As featured in Overlander 4wd Magazine. Nov.1999
Words by Dean Mellord
Photos by Kevin Ling
The naturally aspirated diesel LandCruiser is no match for its turbo-diesel opposition. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. We test a Turbo-Glide equipped 100 Series LandCruiser GXL.
As you've probably read in this issue's cover story ("Blown Away"), the 4.2-Litre diesel LandCruiser feels asthmatic when compared to Nissan's 4.2-litre turbodiesel Patrol. But if you've already bought or must have the Cruiser over the Patrol, there's a simple way to improve its performance, fit a turbocharger.
We recently went to Wollongong to witness the installation of a Turbo-Glide turbocharger kit on a new 100 Series diesel LandCruiser GXL. This also afforded us the opportunity to test the vehicle both before the kit was installed, as well as afterwards.
The Turbo-Glide kit to suit the 100 Series LandCruiser with a 1HZ 4.2-litre diesel engine includes a Garrett GT25 turbocharger, heavy-duty oil supply lines and fittings, castalloy air-intake and air-outlet elbows, an engine exhaust dump pipe from the turbo to the original tailpipe and all of the required clamps, hose-connection studs and nuts. The kit retails for $2490 or can be fitted for a total price of $2990.
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Our test vehicle was a diesel LandCruiser GXL with an automatic transmission (above).
Before and after the installation (above).
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Testing Procedure
The vehicle we tested was a standard 4.2-litre we timed the vehicle from a standing start diesel LandCruiser GXL with an automatic transmission.
Fristly the vehicle was put on a opendynamometer to record power and torque road performance figures, and then we took it for a drive.
We included a couple of large uphill sections on our test loop to gauge the Cruiser’s performance under load and then we timed the vehicle from a standing start to 80km/h and to 100km/h. An undulating highway section gaves us an idea of the vehicles open road performance.
The same test loop was later used when the turbocharger kit had been fitted for a direct performance comparision.
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The Turbo-Glide kit before installation (above left). A 46 percent increase in torque was recorded on the dynamometer.
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Fitting Procedure
Turbo-Glide claims it takes an experienced installer about four hours to fit the turbocharger kit. We have no doubt that is a reasonable estimate because the kit was fitted to our test vehicle by two mechanics in just two-and-half hours.
Fitting the turbocharger kit is a simple affair. As many original components are
retained as possible, including the air-filter box, exhaust manifold and tailpipe.
After the vehicle has been tested on the dynamometer, the turbo is fitted to the exhaust manifold. An oil sender is then run from the sump to the turbo. An air outlet pipe from the turbo to the inlet manifold is fitted, as well as an air inlet pipe from the air filter to the turbo. A new exhaust section is fitted between the turbo and the tailpipe. Finally, a heat shield is fitted over the turbo.
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Part of the original exhaust is removed (top) and replaced with a new section (right). Fitting the turbo to the exhaust manifold (left). The original air-filter box is retained and a shorter hose is fitted to the new inlet pipe to the turbo (above).
After everything has been tightened and checked, the vehicle is put back on the dynamometer and the fuel setting is adjusted at the pump by a third of a turn to increase fuel flow. When the vehicle is being run on the dynamometer for the second time, a pyrometer is used to ensure exhaust-gas temperature doesn’t exceed 500 C. If it does the fuel pump setting is adjusted to lower exhaust-gas temperature.
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The Result
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Turbo-Glide claims a torque improvement of about 30 percent is achievable and a power improvement of between 20 and 25 percent. Bigger improvements could be made, but exhaust-gas temperatures would increase too much, resulting in shortened engine life. So long as the exhaust-gas temperature is kept below 500 C, engine damage will not occur as a result of the fitted turbocharger kit. Turbo-Glide offers a two-year unlimited kilometre warranty on the turbo.
On our test vehicle, the results were more impressive than expected, with a 46 percent increase in peak torque and a 33 percent increase in peak power while exhaust-gas temperature remained well below 5000C.
Claimed standard power and torque outputs from the 1HZ diesel engine are 96kW at 3800rpm and 285Nm at 2200rpm. Calculating the recorded increases on the dynamometer suggests that the engine was producing about 128kW and 416Nm after turbocharging.
We headed off on our test loop for the second time and immediately noticed the improvement. Where the standard diesel needed full throttle to keep up with the traffic around town, the turbocharged ‘Cruiser made do with half throttle.
On the longest uphill section of the test loop, the LandCruiser achieved a top speed of 80km/h in standard trim in third gear, occasionally kicking down to second gear. With the Turbo-Glide kit, it climbed the same hill at more than 100km/h with only halfthrottle application in top gear, occasionally kicking down to third gear.
We also started from a standstill at the bottom of one hill and recorded vehicle speed at the top. When standard, the ‘Cruiser reached 80km/h in third gear and with the turbocharger it reached 96km/h in third gear. We again performed standing start tests and recorded the results with the Turbo-Glide kit fitted. It effectively shaved three seconds off the 0-80km/h time and more than seven seconds off the 0-100km/h time.
The engine is put back on the dynamometer after turbocharging to record the improvement (above).
Conclusion
With the huge increase in peak torque achieved by turbocharging the 1HZ LandCruiser, this kit is going to most benefit those who use their 4WD wagon for towing a trailer or carrying heavy loads. But it also makes the vehicle more pleasant to drive under normal circumstances around town and on the open road.
In standard trim, full-throttle application was a common occurrence to keep the LandCruiser’s speed up. But with the turbocharger this was not necessary, making the LandCruiser a much more relaxed highway tourer.
For those of you who own a 70, 80 or 100 Series 1HZ 4.2-litre diesel LandCruiser and are interested in a Turbo-Glide turbocharger kit, don’t call us, call Turbo-Glide in
Wollongong on 02 4284 7881.
Testing to ensure exhaust-gas temperature remains below 5000C (left). The complete kit developed by Turbo-Glide (right).
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Read what the Turbo Glide 