(Home) 89 Townace 4x4 banging noise

Hello, my 89 townace 4x4. Uses unlead gas. Is really having problems! I can be driving at 60 mph and all of a sudden the engine will start making a clicking or loud banging noise and will slow down to about 20 mph... Then on other times it will start when you start her up? Don't have any overheating problems...
Doesn't anyone know or had this problem?
Thanks in advance
Ken
Mildenhall

- (#7984) ken , 19 Jan 04 11:16

Pre ignition? Does it happen on cold, warm or both starts?

- (#7984) Clive (Bristol), 19 Jan 04 16:08

A few times when its cold. But most of the time after its been running a while.

- (#7984) ken, 19 Jan 04 16:40

The www.toyotavans.org site had a similar question!

The suggestion is that if you use cheap, thin oil, as the oil heats up it doesn't lift the valves properly - hydraulic lifters apparently.

They suggested better oil and regular servicing.

Try them, they might be able to help.

- (#7984) DaveW, 20 Jan 04 00:05

Change the oil it's worth a try, but I'm still inclined to look at the advance system on the dizzy.

- (#7984) Clive, 20 Jan 04 01:41

Clive, the guys over there had a similar discussion.
One suggestion was that as the engines get a few miles under them, the hydraulic lifters get a bit tired, and can't keep up with the engine revs - it was around 60mph too. They describe loud knocking noise, and chronic loss of power that dissapeared after a little rest.
It just sounds too much the same thing to pass up.
Of course the dizzy could be to blame, but that would tend to be under load, or all the time.
This is specifically at high revs.

Amazing that the same problems can be described on basically the same day on separate sides of the world!

Dave.

- (#7984) DaveW, 20 Jan 04 02:20

I'm all for the quick and easy resolution. If it has worked for others then let's hope an oil change works for Ken.
I had a Spacecruiser (Tarago) for 250,000 miles and did not have this problem, using the cheapest oil I could find, perhaps I was just lucky?

- (#7984) Clive, 20 Jan 04 03:02

Yep, I had a Tarago for about 4 years and also never had the problem. Serviced it only when I felt like it needed it, and used the cheapest I could find.
Hope it is as simple as this!

(I am meticulous with the MasterAce servicing though!)

They actually suggested a double service with 1000mls between to help clear out any sludge which may be causing a problem.

We did that as soon as we got our MasterAce just to make sure, and we got sludge the first time, nice, but dirty oil, the second time.

- (#7984) DaveW, 20 Jan 04 22:17