How much oil should a 2.8 4JB1 normally use?

[bedford4x4]

Hi all,

My Mu's starts first pop irrespective of how cold it is, but I've had a gutsful of the smoke-blowing after a long run. However, it's been better ever since I wound back the fuel adjustment on the pump. When I took it into Jared at Turbo-care, he said that someone had already taken off the tamper-proof cap but hadn't given it more diesel to compensate for the intercooler volume or big exhaust. Sounded odd, I thought at the time.

I had just returned from a trip into Big River and up the Poulter Valley and was annoyed by the smoke-blowing. It used about a litre of oil for 1000km of trip. No wonder the Isuzu club doesn't seem to do any trips, I thought, they'd all smoke each other out when they start the trucks on the next cold start. I figured that someone wouldn't take the cap off and not adjust the diesel, so I turned it back to where it was (Jared had told me where it was set). Although there is a bit more turbo lag when cold, the truck now runs better and blows less smoke, but the cold start after a high-speed run smoke, although less of it, is still there and is really annoying.

As someone ran it for a long time with the terribly worn timing belt sprocket on the crankshaft retarding the valve timing and injector timing about 15 degrees, I wonder if it did some damage to the rings i.e. a cracked ring. Like I say, it starts first pop every time so they can't all be bad. I'm not about to pull the engine to bits, but may at some stage look at selling it and buying a later Mu or SWB Bighorn with the 3.1 diesel.

I know the 4JB1 motor breathes very heavily, but how much oil should one normally use? Is a litre of oil per 1000km normal?

BTW, he Big River trip was a walk in the park - a long way in but you only need ground clearance rather than 4 wheel drive. The hut was awesome and the historical mining stuff very interesting. The Poulter was great - the big slip is fixed and most of the track is good. The odd bits could get dicey after snow or heavy rain making them slippery. Mud tyres are recommended. Awesome scenery.

[pig75]

That sounds way to much
i might use 500ml in 5000km

[wbski007]

my 2.5 doesn't use any between changes, every 3,000 miles

[geeves]

Sounds like time for a catch can. For the record my 4jb1t doesnt need top ups between changes but its only done 200000km

[turnturn]

I'm the same as Geeves. No noticeable oil use between changes (5-7000ks). Total = 298,000ks

[geeves]

What brand of oil are you useing and when was it last changed?

[bedford4x4]

What brand of oil are you useing and when was it last changed?

I use Valvoline Diesel 20/50 and I've just changed the oil. The truck has only done 178000km so it's not as if it's a tired motor. It was on the last 1000km before an oil change when I did the trip and I had put a litre of Morey's Oil Stabiliser in with the oil.

This time I didn't put any Morey's in, in case it was that which was causing it to use oil by not allowing the rings to bed against the chrome bores. Just an idea born of frustration more than anything.

I have always topped it up to the "High" dot on the dip-stick. I don't know if that'd make the engine use oil. I've heard from 2 sources that you should only top it up to halfway between the 2 dots.

[geeves]

True never ever ever fill above the full mark. This can cause oil burning and leaks. Dont top up till its under the low mark. It might find a level.

[bedford4x4]

Well, it seems my truck is still burning oil. I took it for a drive out to Rolleston last night and this morning went to start it and had the driveway fill with filthy oil smoke again.

So it's either sell the thing or fix it. I strongly suspect a cracked ring, as the truck is starting to misfire a few times on one cylinder when it makes a lot of smoke.

Supercheap Auto quoted me about $500 for rings, big end bearings, head set and sump gasket set. Not too bad, really. Repco quoted me about $800 for the same things.

So it may be better to fix it rather than upgrade to a 3.1 version. I wouldn't mind the extra grunt, or the bigger alternator, but most Mus haven't been modified the way mine has and it would be a retrograde step to go back to a standard Mu or SWB Bighorn.

[MrBIGHORN]

Check out trademe for a 3.1 motor. some come with a Warranty.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 416935.htm

[geeves]

Try a catch can first. See other posts for instructions.