What are the common problems with the 420 Xichai engine?
4 Answers
420 Xichai engine has the following common problems: 1. Coolant entering the fuel tank: The fuel-water separator turns green during operation, indicating a lack of coolant in the radiator. In more severe cases, coolant may spray into the combustion chamber, causing issues like backfiring and smoke during acceleration. This fault is caused by the aging of the water jacket gasket. Factors such as engine overheating or substandard coolant can accelerate the aging process of the gasket. 2. Fuel injector failure: After coasting downhill in gear and then attempting to accelerate, the engine cannot rev beyond approximately 1500 RPM. This is due to excessive fuel injector return flow, causing the metering unit to exceed its maximum fuel supply capacity. The ECU directly controls the engine speed, resulting in a speed limit. The issue can be temporarily resolved by turning the ignition key off and on again. The correct solution is to replace or repair the fuel injector.
Having driven heavy trucks for over a decade, I've thoroughly mastered the Xichai 420 engine. The most troublesome issue is the fuel injectors prone to leakage – you have to check the sealing rings every 20,000 km, otherwise diesel seeping into the engine oil will definitely cause cylinder scoring. EGR valve sticking is also a common occurrence, especially when driving in mountainous areas like Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan – the exhaust valve carbon buildup warning light often comes on during traffic jams. I've encountered the water pump leakage problem three times, all occurring after replacing antifreeze in winter. If the temperature gauge suddenly spikes into the red zone, there's an 80% chance it's a blown head gasket – this engine's cylinder head bolt torque is particularly finicky, and repair shops without specialized torque wrenches can easily cause problems during repairs. Another common issue is excessive turbocharger impeller shaft play – the hissing sound during cold starts sounds just like operating a bellows.
Over the years of running the repair shop, I've seen plenty of typical failures with the CA6DL2-420 engine. Fuel pump plunger wear causing power loss during acceleration is particularly common, mainly due to many owners using low-quality diesel from small gas stations. Blue smoke during cold starts is usually caused by aging valve stem seals, especially in engines with over 300,000 kilometers. Cylinder head fire ring surface flatness deviation is a congenital defect - if not properly machined with specialized milling equipment during overhaul, it'll keep blowing head gaskets. I get several complaints about excessive oil consumption every month, mostly caused by stuck piston rings; using better CK-4 grade oil can help. The most troublesome issue is main bearing cap bolt thread stripping - last time I disassembled a 420 engine, five out of eight bolts were ruined.
The fleet leader reminds everyone to pay attention to several persistent issues with the Xichai 420 engine: the oil cooler gasket must be replaced every five years, otherwise the coolant mixed with oil will clog the radiator. The front crankshaft oil seal leakage is a design flaw, and replacing it with an improved version can last longer. The diesel coarse filter bracket cracking has been encountered three times, and now the entire fleet has switched to aluminum alloy brackets. Be especially careful with high-pressure fuel pipe joint leaks, as diesel spraying onto the turbocharger may cause spontaneous combustion. The plastic parts of the valve cover are prone to deformation, and if the gasket isn't tightly pressed, oil will seep out. In fact, replacing genuine filters on time and avoiding overloading can reduce these problems by half.
