do all surf heads crack.?

[jonny ramrod]

Hi all,
this has probably been asked before, by someone like me who has their first surf...Sorry if it has..

I was lured to toyota ownership, after having land rovers and jeeps for many years, by their indestructable reputation. After reading through the forum i am now a tad worried about the head going on my 2nd gen 2.4. Is their anything that can be done to help move the odd's onto the side of it not going tits up, apart from making sure the coolent and the cooling system is tip top. If it does go, its not really a problem for me to replace it myself, which would keep the repair bill down, but would rather it didnt.... Its done 164k, which is about 98 thou miles.... what sort of mileage do the problems start.?

cheers guys....

[bullet513]

the 2.4 is very common for the head to crack, im quite new myself but from what ive read, using the correct coolant, doing the viscous fan "mod", making sure the rad is in good condition, fit a extra gearbox oil cooler to help keep the temp down. new thermostat and a full service seem the best things to do.
hope this helps, for any more indepth info use the search overheathing

[jonny ramrod]

thanks for that...i shall have a look into the fan mod, see what that is..

[lord_flashart]

Mine hasn't cracked....................... ...yet!

It's original from what I can tell and mine's from 1990.

[jonny ramrod]

Thats good to hear...

[legendgamesmaster]

don't rag the shyte out of it up Fish Hill in the Cotteswolds......

that would have worked for me. having said that, i wouldnt have a 3rd gen 3.0 intercooled now, would I!

make sure the cooling is good - it might be an idea to change the water pump if you ever do any work like cam belt change etc.

[Rustinho]

I'll echo what everyone else has said regarding keeping the cooling system in tip-top condition. The viscous fan "mod" (basically, its something that should be serviced rather than modified) is a biggie I reckon (even though I haven't got around to doing it myself yet).

The gearbox oil cooler will probably be more likely found under "ATF cooler" if you use the site search at the top of the page. You may also find this link useful.

The only thing that I would probably add to things is to make sure that the front of your Surf isn't too clogged up with spotlights, number plate, etc. Make sure that there is a clear airflow through the radiator grill and lower front valence.

I inadvertently sorted this out when I changed from a front bull bar to an A-bar, removed the old spotlights and changed the number plate cos the old one had a split in it. The free flow of air through the radiator has made an interesting difference in terms of keeping the engine running a bit cooler than it used to.

From this:



To this:



And remember to regularly wash the radiator out with a hose pipe (not a pressure washer - that might cause damage) to keep the path through it clear of mud/dirt/etc.

EDIT: You might notice that I've added some air scoops to the bonnet too.

[jonny ramrod]

thanks for the tips guys.. i will be doing the cam belt asap as i dont know when it was last done, so will change the water pump then. Fortunately i have no bull bars or spots, dont like them to be honest, so the air flow at the front is pretty clear. Will sort the fan and look into an after market cooler for the trans. Lots to be looking at for it then. Good job i like it

[Diezel Weazel]

Hi n Welcome n in answer to ya ?? NO
I agree with all the comments made sufice to say as an Import your very much in the lap of the Gods as to previously history.
Caution n Prevention is better than none atall but there are no guarantee's !!
Good Luck

[Wolfracer]

Mine hasn't cracked....................... ...yet!

i bet a tenner if you took the head off and had it x rayed there'd at the least be stress fractures... Heads don't just 'go' its a gradual thing as far as i can see... Hope this cheers you up bud.

[Apache]

I reckon all the 2nd gen 3.0s will go in the next few years...









BWAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!

[123-gtt]

Landrovers Indestructable reputation,now there is a first!I have a surf, due to me owning 3 landys in the past,and never never never again, I spent most of my 20s underneath them, and so did most of my mates who had them too, fixing it or slapping Bodge in it,or blowing my self up with shit electrics,
Im on my second yota now,My first one I sold to a mate 2.4, still going, bought with 138,000 klms on the clock sold with a 260,000 klms, only one problem with power steering, 15 quid fix and used as a offroader weekly.
My new one 3.0 200,000klms and never missed a beat to date,you only hear on these forums about the problems people having, hoping to resolve them,In reflection due to people dont post that everything is fine,if they did this forum would probably crash with so many posts, 99 times out of 100 its just down to people not servicing there trucks regular or not servicing them right,for the money they are close to bullet proof,and iv been round northen Africa, 4 times round europe,and 3 weeks in Russia in mine,i average 1000klm a weeks most months
its a the world famous hilux, put the news on,you will see loads of them with guns mounted on the back of them,because they are CLASS,no landys in sight

[Paul1566]

As legendgamesmaster said don't rag the shyte out of it up Fish Hill in the Cotswolds......

But fish hill is a great place for whizzing up on yer motorbicycle until you over take a lorry just before the tight left at the top and find some #######s nicked the road from under your front tyre.... crunch tinkle tinkle slide weeeeeee thump ouch...... oh look and ambulance..... oh bugger he's gunna run me over !...... thank god he's stopped.....now who am i where am i whats all this glass on the road and why's my bike all the way back down there ??????? yes i can admit i have fallen off going up fish hill.... heard loads of stories of people dying going down but none going up except me........

Or try dragging a tin snail over shap fell when the suns out..................

Or load another surf on a trailer and drive hardnock pass......

etc etc etc etc