Couple of questions please

[dazzler]

Hi, I have had a quick look through the search facility (before being told off!!!) I think my Surf needs a little TLC, so was going to see how much for a service, but would rather do it myself, 1, due to cash and 2, I like to know as much as I can about the motor I drive.
I have the service sheet of what I need now, (although think I'll prob be working on it all weekend as I'm going to have to keep referring to this forum for hows and wheres!) but wanted to know, how do you clean the air filter, ie what oil do you put on it before you put it back (although obviously a new one would be better.

Another thing , I always drive with OD on, but the 4th gear does not kick in until 55 mph, is this normal?

My truck tends to do around 14 - 15 mpg (355 km to a full tank) after searching on this, someone mentioned about oversized tyres, which I have, would this make a hell of a difference or is it down to the poor thing needing a service? I dont particularly mind, as i enjoy driving it so much, but if i'm wasting fuel , i'd rather know and i'm not exactly loaded!

Hope these are not too stupid newbie questions

[Chillitt]

thing to do seems to be change as many oils as you can get to before getting too worried about shift points and such..
i didnt think the air filter was oilable..but i stand to be corrected
milners do a set of filters for 13.50 and a manual for the engine for the same just got mine...
mpg sounds horrendous! how big are these big wheels?(how big is your right boot?

[dirtydog]

must be like mine i do try and accelerate slowly but im not sure what im doing wrong - 320-350km in town and up to 420km on a run.

[TonyN]

What size tyres do you have, 31's look large, but where standard fit on lots of 3.0lt's Then look at the data plate on the bulkhead, and see what the axle code is and post it up, most 31" tyred trucks are G25 (4.5) or G14 (4.8) and the last number will be 2, 4 or 5, which mean 2 pinion, 4 pinion or LSD.

A good service often cures most crap MPG figures.

[dazzler]

cheers all, i'll take a look at the size of the tyres later and let you know, but it is probably time for a service from the sounds of things, I'll have to get that sorted. My right foot is very heavy, (although I am trying to drive sensibly!) but that comes from the fact that it can do it. I was used to a small sports car before, and liked the surf when i test drove it as it picked up like a good'un, in fact it was the only one i test drove and i left a deposit there and then

[Silversurfer]

The air filter on the 3ltr is a paper type filter (least it is on mine) and they can be simply cleaned by blowing compressed air through (from the inside out) failing that if it is not too bad a good vacum clean would do.

The up change to top gear at 55mph is about right - I have standard tyres on and it changes at just over 50mph and from cold it won't change up to top until the engine has reached full temp which is normal. The ECT button when used raises the gear change points for better acceleration

Your fuel consumption is not too good though - I average 23-24mpg and that seems to be the norm for a 3ltr 2nd gen.

Make sure you can get the oil filter off before you start - I had to buy a filter remover (from Halfords) cos the filter is large and a standard remover wouldn't fit and I couldn't get enough hand pressure to turn the filter. Generally it is easy to do a service' especially as you can get underneath without the need for ramps or jacking it up.

[da SLUG man]

the filter is paper and not cleanable...

you sure your odo is reading in Km and not miles?... mine does about 320 miles to a tank (about 50quid)

trickiest thing to change on basic service is the fuel filter, they're usually REAAL tight!.
probably worth running some injector cleaner through the fuel aswell... there's a pic of all the grease points on the FAQ section (i think?)

[dazzler]

Generally it is easy to do a service' especially as you can get underneath without the need for ramps or jacking it up.

Cheers, with the risk of sound stupid, are there any sites that would show/explain wher to find the certain points etc to check, I would like to do it all myself, but since the "old skool" engines from when I was a boy racer that i used to service, i've owned new cars that havent needed more than a polish!
Love the surf to bits, and wouldn't of minded to much if that was good MPG for it, but did think it was a bit harsh. have to be careful these with cash tho, redundancy looming just about everywhere!

[dazzler]

there's a pic of all the grease points on the FAQ section (i think?)

Answers my question. lol


will look , thanks

[da SLUG man]

modern engines are exactly the same as old ones... just has a computer to make necessary adjustments to maintain economy and reliability constantly instead of a mechanic (sometimes hit and miss) doing it once every 6 months...

so pretty much all that it needs is lube, filters and a visual inspection.

(obviously major serviec needs belts etc.)

[laser_jock@work]

cheers all, i'll take a look at the size of the tyres later and let you know, but it is probably time for a service from the sounds of things, I'll have to get that sorted. My right foot is very heavy, (although I am trying to drive sensibly!) but that comes from the fact that it can do it. I was used to a small sports car before, and liked the surf when i test drove it as it picked up like a good'un, in fact it was the only one i test drove and i left a deposit there and then

Dazzler,

If your truck is the one I think it is (big, blue lifted Surf seen driving around Warwick) then you're on 33" tyres at least. This means your odometer (milemeter) is actualy reading well under the distance you have really travelled. Hence your apparent poor mpg. If you do the calculations correctly using the standard issue Surf tyre diameter (29.5") which the odometer should be calibrated to- you'll probably end up closer to the expected 24mpg for a 3.0L

A service will definately help mind you. If I can spare a few hours this weekend I'll drop by and give assistance if required?

Nevillef

[Silversurfer]

the filter is paper and not cleanable...

you sure your odo is reading in Km and not miles?... mine does about 320 miles to a tank (about 50quid)

trickiest thing to change on basic service is the fuel filter, they're usually REAAL tight!.
probably worth running some injector cleaner through the fuel aswell... there's a pic of all the grease points on the FAQ section (i think?)

Air Filter - The attachment is from the Toyota 1KZ-TE engine manual.

Easiest way to change the fuel filter is to unplug the warning switch, pop off the two fuel pipes (they're rubber and held on with spring clips) - undo the two bolts holding the filter unit to the bulkhead and you can then drain the filter via the drain tap and use a vice/workbench to hold it whilst removing the warning switch and filter from the unit. Fitting is a reverse of the above.

[paulh]

Dazzler,

If your truck is the one I think it is (big, blue lifted Surf seen driving around Warwick) then you're on 33" tyres at least. This means your odometer (milemeter) is actualy reading well under the distance you have really travelled. Hence your apparent poor mpg. If you do the calculations correctly using the standard issue Surf tyre diameter (29.5") which the odometer should be calibrated to- you'll probably end up closer to the expected 24mpg for a 3.0L

A service will definately help mind you. If I can spare a few hours this weekend I'll drop by and give assistance if required?

Nevillef

I was waiting till I got to the end of the thread to post exactly the same points. I have 16" wheels fitted and wanted to go back to the same wheel circumference as my spare which is standard 15" I therefore bought tyres of a lower profile and my speedo reading has changed by 3mph (checked with the sat nav) It now shows 3mph faster than before although I havn't yet had chance to check the mpg.

[laser_jock99]

My truck tends to do around 14 - 15 mpg (355 km to a full tank) after searching on this, someone mentioned about oversized tyres, which I have, would this make a hell of a difference or is it down to the poor thing needing a service? I dont particularly mind, as i enjoy driving it so much, but if i'm wasting fuel , i'd rather know and i'm not exactly loaded!

Okay 355km allowing for the bigger tyres (33") is really 391km. Assuming your full tank is 60L (and that you use every last drop (refer to all my other threads about make accurate mpg measurments...)) that's still only 18mpg.

If you only used 55L of fuel (which is more likely- from some Surfers definitions of "a full tank") then you're getting much closer to 20 mpg.

My conclusion- you've got a heavy right foot and need to do more motorway miles!

Nevillef

[dazzler]

Thanks all for your help here, and Nevillef , you may be right about the right foot, just last night I was behind some slow driver(doing 25-30 on a 60 road) so I overtook, and what did they do? Speed up! already commited myself then, so just went for it, no probs for the old beast, but now it's chucking out smoke, which it hasn't done since i've owned it! Better start treating her with the respect she deserves! Get the service going.

Dazzler,

If your truck is the one I think it is (big, blue lifted Surf seen driving around Warwick) then you're on 33" tyres at least.

by Nevillef

mmm, could be, although i regularly see 3 Surfs when i'm out and about, you can tell mine by the clear back lights, which I havent seen on any Surfs locally maybe,

To summarise then, deffo needs a service! (goes without saying) could be a little to do with the oversized tyres, a lot to do with the right foot. Got it. Cheers for all your help and advice, promise I wont ask any more stupid questions!!.....until the next time!

cheers all

Daz