. At some point in the not-so-infinite future I'd like to put a cummins diesel in.

 

[Comet]

I have wanted to put in a diesel. Up until I read some of the "If I were to start over" thread. Now I'm going to rethink, Cummins would be sweet though with a 5 speed......