Upgrade 120 series engine

[ywork Member Find all posts View Profile Close ywork]

Hi there just wanted to know if any of you have modified your 3l diesel or 4l petrol engines to get more Kw and higher Nm?
I have a dilemma and don’t know whether to go and buy the 120 Diesel or petrol Prado. The older diesels are quite low on power according to the info I have found. At 98kw and 350 odd nm I’m not so keen on the KZ-TE motor. Whereas the LGP 4l is stronger but it’s thirsty?
Can you chip the KZ-TE to produce more Kw if so what can be done and how does it impact the life of the engine?

Has anyone fitted a Unichip to their 120 series Prado diesel or petrol what improvements did you get?

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

Re: Upgrade 120 series engine

If you do a search or go on a hunt (probably in the 120 series Diesel threads) then you will find a wealth of info on this.

yes you can chip the 1KZ

here is a link to help you get started but search will reveal:
1kz chip facts

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Upgrade 120 series engine

Power Chip for Prado V6
Extractors for 1GR-FE

BTW, the 1KD-TE (aka D4D) has 127kW and 410Nm.

[Hubble80 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hubble80]

Re: Upgrade 120 series engine

If you chip the D4D, you should expect around 140kW and 440Nm. A workmate of mine did his D4D auto and has raced his VE V6 Commodore and they are pretty close :shock: :shock: :shock:

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

Re: Upgrade 120 series engine

you can chip and put a bigger exhaust on the old 1kz no worries, with these improvements you can expect it to go almost as well as a std d4d, they r no race beleive me but they r as reliable as ever, and with these mods you will even see some better fuel economy, as for adverse effect on the motor there r none, only the way you drive it and look after it, i would go with a kz over the early model d4ds as they have had some injector trouble, my 1kz has done 70k since i have bought it and i havent done a thing to it, and if ya wnat more grunt you could also add some diesel gas to it. cheers samo

[ywork Member Find all posts View Profile Close ywork]

Re: Upgrade 120 series engine

Thanks for the input, so chip and exhaust upgrade will give me the power I’m looking for but don’t get me wrong I don’t want speed but more grunt to tow a big boat or camper trailer on the beach or on an inland trip.
So this being the reason for the concern on the capabilities of the older engine vs. the new D4D.So a 120 2003 GXL with around 100 000 km should be a good buy then. Are the older Kz-Te engines reliable? Dont want to buy a new car to go offroading with.
Cheers
Wayne

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Upgrade 120 series engine

I have read that the 1KZ has an almost bulletproof status being the same engine used in the 90series.

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

Re: Upgrade 120 series engine

they r as reliable as, one of the fellas here Yota has a 90 series import with a 1kz in it and it has over 200k on the clock, and it has never missed a beat, send him a pm and he will tell ya what he has done to it, and i can say its not much. cheers samo

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

Re: Upgrade 120 series engine

140,00 k and it is just ran in nothing done to it apart for usual servicing and i run a bottle of injector cleaner in it about every 20,000k or so. I have found it does seem to breathe a bit better with the snorkle so i may chuck a uni filter in as well to give it a bit more air

[BenTas Member Find all posts View Profile Close BenTas]

Re: Upgrade 120 series engine

I have read that the 1KZ has an almost bulletproof status being the same engine used in the 90series.

Don't know if this is an isolated incident, but my Brothers 120 series, 1KZ droped the end of a Glow Plug, and ultimately caused broken piston and
Big end bearing failure. Total rebuild required at 113,000. Not happy, and certainly not Oh what a feeling.

Toyota completely uninterested, as out of warranty. :x

If it had happened at 160,000 + you would'nt mind so much, could just be bad luck then, but at 113,000 :shock:

Any one else had same happen ?

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

Re: Upgrade 120 series engine

I have a contact in a European motor company that is the Senior Technical Manager in Australia. He has told me for several years now that when you increase technology and outputs both in KW's and NM's in diesel engines (turbos, direct injection) that you are now bringing them to the same longevity and performance as petrol engines. The result is same if not more maintainance cots.

[ywork Member Find all posts View Profile Close ywork]

Re: Upgrade 120 series engine

Anyone ever done the chip upgrade on a 4l V6 120 series prado?
cheers
Wayne

[Phoebie Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Phoebie]

[QUOTE=ywork;n155983]Re: Upgrade 120 series engine

Anyone ever done the chip upgrade on a 4l V6 120 series prado?
cheers
Wayne

I’d like to find out as well