What is the life expectancy of the 4M40T ?

[dunmoven]

Hi all.
I would like to hear from members comments about where the "worry-point" mileage is for a well maintained and serviced 4M40T that has not been modified from standard. Our NL is about to clock 430.000 and still sounds fine, and performs as good as when we bought it and it still returns the same fuel economy (11.8 per 100 on average) We are the second owners since new, and I have serviced it at 10k intervals since 125.000 k/m. I have the prior dealership service records which are complete. I have no reason to doubt the dependability of this remarkable old girl, but I need to tow a 1300kg van (probably be 1800kg loaded) for a 3 month trip of about 10,000 km. I have towed this sort of weight (and greater weights) with the vehicle before but not for more than 600km. I would like to hear any input from other members on this whether good, bad or indifferent. I will take it all on board. Thanks in advance!

[starjunk]

Hi all.
I would like to hear from members comments about where the "worry-point" mileage is for a well maintained and serviced 4M40T that has not been modified from standard. Our NL is about to clock 430.000 and still sounds fine, and performs as good as when we bought it and it still returns the same fuel economy (11.8 per 100 on average) We are the second owners since new, and I have serviced it at 10k intervals since 125.000 k/m. I have the prior dealership service records which are complete. I have no reason to doubt the dependability of this remarkable old girl, but I need to tow a 1300kg van (probably be 1800kg loaded) for a 3 month trip of about 10,000 km. I have towed this sort of weight (and greater weights) with the vehicle before but not for more than 600km. I would like to hear any input from other members on this whether good, bad or indifferent. I will take it all on board. Thanks in advance!

Hi dunmoven,
My NJ has a handful more kms than yours. (445,000) At 392,000 I popped a radiator hose, resulting in a top end rebuild. At that time, since I had everything apart, I elected to take the injectors to a diesel injector specialist. He did not believe me, that they had been taken from a working engine. He said they were the most worn injectors he had ever seen that were still working.... Ergo I would recommend having those done, or at least checked for peace of mind. Bench testing is around $200 usually. Cost me about $800-$1000 from memory for new replacement cores, re-using the old injector bodies. Can dig out the old receipt if you want to know exact pricing. Was 6 years ago now.
If your 4m40 has been regularly maintained and oil changed every 5-10,000k, it will last and last.
With the extra tow weight, I would be tempted to get the cooling system flushed.
Enjoy the trip!
By the way, I also get similar mileage from my NJ.
How's your cold starting? (Any injector pump issues, given the kms? Maybe that's been overhauled already)

[Valiant81]

What is the life expectancy of the 4M40T ?

Hi all;
I also have a 95 Pajero with the same 4M40T motor and while not as high mileage as yours ( mine has 225,000 Kms ). What the other members have said is true, service service service. Mine gets done every 12 months regardless of the Klms. I've never had the injectors done, but have had a few glow plugs replaced. Have traveled up to the center one year and on another all the way up to Darwin for 6 weeks. Traveled over to tassie 4 times now towing for the first two trips a Jayco camper and the other two towing a jayco discovery pop top ( last trip 5 weeks last xmas ).

Never a problem and every thing runs like clockwork. As for fuel usage, the last trip worked out to be just under 15 Ltrs/100 Klm so not to bad. Be for the last trip i also had the cooling system serviced and coolant change , no problems but it was quiet a few years since that hat been changed, better to be safe than sorry.

Providing that you motor is serviced on a regular bases you hopefully will have no problems, at your high mileage it could be worth having the injectors serviced or replaced and maybe the injector pump as well as these on this model can suffer from the seals failing, may cost a bit, as first at the diesel mechanics and try and find a good one to advise you.

Over the years i have also spent a bit of money on the girl, 5 th gear keeped jumping out of gear and only with the caravan on the back, new 5th gears , clutch ,rear main seal all at the same time. A couple of batteries ( one was the deep cycle battery ) and a new aulternator. Other than that i think that the old girl has a lot of life in her yet. I can't stress how important a service is to a diesel motor of any brand. Oil and filters and regular services ( try and find a GOOD mechanic )are real cheap compaired to a blown motor.

[dunmoven]

Thanks for that Valiant 81. I should have mentioned that the injector pump was overhauled at the early age of 105,000km (just before we bought it) due to cold starting issues. That is the most major work that has ever been done. A year back, I replaced the harmonic balancer, water pump, and starter motor and alternator. I have never had the injectors serviced, but I have been wondering about them. I have replaced the glow plugs 3 times. I decide to try NGK glow plugs on the third time, and they are so much better for starting than the the cheaper ones ever were, so I'm hoping they last a lot longer than the 18 months or so that I got out of the cheapies. So I think a good cooling system clean and injector service is the way to go, and then off to W.A. I can't wait!

[dunmoven]

Thanks Starjunk. Members inputs are much appreciated, as I have not met any 4M40T owners in my area, (although I recently noticed one on here). Sad to hear of the rad hose issue you had - just plain bad luck with an expensive outcome. Lately I have been thinking about how much work my original injectors have done and now I'm convinced I should get them serviced or replaced. Interesting to hear you get similar economy. Ours is always lugging at least 400 kg weight around so I am pretty happy with it. The van we just bought is 1300 kg and on a 100km test-tow I got 14.7 L/P/H. and the roads travelled were a good mix of terrains. I thought that was not bad. Have you ever heard of a common timing chain issue with 4M40's? I thought I read about it somewhere ages ago but then, the older I get the better my memory WAS.

[starjunk]

Thanks Starjunk. Members inputs are much appreciated, as I have not met any 4M40T owners in my area, (although I recently noticed one on here). Sad to hear of the rad hose issue you had - just plain bad luck with an expensive outcome. Lately I have been thinking about how much work my original injectors have done and now I'm convinced I should get them serviced or replaced. Interesting to hear you get similar economy. Ours is always lugging at least 400 kg weight around so I am pretty happy with it. The van we just bought is 1300 kg and on a 100km test-tow I got 14.7 L/P/H. and the roads travelled were a good mix of terrains. I thought that was not bad. Have you ever heard of a common timing chain issue with 4M40's? I thought I read about it somewhere ages ago but then, the older I get the better my memory WAS.

Always a pleasure mate!
Can't say I've had any timing chain issues myself, but the other thing that happened to me was that I took my car to a diesel specialist to get the injector pump reconditioned, but the (insert expletives here) put in a changeover unit. It failed again in a matter of two years, and was not driven much in that time either. Maybe 10,000kms?
If you ever get the pump done again, insist that the bosch viton seals be used!
Regarding the economy, on long trips I get 11L/100kms and around sydney it's more like 13.

[dunmoven]

What is the life expectancy of the 4M40T ?

Thanks heaps for that tip-off starjunk. I have taken notes and stuck them in the vehicle file.

[Mcreight911]

I'm in Kingaroy mate . I've had some experience with the 4m40t not so much with hi km engines (my personal 4m40 has 230000km's on it) but with performance upgrades. I would be looking to replace items that perish over time like belts and hoses. A fuel system/injector service next . Valve clearances. Make sure the alternator is providing full volts and just the basics like fluids, suspension bushes steering components and brakes . All things except the fuel system service should be able to be done by any mechanic, southburnett diesel solutions should be able to sort u out regarding the fuel system/injector service

Cheers Dave

[dunmoven]

Thanks for the suggestions Mcreight911.
I've read your posts on performance improvement, and I think I may go down that road when I replace or re-build the engine. I'm at Tinnie so your expertise in performance work could be very handy. Hopefully that wont be happening for a while yet. However, I am getting concerned about the availability of second hand 4M40 engines, and thinking there may be none to have when the need arises. I'm thinking about buying a Jap import 4M40T now, A large Brisbane importer has some for around $3.600. I would stash it until later this year, then pull it down (import engines are often sludged up, and have glazed cylinders etc.) and fix as required.
I have worked in the motor trade for 48 years - mostly on petrol vehicles. While I love the creature comforts of modern 4WD's but I would not buy one for trekking off with a van for long trips and venturing down bush tracks (without the van of course)
I like the NL's combination of simple mechanicals, and just enough creature comforts, so I can see me still exploring the bush when this vehicle is an antique.