4JX1 2003

[teak8]

G'Day
I hear engine oil choice is critical with these engines .
So what is the best ?
Cheers

[geeves]

5w30 or if it gets cold where you live 0w30. Good synthetic oil thats suitable for diesels. Symptoms of the wrong oil are hard starting if it starts at all. Dont neglect oil changes and change the main filter every change and the second filter every 50000km.(luckily this is a cheap filter)

[teak8]

Thanks.I have 2 problems at the moment Engine hunting with no throttle this is an intermittant fault. Also engine died while trying to reverse up slight slope & refused to restart. Holden dealer local said oil pick up had fallen off no oil pressure? Oil gauge in car reading normal. Appears to me local dealer mechanics are some sort of magicians & everything is done by mirrors & smoke screens.
A couple of diesel experts advised me to fix a sell as these motors are LEMONS?
HELP

[geeves]

My understanding is that from 2004 all problems were fixed and as you say yours has a serial number that is after the fix time. In the end it was the reputation that killed off this engine not its actual reliability in the end. The early ones were disasters waiting for an inconvenient time

[awhimarama]

I have a 1999 MU. At the end of tether with the engine and now told it is dead. Engine no 4JXI 5820. Has anyone tried repowering with the earlier 3.1 motor? I have had two of these and they ran like clockwork for years. Still have one in a Wizard, and no problems. We are happy with the vehicle apart from the motor. So why not repower with a motor we know is reliable?
Also geeves I notice you mention that from 2004 the problems were fixed. What number motor does that apply from? It may be that getting a later motor may be an easier fit and solve the problem. Thanks

[awhimarama]

Further to my earlier post (below). 4JX1 1999 motor problem. Talking to a man today who says repowering with a 3.1 motor may be possible but to take both motor (and all that's attached) and transmission from the old one so the computer that controls the 3 lt. motor can be dispensed with. Engine and transmission mounts may not be compatible but one set or the other may be able to be modified.Seems like some work to convert backwards, but maybe a better option than stripping and selling for parts.
Any thoughts out there on the option of repowering in this way. Thanks.

[geeves]

In Britain there was a company specialising in swamping 4jb1s into dead 4jx1 troopers. Dont know if they used the original trans.
If I was doing this I would use the trans that came with the 3.1 although this has its own computer as well so you need the wireing loom and ecu. At least it doesnt share the same computer for the engine and trans.
Get a manual trans with the 3.1 and no computer to worry about but you do need a clutch peddle.

[bazza2541]

I put a 4JB1 into mine. There's loads of 3.1 conversions floating about too.
What do you want to know?

[geeves]

A detailed write up on the conversion would be nice. Especially how you get round the electronics