1KZ Operating Temperature?

[iantz Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close iantz]

Hi All,

Well this is my first post and let me say, this is a great site. I've been reading it for a while now.

Recently, I bought my first 4by. 2006 KZJ120R TD. Never had a dieself before, but I did a lot of research and although it doesn't have the same specs as the D4D, I am very happy with it Better yet, my wife loves the truck ;-)

Anyway, to my question:
I have noticed that my temperature guage sits on about 1/3rd while cruising around easily. But, if I do a little up-hill spurt etc, the temp guage climbs to about half way. I was concerned about this at first, but I have pushed it up quite a few big hill runs here in South Aus and it has never gone over this point. I know that the 1KZ has had issues with cracked heads (although I'd be fairly sure that these cars have been pushed very hard), so I was wondering what other diesel owners temp guages are doing? If mine is an anomaly, i will get it sorted before summer. It could just be a sticky thermostat or something; or hopefully, this is completely normal for a diesel? (having never owned one before).

Got my first offraod (well semi-off) trip in a week and a half and can't wait. I thought about getting a different mid size 4by, but I am glad I didn't becuase I really love this Prado!

Hopefully you guys could give me your thoughts.

Cheers
iz

[joey Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close joey]

Re: 1KZ Operating Temperature?

gday and welcome mate.

i can tell you that mine runs about 1/3 as well and slightly more when working hard..
I also have a E.G.T ( exhuast gas temp guage) and its running about 300 c ..

Mate your temps seem normal to me..

Mick L is the man to ask ...im sure he will give you a much mre detailed response.
cheers

Joey 8)

[samo Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close samo]

Re: 1KZ Operating Temperature?

hi iantz, dont worry, thats normal, mine does the same, cheers samo :lol:

[iantz Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close iantz]

Re: 1KZ Operating Temperature?

Cheers for your replies guys. Seems normal then... Thank God!

Still interested to hear others thoughts?

iz.

[samo Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close samo]

Re: 1KZ Operating Temperature?

even on a 40 deg day in the soft sand, it wont get any hotter than that, mind you can hear the clutch fan comming in and out as its supposed to, cheers samo

[adrian5800 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close adrian5800]

Re: 1KZ Operating Temperature?

Hi All,

Well this is my first post and let me say, this is a great site. I've been reading it for a while now.

Recently, I bought my first 4by. 2006 KZJ120R TD. Never had a dieself before, but I did a lot of research and although it doesn't have the same specs as the D4D, I am very happy with it Better yet, my wife loves the truck ;-)

Anyway, to my question:
I have noticed that my temperature guage sits on about 1/3rd while cruising around easily. But, if I do a little up-hill spurt etc, the temp guage climbs to about half way. I was concerned about this at first, but I have pushed it up quite a few big hill runs here in South Aus and it has never gone over this point. I know that the 1KZ has had issues with cracked heads (although I'd be fairly sure that these cars have been pushed very hard), so I was wondering what other diesel owners temp guages are doing? If mine is an anomaly, i will get it sorted before summer. It could just be a sticky thermostat or something; or hopefully, this is completely normal for a diesel? (having never owned one before).

Got my first offraod (well semi-off) trip in a week and a half and can't wait. I thought about getting a different mid size 4by, but I am glad I didn't becuase I really love this Prado!

Hopefully you guys could give me your thoughts.

Cheers
iz

Hi
Toyota temp gauges are designed to be damped in the centre zone of the gauge - so the centre portion will accommodate 20-30 deg C of change without the needle moving but this can lead to the gauge climbing into the red only when it's too late. (It's made this way to keep worried owners calling in and annoying dealers with questions). I fitted a separate temp gauge for piece of mind and so I know exactly what is going on. Yours doesn't sound out of the ordinary
Check the viscous fan clutch is locking up correctly - on a warm day on a long drag uphill it should make the engine fan start to roar. If not it's not too difficult to mod/repair. See this link
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=5019&p=92442&hilit=+fan+hub+o verhaul+1kz#p92442

Regards

Adrian

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Re: 1KZ Operating Temperature?

Mick L is the man to ask ...im sure he will give you a much mre detailed response.

Thanks for the vote of confidence Joey :wink: but it looks like I've been beaten to the punch this time though!

Sounds quite normal to me too, but as Adrian said; the gauges are very doughy around the middle (its a Toyota feature). Consider adding a second, better quality gauge (vdo or alike), especially if you tow. There is a blank in the thermostat housing that can be drilled and tapped to accept the new sender unit.


Mick

[iantz Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close iantz]

Re: 1KZ Operating Temperature?

Thanks guys. I've figured all along that most cars sit in the middle of the guage and that movment from this area would require a fairly large heat increase. I guess then that the diesel just has the ability to run very cool (1/3rd). So it should, with the bull bar on front there would be a considerable increase in air flow around the radiator because of the large area between the bottom of the BB and the radiator, with no plates or bumper in there to prevent air flow.

@ the second temp guage: Is a digital gauge better or analogue? And, are there threads around here that would show how to install them etc? From there I guess there would have to be some knowledge of what is considered a 'safe' operating range. I know this isn't mentioned in any of the toyota books that come with the car (or course).

Thanks a lot guys -
iz

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Re: 1KZ Operating Temperature?

Is a digital gauge better or analogue?

Personal choice... it's more about the quality, so get a reputable brand.
Digital ones can be good if they have an output for a warning buzzer.

are there threads around here that would show how to install them etc?

None that I recall but I can post some pictures tomorrow of the sender install on a 1kz

From there I guess there would have to be some knowledge of what is considered a 'safe' operating range.

The thermostat operates between 74-78 degrees Celsius and I've seen a the gauge get into the 90's at the most. I'd say constant high 90's would have the alarm bells ringing for me.

Mick

[adrian5800 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close adrian5800]

Re: 1KZ Operating Temperature?

And, are there threads around here that would show how to install them etc? iz

There's this one I fitted to mine

viewtopic.php?f=12&t=6631

[iantz Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close iantz]

Re: 1KZ Operating Temperature?

@Adrian - how hard was this unit to fit? Did it take long? I tinker around with cars but am by no means a 'mechanic'! I take it that pretty much all necessary holes are there bar the coolant level sensor (happy to drill), and the thermostat housing? I don't fancy my ability to drill and tap that. I certainly don't have the tool to tap it anyway. Maybe a mechanic shop can do that for me? I'm guessing that I could install that and the others at a later date too so I can spread the time more evenly over a few weeks.

Cheers
iz

[adrian5800 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close adrian5800]

Re: 1KZ Operating Temperature?

@Adrian - how hard was this unit to fit? Did it take long? I tinker around with cars but am by no means a 'mechanic'! I take it that pretty much all necessary holes are there bar the coolant level sensor (happy to drill), and the thermostat housing? I don't fancy my ability to drill and tap that. I certainly don't have the tool to tap it anyway. Maybe a mechanic shop can do that for me? I'm guessing that I could install that and the others at a later date too so I can spread the time more evenly over a few weeks.

Cheers
iz

It's not too difficult to fit, there are installation videos on youtube - although for a Landy TDi;
http://www.youtube.com/user/MadManAutom ... AyJjHpedrU

Fitting the coolant temp sender in the cylinder head outlet (the thermostat is on the side of the block sort of behind the alternator not on the head) does require drilling and tapping 1/8 nptf - as does the EGT probe in the exhaust manifold - a mechanic should be capable of doing that for you for not much cost but the rest of it is pretty straightforward.
It's a very comprehensive unit and for not much more $ than a EGT gauge or digital coolant temp guage alone

Regards

Adrian

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

reading this, sounds like mine is normal?

[SWR Banned Find all posts View Profile Close SWR]

Gday guys

Here is a cool link to doing a mod as far as the Toyota temp dead zone goes
http://neuralfibre.com/paul/4wd/toyo...temp-gauge-mod

Cheers