Toyota Injector Damage

Submitted: Sunday, Jul 10, 2011 at 10:33
ThreadID: 87481 Views:5932 Replies:3 FollowUps:14
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Earlier I reported that my son’s Toyota Hilux CRD had its injectors damaged.
He had it regularly serviced by Toyota and it was a month outside the warranty with 70k on the clock.
Toyota quoted $5000 but he had a diesel specialist replace them for $4000 who said that it was sediment in the fuel - a common problem with CRD’s. I saw a sample of the fuel and it had flakes of sediment in it about the size of match heads.
I assume Hilux’s have a sediment filter warning system – it didn’t show an alarm on sediment or water accumulation.
The engine alarm light came on after the injectors were damaged.
As a young bloke I worked with consulting engineers designing large minerals processing plants. Though it’s not my field of expertise – I know it would be a simple engineering brief to design an efficient filtering system with blockage alarms – as either original or aftermarket add ons.
Has anyone heard of any?
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Reply By: Member - Toyocrusa (NSW) - Sunday, Jul 10, 2011 at 10:52

Sunday, Jul 10, 2011 at 10:52
Hi Dennis. Your son's Hi Lux has a fuel filter with a water sensing swithch in the bottom of it that turns a warning light on on the dash. This filter should have stopped impurities of that size before they got to the injectors so I don't know what has happened there. Did the repairer offer any explanation? Bob.

AnswerID: 459558

Follow Up By: Dennis Ellery - Sunday, Jul 10, 2011 at 11:57

Sunday, Jul 10, 2011 at 11:57
Hi Bob,
I am sure that the filter would have stopped the particles that I saw; it’s the ones that I couldn't see that would have been the problem.

The repairer sees the damage being caused by sediment passing through the filter. He believes that if you fill it from a service station, just after it’s been refuelled by a tanker, you risk picking up the sediment that it stirs up.
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FollowupID: 733131

Reply By: olcoolone - Sunday, Jul 10, 2011 at 10:54

Sunday, Jul 10, 2011 at 10:54
The factory filter is 2 micron so I would be getting the sediment checked relating to size to see if it has passed through the filter.

If the sediment is greater then 2 micron and the filter has been doing it's job there has to be another cause like water in the fuel, with CRD engines it only takes a very small amount to cause damage and this could of happened awhile ago.

Not knocking your fuel guy but to many mechanical people jump to the first conclusion as to why something has failed with no real evidence to back there claim.

Getting it professionally analysed may shed some light.

We ran a primary filter with water trap on our D4D along with the factory 2 micron filter and water trap.

We sold our Hilux at the start of the year after 5.1/2 years and 100000k of trouble free driving including many remote out back trips.

The Injectors can be checked on the vehicle and if the vehicle is under warranty it is free, all people have to say is they have a large knocking noise when cold... I would advise this to all D4D owners.

There would be more information on the Hilux and Prado designated forums.

And before anyone starts knocking CRD engines and Toyota; even that it's a known fact about the injectors failure is few and far between.

AnswerID: 459559

Follow Up By: Dennis Ellery - Sunday, Jul 10, 2011 at 11:46

Sunday, Jul 10, 2011 at 11:46
Hi Olcoolone,

I haven’t got a problem with Toyota or CRD’s
Both Toyota and the repairer have blamed dirty fuel. How many reports do you get? The vehicle has been regularly serviced by Toyota. It seems reasonable to would assume that the filtering and alarm system has failed or that their services have been inadequate. Toyota is not likely to admit to that, and it’s out of its warranty period.

I have a 2008 V8 Troopy – 80k’s, around Australia twice, across the top up and up to the tip of Cape York – filled it in the dodgiest looking fuel stations outback and it hasn’t missed a beat or had its fuel filter changed. Toyota says they don’t do this till the filter light comes on. My son’s experience indicates that the alarm system could miss it.

In my case – I need a large diesel and if this happened I would repair it and keep it. As soon as I get back to civilization, I’m going to check further with diesel specialists for solutions.

In my sons case he can’t risk the uncertainty or the expense of it happening again and is going to replace the vehicle with a petrol vehicle.

Do filters need changing regularly, or is Toyota’s advice to leave them alone until the light comes, correct?

Is a pre-filter going to upset the alarm system by putting more resistance in the fuel line?

I respect your knowledge on the subject and I am appreciative of any advice from anyone with knowledge of diesel fuel filtering systems.
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FollowupID: 733129

Follow Up By: olcoolone - Sunday, Jul 10, 2011 at 13:26

Sunday, Jul 10, 2011 at 13:26
You might not have a problem but I sure many who like canning CRD engines have...LOL

With the D4D there is no sure way of knowing the cause as some vehicles that are only used around major cities fail and ones in the outback don't.

Water is the biggest problem due to it's abrasive and corrosive properties, CRD injectors have micro finishers and very very small tolerances that can be destroyed very easily.

There is no problems with restrictions regarding adding a second filter (primary), there was lots said at the start regarding adding extra filters but non have been proven.

Most secondary filters are between 5 to 10 micron as compared to 2 micron and a dirty filter works better then a clean one as long as it's not restrictive.

I would leave changing the factory filter until needed or as directed, there is a greater chance of getting foreign bodies into the fuel system the more you change the factory filter.

The factory filters are very good quality, have a very large filter area and with good filtering properties.

Toyota CRD engines don't need any maintenance except for draining the water trap.

I would say the filter and warning light worked as required and may of been over looked whilst driving (some are fitting warning alarms as they don't see the light come on), after all it is a very small light.

We changed our secondary filter (primary) every 30,000 kilometers and the factory filter got changed at about 90,000 kilometers when the light came on warning of a restriction.

Our secondary filter (primary) had a larger water trap just in case we got water in our tank.

Just a note:- when the dash light stays on it is indicating a restriction and when it flashes it's indicating water in the water trap.... the second warning may already be to late.

I am still working out what system I'm going to use on our V8 Landcruiser.
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FollowupID: 733144

Follow Up By: Member - Bucky - Monday, Jul 11, 2011 at 05:05

Monday, Jul 11, 2011 at 05:05
olcoolone

2 micron is very fine for a factory filter.
How does it deliver enuf fuel, and how often do you have to change the filter/filters ?

Cheers
Bucky
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FollowupID: 733208

Follow Up By: olcoolone - Monday, Jul 11, 2011 at 09:09

Monday, Jul 11, 2011 at 09:09
They get changed when the restriction light comes on or at 160000 kilometres. (Toyota)

And yes 2 micron is fine, the filter even that it's compact has a very large surface area.

There is a heap of stuff on the net.

http://www.google.com.au/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=2+micron+fuel+filter
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Reply By: Member - DAZA (QLD) - Sunday, Jul 10, 2011 at 11:58

Sunday, Jul 10, 2011 at 11:58
G/Day Dennis

When we had the problem with our Patrol, re the next thread, I asked the Service Manager about an add on fuel filter, and he stated that add on filters can Starve the the Common Rail System.

Cheers
AnswerID: 459568

Follow Up By: Dennis Ellery - Sunday, Jul 10, 2011 at 12:01

Sunday, Jul 10, 2011 at 12:01
Thanks DAZA,
It's something I was concerned about too.
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FollowupID: 733132

Follow Up By: Patrol22 - Sunday, Jul 10, 2011 at 13:14

Sunday, Jul 10, 2011 at 13:14
Dazza....the single biggest problem for CRDI engines (for all diesels really but CRDI engines have a rail pressure of 1800 bar or higher - ie 28000psi +) as water presents 2 issues.....1st it doesn't compress (neither does diesel but it burns) the 2nd is it can cause quite rapid deterioration of moving parts in the fuel systems....especially the pump. I am really paranoid about water to the extent that I've fitted a Water Watch system and when I fill up at any station other than my usual station I also use a Mr Funnel for the first 15-20 litres of each fill. Overkill? Possibly but as I said I'm a bit paranoid about getting water in these high pressure systems.
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Follow Up By: Cole - Sunday, Jul 10, 2011 at 20:35

Sunday, Jul 10, 2011 at 20:35
Hi

Why only the first 15-20 litres?

I have a 2oos LC. I am looking at getting a water watch system installed. I am also considering installing a 1 micron pre filter for filtering fine particles out.

I am a bit concerned about possible pressure changes.

Any thoughts / recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks all.


Cole
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FollowupID: 733198

Follow Up By: Patrol22 - Sunday, Jul 10, 2011 at 22:10

Sunday, Jul 10, 2011 at 22:10
Cole - be careful in installing an extra fine filter in the system as this can inhibit the quite high flow rate that is required for most CRDI engines. My advice would be to speak to a good diesel centre (not the dealer) about this before you do anything.

Re the 15-20 ltrs with Mr Funnel - this funnel traps water ie if it aint a hydrocarbon then it won't go through the funnel. I figure that after 15-20 ltrs if there isn't any water trapped then it is pretty safe to assume that I won't get any in the tank from this fill.
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FollowupID: 733204

Follow Up By: Member - Bucky - Monday, Jul 11, 2011 at 05:00

Monday, Jul 11, 2011 at 05:00
Dazza

I agree with Patrol22, about a really fine filter.
You may require a double filter system to cope with the flow.

I use a single 5 micron Bosche fuel filter, in our old 4.2 TD Patrol (2001 model) and find that that is sufficient. But I have bene told that for CRD motors it's a whole different ball game.

Suggest that you go to a reputable Diesel Injector Service center, and work it out from there..
Also might want to check out your warranty, some manufacturers will do anything to get out of a warranty job.

Cheers
Bucky
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FollowupID: 733207

Follow Up By: Member - Peter R (QLD) - Monday, Jul 11, 2011 at 09:49

Monday, Jul 11, 2011 at 09:49
I fitted a Water Sedimenter to my 2007 Prado D4D for peace of mind .

See this thread on Pradopoint for photo My Water Sedimenter on this link

Pedro
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FollowupID: 733218

Follow Up By: Sacred Cow - Monday, Jul 11, 2011 at 10:50

Monday, Jul 11, 2011 at 10:50
Pedro,

Even though you had an additional water sedimenter installed, didn't your injectors needed to be replaced?

Glenn
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FollowupID: 733221

Follow Up By: Member - Peter R (QLD) - Monday, Jul 11, 2011 at 11:48

Monday, Jul 11, 2011 at 11:48
Yes however that was a separate issue.

Original injectors were not DLC (Diamond Like Coating I think it stands for) and anecdotal evidence suggested they were not the correct type for a common rail system.
Toyota and Swann Insurance (extended waranty) replaced them out of warranty , with the DLC injectors.

Out of inteest I have always used BP fuel.

Pedro
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FollowupID: 733225

Follow Up By: Cole - Monday, Jul 11, 2011 at 20:38

Monday, Jul 11, 2011 at 20:38
Thanks Patrol22 I'll take your advice.

I see that the water watch system only detects water & will not act as a pre filter to filter smaller particle that may damage injectors. Looking at the size of the water watch system I doubt that I can fit this + another filter. Any way I will seek out some advice as recommended. Perhaps a all in one?


Thanks


Cole
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FollowupID: 733293

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