hey guys been here for a while now never posted much more a toyota pick up guy but just bought a 91 hilux surf with a 2.4L deisel was just wondering what if anything i can do to get more power and fuel economy out of it as of now its totally stock has 160xxxkm the head was just redone and it has a new fuel pump were should i start with mods?
toyota 2.4L desiel performance?
- Thread starter erman
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A lot of people successfully turbocharge these engines, however I prefer to stay NA.
I simply added a header and 2.5" mandrel bent exhaust with straight through mufflers. With this and a good quality air filter, the engine will breathe a bit better. You should then be able to adjust the fueling on the pump to give a bit more power.
An exhaust pyrometer setup might be a good idea too.
Below is a link to see my exhaust. I still need to add some more photos though.
http://gwareth.org/gallery/Cars/DauntsVolvo/vehicles/Hilux/exhaust/
I simply added a header and 2.5" mandrel bent exhaust with straight through mufflers. With this and a good quality air filter, the engine will breathe a bit better. You should then be able to adjust the fueling on the pump to give a bit more power.
An exhaust pyrometer setup might be a good idea too.
Below is a link to see my exhaust. I still need to add some more photos though.
http://gwareth.org/gallery/Cars/DauntsVolvo/vehicles/Hilux/exhaust/
OK, so it's not a 2L then, but probably a 2L-TE.
In that case, add a 3" straight through exhaust from the turbo back. You'll only need a small bullet/hotdog/glasspack style muffler, if any. I'm not sure how you adjust fueling with those, you might need a chip.
Definately get a pyro gauge. Definately get a very good front mount air to air intercooler.
A slightly larger, less restrictive, more efficient turbo is also a good idea.
crushers
post ho
3" is okay but over kill on that small engine. 2.5" is adaquate
intercooler with boost over 14 lbs but a waste of time and money under that.
a pyro is the best to TRY and keep that engine alive as is an after market coolant temp gauge.
start with the mods that will keep the head in one piece before modding for performance and anything you mod for performance will decrease the fuel economy. big problem is if you have the power you WILL use it.
4 core rad
get rid of the EGR system
get rid of the AC
2.5" exhaust
increase boost to 14 psi and leave fuel alone, keeps the EGTs down.
!!!!!!!!!!PYROMETER!!!!!!!!!!
if auto then stick in an aux tranny cooler to help reduce coolant temps.
Evans "not water" coolant, susposed to raise boiling temps
but then what do i know about 2LTE engines?
intercooler with boost over 14 lbs but a waste of time and money under that.
a pyro is the best to TRY and keep that engine alive as is an after market coolant temp gauge.
start with the mods that will keep the head in one piece before modding for performance and anything you mod for performance will decrease the fuel economy. big problem is if you have the power you WILL use it.
4 core rad
get rid of the EGR system
get rid of the AC
2.5" exhaust
increase boost to 14 psi and leave fuel alone, keeps the EGTs down.
!!!!!!!!!!PYROMETER!!!!!!!!!!
if auto then stick in an aux tranny cooler to help reduce coolant temps.
Evans "not water" coolant, susposed to raise boiling temps
but then what do i know about 2LTE engines?
Toyo Boyo
SILVER Star
I ran a 2LTE for over 200,000kms after changing the HG - you will NOT make this engine powerful. But it is possible to make it reliable.
A quick pic of my Sheddy 2nd Gen Surf
A quick pic of my Sheddy 2nd Gen Surf
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crushers
post ho
in what way did you see an improvement with an intercooler under 14 psi?
Toyo Boyo
SILVER Star
Using my seat of the pants dyno!
There is a long power sapping hill not far from my house. Prior to the cooler fitment, hitting the bottom of the hill at 75mph would see the speed drop to 50mph by the time you got to the top of the hill.
After fitting the cooler, I could hit the bottom at 50mph and be doing 70mph at the top and still be gaining speed (I wouldn't call it accelerating though).
Also, I used to tow my daughters ponies everywhere in a trailer that weighed 975kgs when empty, probably 1700kgs with the ponies on board. Towing was just much more relaxed with the cooler.
Didn't really see any change in fuel consumption.
crushers
post ho
no other mods were initiated at the same time?
no increase in fuel settings?
no increase in boost?
no change in exhaust sizing?
no increase in fuel settings?
no increase in boost?
no change in exhaust sizing?
3" exhaust is not overkill on a turbocharged engine above 2 litres. You want as little backpressure as possible after the turbo. It helps the turbo spool up at lower revs, and gives you less restriction, and more power and torque. Not to mention that the price of a 2.5" exhaust versus a 3" exhaust is almost the same.
An intercooler is ALWAYS a good idea. Think about how hot the air is coming from the turbo. You're looking at up to 180 degrees Celsius, especially with the small stock turbo, with increased boost. A good intercooler will bring this temperature down to within 20 degrees of ambient, while not being restrictive. The knock on effect of this is reduced EGTs.
A decent intercooler is $200, and the piping to go with it maybe another $100. And all you need is some flatbar to make up brackets, and maybe a hole saw to pass the piping through to in front of the radiator. You would make as much power at 10 psi with an intercooler, as you would with about 15 psi and no intercooler.
crushers
post ho
first of all, a larger exhaust DOES NOT give you more power or torque.
don't beleive me then next time do a dyno before and after the larger exhaust WITH NO OTHER MODS. the results will be faster spool up and cooler running but no change in torque and horse power.
beleice what you will but you want to show me the results on the dyno paper with the before and after intercooler install WITH NO OTHER MODS at 10 psi? anything over 14 psi and the charge is too hot and an intercooler is suggested.
finally, where do you plan on sticking an intercooler on a stock 2LTE surf with AC? in front of the rad? in front of the AC rad? are you really suggesting adding MORE hot air flow to a system that already has an over heating problem?
there are a lot of myths out there, want the facts then talk to a real turbo shop (not a speed supply shop, they are in it for the money and will tell you anything you want to hear as long as you buy).
but, in the end it is his money and if he wants to pretend to improve the performance and sacrifice the little bit of reliability he has... well... that is up to him.
don't beleive me then next time do a dyno before and after the larger exhaust WITH NO OTHER MODS. the results will be faster spool up and cooler running but no change in torque and horse power.
beleice what you will but you want to show me the results on the dyno paper with the before and after intercooler install WITH NO OTHER MODS at 10 psi? anything over 14 psi and the charge is too hot and an intercooler is suggested.
finally, where do you plan on sticking an intercooler on a stock 2LTE surf with AC? in front of the rad? in front of the AC rad? are you really suggesting adding MORE hot air flow to a system that already has an over heating problem?
there are a lot of myths out there, want the facts then talk to a real turbo shop (not a speed supply shop, they are in it for the money and will tell you anything you want to hear as long as you buy).
but, in the end it is his money and if he wants to pretend to improve the performance and sacrifice the little bit of reliability he has... well... that is up to him.
A larger exhaust WILL give more power and torque. It'll get rid of most of the diesel smoke, because that extra fuel can now be burned. Turn up the fuel and power will increase quite a bit more. Obviously a pyro is required for this.
I don't own a turbo diesel or have access to a dyno, but it's common sense. At ANY boost pressure, intake air temperature is increased dramatically. Using an intercooler cools this down almost back to ambient, which also drops EGTs, thus RAISING reliablity, not to mention a nice power and torque gain from the cool dense air your engine is now breathing (again if you have enough fuel to go with it).
No idea, they didn't come with A/C over here. I know every Hilux I see has at least a 4" gap between the radiator and grille, plenty of space for an intercooler.
You're not speaking any facts. Maybe YOU should get your information straight. I'm going to ignore your little dig at the L series engines, we all know you don't like them.
Adding an intercooler is never going to reduce reliability. I agree he might need to add a better radiator, it's never a bad idea, especially if the unit it currently has is fairly old.
As I stated above, reducing IATs has the flow on effect of also reducing EGTs, which we all know is a good thing.
crushers
post ho
hummm, interesting. you feel that my statements are based on ignorance but that couldn't be further from the truth.
i deal with Alamo industries: Alamo Industries Inc. and have for almost 15 years now. i respect their decades of wisdom.
i DO run turbo diesels, i do run intercoolers and i do modify these engines and accessories. i do speak from experience. you have admitted you don't have experience but you post like you do.
maybe do some chatting with turbo rebuild shops and specialty intercooler shops and stop beleiving the myths that have flowed for decades leading to sales of parts.
take a deep breath and relax, if not, i am sure the hilux forums will love your inexperienced participation especially when you are recommending spending SOMEONE ELSE'S money.
i deal with Alamo industries: Alamo Industries Inc. and have for almost 15 years now. i respect their decades of wisdom.
i DO run turbo diesels, i do run intercoolers and i do modify these engines and accessories. i do speak from experience. you have admitted you don't have experience but you post like you do.
maybe do some chatting with turbo rebuild shops and specialty intercooler shops and stop beleiving the myths that have flowed for decades leading to sales of parts.
take a deep breath and relax, if not, i am sure the hilux forums will love your inexperienced participation especially when you are recommending spending SOMEONE ELSE'S money.
I said I don't OWN turbo diesels. That doesn't mean I have no experience. I have been dealing with turbocharged engines for years.
Perhaps you should question the "wisdom" of these people you deal with.
Suggesting that intercoolers reduce reliability and don't add performance, and that restricting a turbo engine with a small exhaust is a good idea, quite frankly is laughable.
Exhaust and intercooler are the two cheapest and easiest modifications to get more performance from any turbocharged engine, but especially diesels.
If you don't believe this, fine. But please keep your beliefs to yourself.
You can't expect an engine to have good performance and reliability if you don't perform modifications correctly. I'd hate to see someone modify their vehicle on your recommendations, and end up with a blown engine.
This is going to be interesting <more entertaining than CHAT>. Better get some more 
. 
Toyo Boyo
SILVER Star
Hi Wayne,
Christ, I've only been gone a day and all hell breaks loose
I never messed with the fuel. Some mates tried it on their Surfs and got into some problems with getting it right (not using a pyro!). So I left it well alone.
I tried the boost mod way before the cooler and I put it back to stock almost right away. I did not like the feel of the engine with that mod. The truck had the original front downpipe on when sold at 285,000kms (I had it from 85,000kms). Only the end of the tailpipe was ever changed, and that was not at the time of the cooler.
Exhaust size is important, it does influence the engines characteristics. A 3'' exhaust has something like a 40% bigger cross sectional area than a 2.5''. And exhaust flow is not a linear relationship, so the back-pressure drop with a larger exhaust is considerable.
The A/C on a Surf lays under the engine - really poor design, mud magnet. I ripped the lot off, including the compressor (has its own belt). I top mounted the cooler because that's the way most are in Europe, I thought OEM engineers were cleverer than me so hey ho. Maybe room in the front but then very long pipes, lots of joints etc.
High pressures (say above 12psi) on diesels over here are rare. Boy racers in their little petrol VTEC Honda's - well yes, maybe up to 25psi). I've been reading about some of the pressures in the big Cummins in the USA and I'm amazed.
Oh forgot to say, an early mod was to disable the EGR - but again that was a long time before I fitted the cooler.
Back to the original post - I would say stop thnking you will ever make the 2LTE powerful - it's not possible, it is never going to feel like a big V8. But by doing all of the little mods you can make a difference - I concentrated on reducing load on the engine (discarded A/C and lost the bumpers), or cooling it (fully overhauled rad and hoses, tranny cooler, intercooler, EGR), etc.
Carry on.........
denis
(O) toyota nut (O)
You should take a ride in my 2WD hilux with the 2LT2 (ie NOT the POS 2LTE). Yes indeed it does not feel like a V8, more like an angry V12 I'd say. I can smoke all the ferraris and lambos in a 100km radius
Toyo Boyo
SILVER Star
You should take a ride in my 2WD hilux with the 2LT2 (ie NOT the POS 2LTE). Yes indeed it does not feel like a V8, more like an angry V12 I'd say. I can smoke all the ferraris and lambos in a 100km radius
Haha - well, I'd say you've been smoking something, just not your tyres..............
That's like saying my old 1st Gen with the 3Y petrol was fast
crushers
post ho
might be best to learn to read M8
no where did i say that intercoolers REDUCE reliability. no where did i say a small exhaust is a good idea, what i did say is you don't NEED to go 3" since the 2.5" is more than adaquate to get rid of the exhaust.
exactly WHAT turbo'd engines have you been "dealing" with?
In North America turbos and intercoolers are NOT cheap mods.
so what engines have guys blown do to being modified to my specs? or are you just spouting your inexperienced mouth off to hear yourself speak?
no where did i say that intercoolers REDUCE reliability. no where did i say a small exhaust is a good idea, what i did say is you don't NEED to go 3" since the 2.5" is more than adaquate to get rid of the exhaust.
exactly WHAT turbo'd engines have you been "dealing" with?
In North America turbos and intercoolers are NOT cheap mods.
so what engines have guys blown do to being modified to my specs? or are you just spouting your inexperienced mouth off to hear yourself speak?
