Engine replacement 4BD1

[Rusty Gunn]

Hi all,

Grim news... It looks like I may need a new engine or a re-build for the RFSV.

I carried out an oil and filter change and fouled up somehow. I added the requisite amount of oil but didn't look at the dipstick. I ran it for a short time and it warmed up and appears to have seized. I thought it was battery related and so the next day when cool, I checked the oil and was shocked to find it barely touched the bottom of the dipstick despite having added the proper amount. I topped it up and it started again normally but after warming up the same thing happened but when I began to hear some expensive-sounding knocking noises I shut it down before it stopped itself. I guess I'm now contemplating an engine replacement if the big end bearing or whatever has developed chips which have travelled around.

Any (constructive) comments are appreciated. Including advice on where to go for a new donk!

Thanks gents.

[john.k]

Dont you have a oil pressure gauge or light?......just because the oil doesnt reach the dipstick ,doesnt mean there is no oil circulating..........First , remove the filter and cut the paper apart,and see whats in it....there will be handfulls of metal from a bearing seizure.............my other sure indicator is the smell of the oil......oil from a seized engine has an unforgettable smell.......I could pick a partially seized truck fifty yards away......if the filter check doesnt show much metal,then connect an oil pressure gauge.......oil must be hot though to give a proper indication.

[Rusty Gunn]

Yes there's a low oil pressure light but the tactical light cover was down and I didn't notice if it was illuminated or not. The vehicle is in a remote location and not handy now but I can tell you the engine runs but seems to get warm (a few minutes of running) then stop and not turn over. I think it was getting hot, expanding, and stopping, but not quite fully "seized" for good. I don't understand why this happens as I poured in over 8 litres of oil.

[Rusty Gunn]

Thanks, John. I've had a chance to get back to the property and go over the vehicle again. I believe the oil system doesn't need priming after being drained, unlike some newer vehicles. I ran the engine very briefly and the low oil pressure light was not illuminated. The bearing noise was pretty bad though and I shut it down again. I drained some engine oil and found the presence of fine metal chips. As I didn't touch anything else during the oil change the other week I suspect that for some reason the system did not suck up oil when I started it. Maybe the pump is on its way out? The guru reckons the bearing may've then turned when I started the engine and covered the oil passageway. I didn't know that could happen. Anyway it looks like a motor exchange is required.

I'll research it all next time I'm at the office but any suggestions for an exchange source for 4BD1 in Perth are greatly appreciated.

[tona]

   I would remove the motor ,pull it down and see what went wrong before  trying to buy an engine , sounds like its spun a journal, it may not require a lot of cost, TONA 51 590.

[Rusty Gunn]

   I would remove the motor ,pull it down and see what went wrong before  trying to buy an engine , sounds like its spun a journal, it may not require a lot of cost, TONA 51 590.

Even with the presence of metal shavings? I always thought shavings were a sign of rebuild or replace.

[fc101]

Not necessarily - if a bearing shreads the metal particles go into the oil but is then captured by the oil filter so even with particles, in the ideal world they will be captured by the filter before the oil continues on to the rest of the engine.

You could be lucky so dont assume.

[john.k]

By all means strip it down,the only sure way......I think I mentioned  significant metal in the filter .......handfulls in a seizure of the rods and mains.........I also mentioned the terrible burnt smell the oil gets from a seizure,unmistakeable......Anyway ,even a crank seizure would have to be bad with mains turned in the block before I would consider an exchange......as you are always paying for someone elses disaster with an exchange.

[john.k]

Other things can cause heavy knocking ,like a cracked injector nozzle,defective pump ,or even a sticky valve or bent pushrod.......however ,you must remove the oil filter and cut it apart,and look for metal,as a first step before doing anything unnecessary and expensive.