Is the 1JZGTE a good engine?

Legionnaire · 03-15-2006, 06:41 AM

i just bought my supra, an 87 TT with a 1JZGTE swap........its leaking oil from the bottom, i took it to a mechanic who didnt even try to look and find the leak, he just told me it will run me 1,500-2,000 to fix this problem

i've worked so hard to buy a car, now this......i feel depressed......i'll pay the money if it'll turn my car into a reliable daily driver.........but i just dont know....

the mechanic told me it would be like 1,000 for labor, 1,000 for parts.......im not sure whats wrong with it be cause he told me in spanish.........he said i'll need a complete overhaul or something about piston rings needed to be replaced.......

what do you guys think i should do?

TONY! · 03-15-2006, 06:53 AM

Clean your engine well to get rid of the oil residue.
Start your engine and run it for a bit.
Shut it off.
Then see where the leak is coming from.

First you diagnose!
You don't have a right to worry yet, because you don't even know what the problem is!
It could be simple.

What does your title have to do with having an oil leak?!
So if your 1JZ has an oil leak, what does "Is the 1JZGTE a good engine" have to do with a leak?
7M engines can leak too.
I would not judge an 18 year old motor based on it having a leak that's source was unknown.

1JZ's are good motors, same for the 7M's.
All depends on what you want and your preference!

Legionnaire · 03-15-2006, 01:20 PM

in the title i simply asked for the 1JZGTE's reliability, i have no problem putting two grand in the engine, if its a sound investment, and my car will run great...........

but thanks for the advice, i leave for spring break this afternoon, so i'll have to put my car worries on hold for a few days......

sunday im getting a mechanic to come over and look at it,so i know what has to be done...........I think i'll just try and find the parts myself, because these mechanics try to charge double what the parts are worth.

Troyota · 03-15-2006, 05:55 PM

I'd say even to replace all the external oil seals (Rear main, Crank, Cam, Oil Pan and Valve Cover Gaskets) should in no way even approach $2000. I sure as hell wouldn't pay anywhere near that price to get it fixed...of course I'd do it myself...but even if I had a shop fix it, I wouldn't pay $2,000!

Legionnaire · 03-15-2006, 09:06 PM

how much do you think i should be spending?im looking around for a shop to fix it

88Supraboy · 03-15-2006, 10:07 PM

You have an oil leak and its gona cost 2,000 bucks to get it fixed?!?! thats retarted! theres no way i would ever pay that much to fix an oil leak!, well unless the block is cracked.

burton51m · 03-16-2006, 01:37 AM

my supra had a minor leak too...i purchased this stuff that your add to your oil that supposto stop the leaks maybe try that? it helped mine. Before that i took it in to get the leak fixed but it was so much money (labor) because they have to like move the engine or sumthin to get to the leak. that is probably the same reason yours is so much- the leak is hard to get to and fix.

Troyota · 03-16-2006, 07:26 PM

I mean, the worst case scenario is if it's the rear main seal that's leaking. Then they have to remove the transmission to replace it...but def. not worth $2000 to have it fixed! I don't know what a fair price would be as I don't have a shop labor manual here...but I'd shop around first.

03-15-2006, 06:41 AM	#1
Legionnaire Stock Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 16	Is the 1JZGTE a good engine? i just bought my supra, an 87 TT with a 1JZGTE swap........its leaking oil from the bottom, i took it to a mechanic who didnt even try to look and find the leak, he just told me it will run me 1,500-2,000 to fix this problem i've worked so hard to buy a car, now this......i feel depressed......i'll pay the money if it'll turn my car into a reliable daily driver.........but i just dont know.... the mechanic told me it would be like 1,000 for labor, 1,000 for parts.......im not sure whats wrong with it be cause he told me in spanish.........he said i'll need a complete overhaul or something about piston rings needed to be replaced....... what do you guys think i should do?

03-15-2006, 06:53 AM	#2
TONY! 12psi boost Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Troy, NY 12180 Posts: 353	Clean your engine well to get rid of the oil residue. Start your engine and run it for a bit. Shut it off. Then see where the leak is coming from. First you diagnose! You don't have a right to worry yet, because you don't even know what the problem is! It could be simple. What does your title have to do with having an oil leak?! So if your 1JZ has an oil leak, what does "Is the 1JZGTE a good engine" have to do with a leak? 7M engines can leak too. I would not judge an 18 year old motor based on it having a leak that's source was unknown. 1JZ's are good motors, same for the 7M's. All depends on what you want and your preference! __________________ -------------> ITEMS THAT ARE STILL AVAILABLE FROM AN '88 PART OUT <------------- _____\|_____ /. . . \ . . . \ . .\ ( ]/ . . . . \ . . . \ . .\[ ) _________________ /OO]====(W)====[OO\ [___________________] [ [O] ///______\\\ [O]_] ____________________[\|\|]______________[\|\|]____________________

03-15-2006, 05:55 PM	#4
Troyota 3" Exhaust Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Roswell, NM Posts: 73	I'd say even to replace all the external oil seals (Rear main, Crank, Cam, Oil Pan and Valve Cover Gaskets) should in no way even approach $2000. I sure as hell wouldn't pay anywhere near that price to get it fixed...of course I'd do it myself...but even if I had a shop fix it, I wouldn't pay $2,000! __________________ 1987 N/A MA70 Supra <--1JZ swap in progress 1986 AE86 GT-S Hatchback 2002 DC5 RSX Type S

03-16-2006, 01:37 AM	#7
burton51m Lexus & 550's Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Canton, OH Posts: 536	my supra had a minor leak too...i purchased this stuff that your add to your oil that supposto stop the leaks maybe try that? it helped mine. Before that i took it in to get the leak fixed but it was so much money (labor) because they have to like move the engine or sumthin to get to the leak. that is probably the same reason yours is so much- the leak is hard to get to and fix. __________________

03-16-2006, 07:26 PM	#8
Troyota 3" Exhaust Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Roswell, NM Posts: 73	I mean, the worst case scenario is if it's the rear main seal that's leaking. Then they have to remove the transmission to replace it...but def. not worth $2000 to have it fixed! I don't know what a fair price would be as I don't have a shop labor manual here...but I'd shop around first. __________________ 1987 N/A MA70 Supra <--1JZ swap in progress 1986 AE86 GT-S Hatchback 2002 DC5 RSX Type S

03-15-2006, 01:20 PM	#3
Legionnaire Stock Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 16	in the title i simply asked for the 1JZGTE's reliability, i have no problem putting two grand in the engine, if its a sound investment, and my car will run great........... but thanks for the advice, i leave for spring break this afternoon, so i'll have to put my car worries on hold for a few days...... sunday im getting a mechanic to come over and look at it,so i know what has to be done...........I think i'll just try and find the parts myself, because these mechanics try to charge double what the parts are worth.

03-15-2006, 09:06 PM	#5
Legionnaire Stock Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 16	how much do you think i should be spending?im looking around for a shop to fix it

03-15-2006, 10:07 PM	#6
88Supraboy 3" Exhaust Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 55	You have an oil leak and its gona cost 2,000 bucks to get it fixed?!?! thats retarted! theres no way i would ever pay that much to fix an oil leak!, well unless the block is cracked.

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