2lt reliability?

CHCHilux · Post by **CHCHilux** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 5:23 pm

Its probably a dud question, as i get the picture that they blow their heads a lot. But how reliable are the 2lt engines? should they be avoided at all costs? apart from putting a bigger exhaust and checking coolent, changing oil, etc, can you do anything to make them last?

adogg · Post by **adogg** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 5:54 pm

my 2c
avoid them like the plague
:thumbdown:

hosehustler · Post by **hosehustler** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 7:56 pm

I bought a whole truck (blown turbo) for the box :mrgreen:

about a month ago, still had the 2lt in it, mate of a mate rings up and wants the head......don't even know the dude but he's desperate :shock:

wouldn't touch one with a nissan :wink:

P.S another mate blew his box and wanted this one, Matt4u has scoffed the wide axle bits....so far....Hosehustler..0.... everyone else..a good deal :lol:

niblik · Post by **niblik** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 8:05 pm

thats always the way tim, right up until you need a part....! :lol:

from the discussions i've had with goose (who has owned a couple) he's never had a problem with them.. he was sayin just remember that they are only a 2.4 diesel and not to drive them like a supra or v8.. keep them cool and maintenance up on them and they seem to be happy as larry... and you all know how happy larry is.. :mrgreen:

people say they blow up easy, but it might be like the comparison that 'smokings so hard to quit compared to cocaine'.. ya gotta look at the numbers.. how many people smoke compared to doin the other? similar with the 2lt compared to other engines so many of them around..

just another way to look at it..

Goose · Post by **Goose** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 9:40 pm

Yeah, as nibby said, we were talking about them today.....

From what I've seen and heard, most of the problems with the 2lt is the owners right foot!! :twisted:

At the end of the day, they're a 2.4 turbo diesel!! Not a high revving sportscar engine. They produce peak torque from something silly like 2200rpm, so if you drive them round at 4500 all day, it's probably gonna break! I virtually never ran mine over 3000, there's just no point, (shift at 3K, by the time you hit your next gear, you're at peak torque :wink:

) and I never had a problem...... STRANGE HUH!! I have always thought that people expect far too much from the old 2lt. If you drive one, just expect that it's gonna be a bit s l o w.

P.S. My current 2lt has done 385000ks, with nothing but TLC and regular servicing.

H2OLOVA · Post by **H2OLOVA** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 9:58 pm

So now we know that Goose drives like a Nana :roll:

I'd still avoid one if i had the choice :wink:

skid · Post by **skid** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 10:07 pm

Goose wrote:Yeah, as nibby said, we were talking about them today.....

From what I've seen and heard, most of the problems with the 2lt is the owners right foot!! At the end of the day, they're a 2.4 turbo diesel!! Not a high revving sportscar engine. They produce peak torque from something silly like 2200rpm, so if you drive them round at 4500 all day, it's probably gonna break! I virtually never ran mine over 3000, there's just no point, (shift at 3K, by the time you hit your next gear, you're at peak torque ) and I never had a problem...... STRANGE HUH!! I have always thought that people expect far too much from the old 2lt. If you drive one, just expect that it's gonna be a bit s l o w.

P.S. My current 2lt has done 385000ks, with nothing but TLC and regular servicing.

I try to drive my 13BT cruiser between 2000-3000rpm.
Was out playing one day and saw the rev counter at 4200. I nearly shit my pants, it was revving that hard. Not a very nice sound is a diesel going over 4000 rpm.

spanky · Post by **spanky** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 10:19 pm

service them at 5k like toyota says and they go forever, if you thrash them and overheat them they will do their head, remember they are a old motor now and none would of come into the country in a surf that had done less than 100k with minimal servicing cause the japs dont service shit, i would have a 2lt before a mitsi diesel if i had to have a diesel.
vaughan

Goose · Post by **Goose** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 9:03 am

H2OLOVA wrote:So now we know that Goose drives like a Nana I'd still avoid one if i had the choice

:instagib:

And as for mitsi diesel, $2500 for a new head on that P.O.S!!!! Another 2K for the gearbox!!! :evil:

I'd rather a 2lt than a mitsi.....

hulux-happy · Post by **hulux-happy** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 1:44 pm

I'VE HAD MY HILUX WITH 2LT FOR 1 YEAR NOW AND IT HAS BENN FLOATING DOWN THE WAIMAK AND SEVERAL SUBMERGES BUT NO MATTER WHAT CRAP I GIVE IT, THE LUX JUST KEEP ON GOING. MIND YOU THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW REPAIRS TO HER. BUT NEVER TO THE ENGINE OR TURBO. MIND U I HAVE SNORKAL AND BREATHERS FOR EVERYTHING. GO THE LN130 SURF. :frighten:

kaney · Post by **kaney** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 3:29 pm

from what i have seen they 90% reliable

.....90% crack the heads :evil:

and 10% are lucky :!:

Steve_t647 · Post by **Steve_t647** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 3:43 pm

All toyota Diesels crack heads, this is something said to me by Toyota! and they will continue working to fix this in newer engines.

Most of the time the cracks are too small to affect anything, some dont even show on leak down tests :shock:

As said above the harder you are on the diesel motor the less time it will last, service and don't run into the high rev's and it is fine, run higher levels of antifreeze change the oil's and standard boost all good.

these older style diesels were simple engines and never designed for performance Newer Diesel engines have more power valves and technology, some of the newer motors will not run on peanut oil, fish and chip oil and sunflower oils as they are designed for the low sulphur diesels and this allow's a lot of fine tuneing (lighter internals more bearings more valves etc etc).

If you want a performance engine in a Toyota get one and stick it in, if not then work within the limitations you have in the standard motor. you do see 300K's usualy before the head starts to go soft.

Engineer · Post by **Engineer** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 6:24 pm

ive never had a problem on my 2lte apart from the lack of power :lol:

oh and the $1500 fuel pump issue biut got the timing belt etc all done at the same time and also got the radiator all cleaned out.
i do full service every 5000 and just drive it between 2 and 3 or maybe just over on open road :wink:

ive only ever taken the diesel upto 4 once and it sounded sooo bad :lol:

Jerry · Post by **Jerry** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 7:05 pm

yeah the 2L-te sound horrendus over 4000 :lol:

good thing there is a rev limiter at 5000 :lol:

, theres a few old threads on here re the 2Lt/2L-t3 and the reliablilty

niblik · Post by **niblik** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 7:54 pm

drove goose's 2lt yesterday, as long as ya drive it like a little diesel, its fine.. it went well..

i like the ;little whine of the turbo, well, i think it was the turbo and not goose beside me.. :lol:

CHCHilux · Post by **CHCHilux** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 1:53 pm

theres a few old threads on here re the 2Lt/2L-t3 and the reliablilty

well well spent the last hour at uni flicking through forums and it seems the 2lt will blow up at least once in its life....

Also, it seems that if you service it and dont trash it, the 2lt will be reliable,
and that those who don't like the 2lt may have trashed it to death.

Still, as track record goes and from what i hear from talking to various people they are a dodgy buy as they are cheap, old, and therefore bound to have been abused at some stage in their life. Would this be a fair conclusion?

philux · Post by **philux** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 5:07 pm

Just got a phone call from kaney, ( his truck 2lt prado ) and guess what its over heated. Thats the 3rd time, it has overheated, id say you would want an eye on the temp guage pretty much the whole time, well off to methven to tow him back

Jerry · Post by **Jerry** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 5:08 pm

Yep, on the other hand do you get a 1600 vitara with the dodgy exaust problem that can cook your engine, or do you buy a disco and keep blowing diffs the point here is every vehicle has a weak point.

Yeah I have a 2L-Te, the temp guage reads either cold or normal, it hasn't gone bang yet and its sitting on 213000k, I don't drive it like grandma, and the previous owner sure as hell didn't, but then it gets maintained well and I will be fitting an aux temp guage with alarm later.

If I kill the head then a 3L diesel or a V8 is going in.

Option B is go for a petrol one instead

Engineer · Post by **Engineer** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 5:23 pm

philux wrote:Just got a phone call from kaney, ( his truck 2lt prado ) and guess what its over heated. Thats the 3rd time, it has overheated, id say you would want an eye on the temp guage pretty much the whole time, well off to methven to tow him back

I have never had any overheating problems (touch wood) but that might just be me

CHCHilux · Post by **CHCHilux** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 2:32 pm

Jerry wrote:Option B is go for a petrol one instead

Well ive already got one of them, a 3y. Costs $85-$90 to fill up and that goes about 350km. Im not happy with the fuel consumption as its gutless as well. So diesel it has to be, its just a matter of picking the right one so it doesnt blow up on me :cry:

Steve_t647 · Post by **Steve_t647** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 2:53 pm

Come on they are not all hand grenades!

If well maintained they run for a long time but like anything if abused they deteriorate and if continualy abused (higher boost without intercooler or additional fuel) and no other mods (bigger exhaust) then it will die eventualy and if it swallows water then all bets are off and it is not the engines fault

Toyota do have issues with the 2lt heads and this shows but this is due to the lack of maintanance while in Japan or even when they come out here not being maintained. The 3Y is not a performane engine and a Supra engine (5m or 7m) will give more power and higher rev's for the same economy but you are comparing carb to EFI. :shock:

Also the 2LT engine (unless you get the 2LTe (efi)) are not that efficient the Uni of Canterbury compared their petrol v6 to a 3.0 Turbo diesel (they have several of both) including RUC and oil changes every 5000 KM they came out costing the same due to the petrol's lower servicing costs, the only advantage to the diesel was when it was idleing and pottering around or towing it was more efficient then.

If you want a Hilux you get a good tough workhorse, if you want a Performance Hilux you do an engine swap as many have done before and others are still doing now.

Smurf · Post by **Smurf** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 3:01 pm

CHCHilux wrote:
Jerry wrote:Option B is go for a petrol one instead

Well ive already got one of them, a 3y. Costs $85-$90 to fill up and that goes about 350km. Im not happy with the fuel consumption as its gutless as well. So diesel it has to be, its just a matter of picking the right one so it doesnt blow up on me

If you add the higher rego cost plus road user charges to the price of a tank of diesel, are you really gaining?
I ran a 2.4turbo diesel surf for 5 years and wouldn't go back to one now that I have a petrol powered one.

Engineer · Post by **Engineer** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 6:23 pm

Smurf wrote:
CHCHilux wrote:
Jerry wrote:Option B is go for a petrol one instead

Well ive already got one of them, a 3y. Costs $85-$90 to fill up and that goes about 350km. Im not happy with the fuel consumption as its gutless as well. So diesel it has to be, its just a matter of picking the right one so it doesnt blow up on me

If you add the higher rego cost plus road user charges to the price of a tank of diesel, are you really gaining?
I ran a 2.4turbo diesel surf for 5 years and wouldn't go back to one now that I have a petrol powered one.

I get everywhere i need to go on a tank of gas for two weeks, i get good economy, open road 30mile per gallon an round town its not as good as that good but its still good. It costs me $50 on the heavy side every two weeks to fill up. Compared to my mates 3L V6 which is very gutsy around town and on the open road. We are both pushing mud tires an lifted.
Offroad the V6 has the advantage as he can rev the snot outta his an get where he needs to go, whereas my power is really only between 2000-3000rpm an no point going over that so i can have trouble clearing my tires an giving her sh*t.

The more expensive rego's are annoying along with RUC's however when you compare my $50 a fortnight to the v6 $90plus a fortnight and not getting as far as i can, im more than happy with the diesel. HOWEVER i am still waiting for my new lexus to arrive :oops:

for the share fact if i dont get it along with afew more parts now-ish i wont have money as im wanting to buy a house :wink:

Ryan.

Petemcc · Post by **Petemcc** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 7:11 pm

Engineer wrote:I get everywhere i need to go on a tank of gas for two weeks, i get good economy, open road 30mile per gallon an round town its not as good as that good but its still good. It costs me $50 on the heavy side every two weeks to fill up. Compared to my mates 3L V6 which is very gutsy around town and on the open road. We are both pushing mud tires an lifted.
Offroad the V6 has the advantage as he can rev the snot outta his an get where he needs to go, whereas my power is really only between 2000-3000rpm an no point going over that so i can have trouble clearing my tires an giving her sh*t.

The more expensive rego's are annoying along with RUC's however when you compare my $50 a fortnight to the v6 $90plus a fortnight and not getting as far as i can, im more than happy with the diesel. HOWEVER i am still waiting for my new lexus to arrive for the share fact if i dont get it along with afew more parts now-ish i wont have money as im wanting to buy a house

Ryan.

blair also does more ks than you do.

id go the v6 over a 2.4 any day. yea they are thirsty but they have alot more power and it works out about $15 a tank difference if you pay all the taxs.

the best option is to find one with a good conversion in it already.

Pete

CHCHilux · Post by **CHCHilux** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 7:55 pm

Steve_t647 wrote: The 3Y is not a performane engine and a Supra engine (5m or 7m) will give more power and higher rev's for the same economy but you are comparing carb to EFI.

Actually my 3y has efi. I think when the surfs had the indepentdent suspension upgrade in the mid 1980s efi was also thrown in. A mate has a carb 3y and its even slower than mine. But still, DEFINITELY not a performance engine, need a calender to measure a 0-100km/h time.

sig · Post by **sig** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 7:56 pm

if you buy a 2lt theres only a couple of things you need to know .if its hasn,t had the head done it soon will and if the heads been done its almost due to do it again

CHCHilux · Post by **CHCHilux** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 7:59 pm

Petemcc wrote:
id go the v6 over a 2.4 any day. yea they are thirsty but they have alot more power and it works out about $15 a tank difference if you pay all the taxs.

Pete

Is that $15 more than a 2.4td or $15 less than a 2.4td?

Petemcc · Post by **Petemcc** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 8:32 pm

v6 about $15 more than the 2.4.

Engineer · Post by **Engineer** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 9:08 pm

Petemcc wrote:
Engineer wrote:I get everywhere i need to go on a tank of gas for two weeks, i get good economy, open road 30mile per gallon an round town its not as good as that good but its still good. It costs me $50 on the heavy side every two weeks to fill up. Compared to my mates 3L V6 which is very gutsy around town and on the open road. We are both pushing mud tires an lifted.
Offroad the V6 has the advantage as he can rev the snot outta his an get where he needs to go, whereas my power is really only between 2000-3000rpm an no point going over that so i can have trouble clearing my tires an giving her sh*t.

The more expensive rego's are annoying along with RUC's however when you compare my $50 a fortnight to the v6 $90plus a fortnight and not getting as far as i can, im more than happy with the diesel. HOWEVER i am still waiting for my new lexus to arrive for the share fact if i dont get it along with afew more parts now-ish i wont have money as im wanting to buy a house

Ryan.

blair also does more ks than you do.

id go the v6 over a 2.4 any day. yea they are thirsty but they have alot more power and it works out about $15 a tank difference if you pay all the taxs.

the best option is to find one with a good conversion in it already.

Pete

i doubt he does more km's than me, i drive to work more often and only has to go otatara afew times, i gotta take chloe to bluff an drive her round. open road i get alot further than him for nearly half the price.

dixie · Post by **dixie** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 9:25 pm

CHCHilux wrote:Its probably a dud question, as i get the picture that they blow their heads a lot. But how reliable are the 2lt engines? should they be avoided at all costs? apart from putting a bigger exhaust and checking coolent, changing oil, etc, can you do anything to make them last?

Hey dude might as well add my 1 cents worth of knowledge. You've obviously picked up that these engines are not known for there reliability and horsepower, BUT there are mods you can assist with there longivity and to improve there output such as big bore zaust,blanking of heat return intake pipe, spacing waste gate rod to improve boost levels etc. If you are considering buying a surf or similar vehicle i would suggest hanging out to find the 2L model non turbo, cast iron head, bucket and shim/roller rocker assy. This model is bullet proof (to a point) BUT they are still a slug but will get ya home, do a few after market mods and they can perform,fairly cheap to run and most will exceed 350-400000km.

Just my 1 cents worth and yeah Ive been there and built a few!!

2lt reliability?

2lt reliability?

m

Re: 2lt reliability?