Postby Premera » April 10th, 2013, 7:48 am
Guys, my vehicle is down presently and has been for the past two weeks. The scenario leading up to same is a bit long to read but i would appreciate if you all could do so and assist in any way possible :
The van was bought used 2 years ago and i believe the previous owner's mechanic damaged one of the injector ports on the head / block. This caused the seals and washer to not fit snug and seal off the chamber properly, resulting in combustion and oil coming into the chamber and the van smoked white whilst driving, accelerating and even idling. I used to top up approximately 1 quart every 4-6 weeks.
My mechanic advised that we changed the seals and washers and the rubbers that hold the fuel rail in place ( kinda looks like a shot glass...lol ). I changed the seals and washers almost 4 times in the past two years and this has not solved the issue. The mechanic even doubled up on the seals which i later learnt was a waste of time as the injector is set to fit sung with ONE seal and washer.
The mechanic suggested aluminium welding the head and redrilling the injector port for the past year and when i was finally ready to do it, he changed his mind and said the machinist said it was too delicate a spot to do this and could damage the entire head BUT, he had a used head for 3k.....lol
The mechanic made me change fuel rail and i had two bad injectors, i changed them and still same trouble ( smoking )
I had a set of 2.5 injectors and we put these in. There was a max speed of 140k but i soon reverted to 4 used 3.0 injectors. Again two or three got damaged in the past year.
i did an engine wash last year and saw oil spitting up from the joined area where the turbo intake meets the engine i believe.
This continued up to present day.
Late last year i noticed the van woudl rough idle whilst i reversed, when i stopped at the lights or were in traffic and i would have to shioft to neutral to stop same. The van also had to literally crawl to pull off at a green light or in traffic but once i started driving it pickep up and ran smoothly. I never really went past 120k in fear of the injector seals blowing or somethign worst happeniong to the engine.
2 weeks aback whilst heading to gbazaar, i felt the van rough idling whilst driving, looked in the rear view and saw heavy white smoke, and heard a LOUD clacking, knocking sound. I turned to exit gbazar and the van shut off right there.
I restarted same and started climbing the ramp to head to san juan and again it shut down. called the mechanic and he advised to switch off the ac and crawl home. I did this and the knocing became louder and louder. The van did not lose power when driving home though, just excessive white smoke.
The mechanic i drive to immediately and he said the pistons were damaged and needed to have an engine job done. When i got home and the engine cooled, i checked the oil level and there was none on the dipstick reading BUT the oil light did not come on.
I topped up 3/4 gallon and re-started the van and 90% of the noise had gone. I have not started the van since.
4 mechanic opinions are confusing. one said engine job, the other said head only to change, the third said turbo unit blown etc etc.
The one that said the head only is my mechanic and he alone heard the van idle to say this.
I know i have to change te injectors and have ordered already.
James from bamboo opened the oil filter up and saw no metal sediments or filings and said this could be good news that nothing insude the engine is damaged or broken BUT to do a full check it woudl cost me 2500. To redo the engine is approx 25k he said but his labour price is 12k alone.
He said he cant say for sure unless he opens up the engine.
Do you all know anyone that can assist with a diagnostic before i spend unnecessary funds ?
The mechanic that said the engine has to be re-done is DING in Aranguez. I know him and knows he services alot of hilux from years aback to now.
My fear is paying for an engine job and realising that it is my turbo that needs changing......
Thnaks guys
