Canadian Cruiser Coolin' in BC

wildthing · Post by **wildthing** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 10:39 pm

Hello All,
Noticed there are some off-roaders in NZ who drive the ninty something Cruisers with 2.4 turbodiesels. I'm your Canadian cousin facing some of the same driving conditions in British Columbia but without the parts inventory locally when things go wrong!

Well, I'm working on cooling things down for my LJ78 with 2T-LE as I want to drive to the Yukon next summer. It doesn't get real hot here even in June or July but it can climb to 36C (97F) on occasion. Mostly I'd be driving in 15-25C temperatures. Here's what I'm considering:

1. cooler thermostat (how to test for existing running temps?)
2. flushing rad and changing antifreeze
3. changing oil to 15/45 Castrol for summer
4. changing clutch fan OR adjusting it for quicker on to prevent heating
5. add-on cooler for transmission
6. extra fans

Any thoughts or comments about what I'm missing here?

mercutio · Post by **mercutio** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 10:43 pm

from what i have heard those 2.4 turbo motors do overheat sometimes

just wondering have you found any of the australian cruiser forums after all those guys make them

Jerry · Post by **Jerry** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 10:57 pm

Theres a Yank on another NZ forum that specialises in Toyota imports and knows heaps about them http://www.crushersrule.com/ may want to give him a yell and touch base with him....might be a good parts supply as well.
wayne@crushersrule.com

there is NO CURE for the head cracking problems of all the Toyota diesel engiens smaller than 3.4L.
they are dieing in Canada like flies. if you go to http://www.ih8mud.com you will see all the tricks we have tried. (my handle is Crushers there). the design is piss poor both the head and the cooling.
IF you drive in a country where the speed limit is 90k.h AND you have no hills, no head winds then you MIGHT get away with no cracking.
a larger exhaust does drop the EGTs nicely, increasing the boost to 14Lbs helps there again. install a PYROMETER and drive according to the reading.
i personally have tried:
3X3/4 core rad
new water pump
new head
3" down to 2 1/2" free flowing exhaust
EGR block off plates
smaller tires
now i am removing the AC and venting the hood to get rid of the trapped hot air from inside the engine compartment (illegal in some places)

If you go to the forums section on the left and do a search for "all the terms" and put in toyota head cracking then a few older posts come up....

eg http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/modules ... d+cracking

wildthing · Post by **wildthing** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 11:17 pm

I appreciate your input! I did read some of Wayne's posts on the IH8Mud forums. But I was also interested what NZ folks did and what worked for you as well.

Jerry · Post by **Jerry** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 11:23 pm

Basically I got told bigger exaust, keet the maintainence up especially coolant and getting the radiator checked, (and cleaned from mud regualrly).

Haven't had any cooling problem with mine so far, but the next mod is a nice little wee inline 12v temp guage/alarm that gives the real temp instead of the lying toyota one which has 3 settings coz it has a resistor in it and reads cold/in the middle/cooked head. but in saying that I keep a real close eye on the temp guage.

A bigger core radiator (4 core or bigger) might be a good mod.

wildthing · Post by **wildthing** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 11:27 pm

Thanks Jerry for the input, I'm considering all those things in order of $ and effect!!

I'll probably start with coolant, get a pyrometer or proper temperature gauge, and then look at the exhaust mods and clutch fan replacement options.

What is a stropper, btw?

Jerry · Post by **Jerry** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 11:29 pm

Do a search on all the old posts ...theres a wealth on info on them if you have the time....

And some pics of your rig and offroad etc would be good :-)

See what Wayne can suggest/supply as well

wildthing · Post by **wildthing** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 11:32 pm

I will post some pics as soon as I get my digital camera back from Saltspring Island where it went on holidays. Hopefully some muddy pics as well as a few of the maroon and silver LJ78 clean and charmin'.

I'll also poke around with the search feature.

Jerry · Post by **Jerry** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 11:39 pm

You may want to put a post or 3 in these threads and other ones :lol:

Nissan Vs Toyota Thread
http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/modules ... 3601#83601

Show us your Toyota Thread
http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/modules ... 2840#82840

SMOKEY · Post by **SMOKEY** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 11:44 pm

Wildthing, Hello and welcome to our ORE community.
I drive a 92 Toyota Surf with a 2LTE (2.4 efi turbo diesel). I have replaced the head because of cracking.
It looks like your ambient temperatures over there are similar to ours here in NZ.
Jerry in his "quote" says it all. In my opinion it is not the heat from the cooling that causes the trouble but the internal heat from the combustion and resulting exhaust. The best way to combat this is the fitting of a good Inter-cooler to lower the inlet charge temperature and then monitor the exhaust temperature by the fitment of a pre turbo pyrometer gauge.
I have a Pyro; and Boost gauges fitted to my vehicle and drive on the Pyro gauge all the time and never allow the exhaust temp; go over 650 deg;C. you will find that different driving techniques will make a big difference to the exhaust temperature but you must monitor it.
I have done 150000km with my motor and towed a 15ft caravan around the South Island of NZ without to many problems.

JUST DON'T EXPECT IT TO BE A RACEING CAR,

FITZY.

Jerry · Post by **Jerry** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 11:45 pm

I would just like to point out that the quote was from Wayne not myself..... :lol:

And my one has done 214000km on the same head...

crushers · Post by **crushers** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 1:47 am

well, this past weekend i got rid of the AC rad and components. the temp stayed nice and cool even through the roughest terrain and steepest hills. flooring it in the mud holes never moved the needle past 1/4.
once the rad started to plug up it of course got hotter but a quick spray and the temp was back down.

seriously, if you want to have a reliable run from Vancouver to Yukon then i suggest selling the LJ78 and spending the extra to get a nice HDJ81...but that is up to you.

i believe you are already a mud member, correct?

just for the record, I am a Canuck, not a Yank...we are the ones that don't pack a gun everywhere we go...

crushers · Post by **crushers** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 1:57 am

just for the record, the head dying ratio is sitting at 60% in Canada this figure was achieved by contacting various importers and chatting with them...and that is not counting the poor blocks that are not on the forums or are too shy to speak up.
if you have 214,000 on the same head then my hat is off to you, you are one of the very few.
cheers

Goose · Post by **Goose** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 11:40 am

crushers wrote:just for the record, the head dying ratio is sitting at 60% in Canada this figure was achieved by contacting various importers and chatting with them...and that is not counting the poor blocks that are not on the forums or are too shy to speak up.
if you have 214,000 on the same head then my hat is off to you, you are one of the very few.
cheers

My 2LT has done 382000 with nothing but FULL REGULAR SERVICING going back to when it was imported in 92-3ish :wink:

Also, it was and is driven like a 2LT should! Slow and steady :lol:

Mind you, she's making a few rattles now, cant have too much left in her, but hey, thats an awesome run for a handgrenade with the pin pulled!! :twisted:

crushers · Post by **crushers** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 11:46 am

LOL!!
yep, that is pretty darn good but then you are backing my own personal theory as to why these engines are dying here in Canada.
especially Alberta and BC.
Alberta has long stretches of highway and severe head winds that can drive the pyro up faster than a steep hill. of course the speed limit of 110k/h is laughed at with blokes driving 140-160 on a regular basis.
BC has severe LONG steep hills that eats these heads for breaky and want more right away (just like chinese food)
cheers and best of luck going for 500,000

wjw · Post by **wjw** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 1:08 pm

Get your rad recored to a 4 core, you'll never have an issues then as thats what the aussies run in the outback... over here it costs about $700NZD to have it done.

Cheers,

Bill

crushers · Post by **crushers** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 1:13 pm

actually i went to a 3 X 3/4" (max with the original tanks) with good results but at speed and on hills or bucking a head wind it still heated up...not as bad but the fear came back...

Jerry · Post by **Jerry** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 8:31 pm

We need some pics of your truck and offroading over there Wayne :lol:

Bubba · Post by **Bubba** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 1:07 pm

hey I was checking out your web site, or was it your clubs site, can't remember too many bourbons ago. Where did you get all those photo's of kiwi riggs from, I was looking for my Cruiser, couldn't find it :cry:

I was looking at some of your old photo's, man I like some of the bar work, can you make me some up and put it in a envelope :lol:

crushers · Post by **crushers** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 1:20 pm

thanks for the compliments...
i enjoy designing the metal work...mind you i get ideas from the other blokes and then adapt them for my personal use...
that might be a bit heavy for the Posties to move about...

crushers · Post by **crushers** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 1:22 pm

Jerry wrote:We need some pics of your truck and offroading over there Wayne

we just finished a 3 day Long September weekend run and the photograher has promised me some pics...
as soon as i figure out how to upload them i will get them here...

cheers

Bubba · Post by **Bubba** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 1:22 pm

It's alright I think I will just steal your designs, international patent pending?? :oops:

crushers · Post by **crushers** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 1:24 pm

buddy, see something you like run with it!!

i am not ARB or Safari, i don't mind sharing...

Bubba · Post by **Bubba** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 1:28 pm

Was going to anyway, long way to come to find me :wink:

You sure you ain't a Kiwi :wink:

Goose · Post by **Goose** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 1:29 pm

Crusher, just found a 2003 troopy for sale in a car yard here, diesel, and only $40000 NZ (about 30000US)
Do you want me to buy it for you and send it over? :lol:

here's the vehicle in question......

http://www.canterburycars4x4.co.nz/deta ... _id=452776

I'm sure it would only cost another 10k to send it to Canada, eh?

crushers · Post by **crushers** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 1:43 pm

Bubba wrote: You sure you ain't a Kiwi

paint me ignorant but i am not sure what you mean?? :?:

crushers · Post by **crushers** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 1:44 pm

the newest i can import is 1992...bummer.
i guess i can dream.

Goose wrote:Crusher, just found a 2003 troopy for sale in a car yard here, diesel, and only $40000 NZ (about 30000US)
Do you want me to buy it for you and send it over?

here's the vehicle in question......

http://www.canterburycars4x4.co.nz/deta ... _id=452776

I'm sure it would only cost another 10k to send it to Canada, eh?

Bubba · Post by **Bubba** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 1:51 pm

crushers wrote:
Bubba wrote: You sure you ain't a Kiwi

paint me ignorant but i am not sure what you mean??

Just a throw away comment, The Kiwi is our national bird and we tend to refer to ourselves as Kiwi's

goes with being a good bastard, (which is also a good thing)

crushers · Post by **crushers** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 1:55 pm

i knew what a Kiwi was

i am on the other forum and have been for a few years now but i wasn't sure if i was being complimented or insulted... :lol:

Bubba · Post by **Bubba** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 2:00 pm

Hahaha, in that case you can take it either way :lol:

jeez, try and be a nice guy and looks where it gets you :wink:

Canadian Cruiser Coolin' in BC

Canadian Cruiser Coolin' in BC

good idea about Crusher

Bigger exhaust, regular coolant change, real guage

Pics of rig forthcoming