How to change the oil in a Suzuki Grand Vitara engine with your own hands?

The Japanese compact crossover Suzuki Grand Vitara was first introduced to the world in 1998, and although the car did not claim to be a real SUV, it nevertheless had good technical characteristics.

The connected all-wheel drive provided the car with fairly good cross-country ability, and the powerful engines of the Suzuki Grand Vitara allowed the car to feel confident on the highway and off-road. In total, Suzuki produced two generations of Grand Vitara (not to be confused with just “Vitara”), both gasoline and diesel engines were installed on the car. In this article we will look at the technical characteristics of the Grand Vitara internal combustion engine, their advantages and disadvantages, and features in repair.

How to change engine oil on a Suzuki Grand Vitara

The compact SUV Suzuki Grand Vitara began production in 1997 and took its rightful place among cars of this class.
Until 2014, I managed to change several generations, overcoming the path from an angular box to a car with rounded shapes. The range of power plants is very extensive; the most popular is the 2.0-liter J20A engine with 140 hp. This engine is hardly enough for a weight of 1.6 tons, but it runs great on 92 gasoline, which is a significant advantage.

Motors on second generation Suzuki GW cars

In 2005, the Japanese concern Suzuki began producing the second generation of compact Grand Vitara SUVs. In 2008, the car was restyled, and along with external modernization, changes took place in the line of engines - internal combustion engines of 2400 and 3200 cm³ were added. The gasoline engines installed on the Grand Vitara-2 are as follows:

• 1.6 – power 106 hp. With.;
• 2.0 – 140 l. With.;
• 2.4 – 166 l. With.;
• 2.7 – 188 hp;
• 3.2 – 291 l. With.

Engines 1.6/2.0/2.4 l - 16 valve, four-cylinder, engines 2.7/3.2 l - V-shaped, six-cylinder. The line of power units on the Suzuki GV-2 also includes one type of diesel engine - a 1.9-liter 8-valve internal combustion engine with a capacity of 129 hp. With.

Stages of replacing lubricant Suzuki Grand Vitara

The engines on the Grand Vitara are quite reliable, the main thing is to undergo the necessary maintenance on time. Regularly changing engine fluid allows the engine to operate without increased wear and provide reliable protection for parts.

In different markets, the car was sold under different names, so changing the engine oil for them will be identical:

• Suzuki Grand Escudo;
• Suzuki Grand Nomade;
• Suzuki XL7.

Draining waste fluid

It is necessary to drain the used engine fluid when the engine is warm. This is due to the fact that heated oil is more liquid. This makes it easier for it to leak out of the thin channels of the lubrication system.

To drain old engine oil, it is advisable to drive the Suzuki Grand Vitara onto a pit or overpass, since the drainage is done from below. If this is not possible, then the most inconvenient step will be replacing the oil filter, as well as removing the protection.

When everything is ready, we move on to the draining operation, which is almost the same for 2.0 engines, as well as the newer 2.4 liter:

We lift the hood, find the filler neck on the engine, and unscrew the plug that closes it (Fig. 1).

To unscrew the filter element, it is advisable to have a special puller. If it is not available, you can try to unscrew the filter using improvised means. In this case, you can use, for example, an old alternator belt, a regular belt, a bicycle chain or a simple screwdriver.

Using this method, you can drain the maximum amount of used oil, after which you can proceed to further actions. The main thing is not to forget, everything that we unscrewed must be put back in place.

Flushing the lubrication system

Engine flushing on a Suzuki Grand Vitara should only be carried out in exceptional cases, which include:

1. Purchasing a used car when you cannot know about the quality, as well as the regularity of lubricant replacements.
2. During operation, the service replacement interval was repeatedly exceeded.
3. Engine operation with constant frequent overheating, which contributes to coking and other deposits.
4. In cases of switching to another type, for example from synthetics to semi-synthetics.

There are several types of flushes for the Suzuki Grand Vitara engine:

• Five- or seven-minute, capable of cleaning even the most difficult deposits. They must be used very carefully and strictly follow the instructions printed on the packaging. It is recommended to use them only when absolutely necessary. Since there is a high probability of causing premature wear of the sealing seals. And also clog the oil channels with particles of washed away carbon deposits.
• Special compounds that are added to the oil several hundred kilometers before the expected change. They are more gentle, but there is also a possibility of clogging of the oil channels.
• Flushing oil is the most gentle method of cleaning the engine from the inside. This composition is poured after draining the waste, the engine runs for 15-20 minutes, after which the liquid with deposits is drained. The absence of aggressive additives in the wash composition gently cleans the engine, but is not able to remove heavy contaminants.
• Regular oil that you are going to use when changing. This method is not so popular due to its high price.

Installing a filter, filling in new engine fluid

If the Suzuki Grand Vitara's lubrication system is sealed and does not require repair work to eliminate leaks, you can proceed to adding fresh oil. In addition to the engine oil itself, we will need a new plug for the drain hole of the pan, Suzuki part number 11518-63J10. If you do not change the plug, then you need to replace at least the Suzuki washer-gasket 09168-14015. As well as the original Suzuki oil filter 16510-61A31. If you wish, you can look at analogues on the Internet.

When everything is ready, let's move on to the bay:

1. We put the drain plug in place, it is advisable to replace the washer.
2. We wipe the seat under the filter.
3. We tighten and put in place the new oil filter. Pre-lubricate the rubber sealing ring with fresh oil.
4. Pour new oil into the filler neck.
5. We check the level on the dipstick; it should be between the MIN and MAX marks.
6. We start the engine, let it run for 10-15 seconds, then turn it off.
7. After 5 minutes, check the level with a dipstick and top up if necessary.

Diseases of F9Q Suzuki GV diesel engines

One of the problems with the F9Q diesel engine on second-generation GV crossovers is the difficulty of starting the engine at ambient temperatures below -18 degrees Celsius. The reason for this phenomenon may be:

• clogged fuel filter;
• airing of the fuel system;
• faulty glow plug;
• weak battery.

Unfortunately, the F9Q diesel engine is not generally reliable; it has not earned the best reputation. This engine often produces a knocking sound from the connecting rod bearings, and it occurs completely unexpectedly for car owners and is an unpleasant “surprise.”

It is strictly not recommended to drive with knocking connecting rods; if there is a sharp and unpleasant knocking sound in the engine, you should turn off the engine and tow the car or load it onto a tow truck until the cause of the malfunction is determined. Determining why the engine knocked is quite simple - you need to put the car on a pit or a car lift, remove the oil sump and carry out an external inspection of the crank mechanism. If scoring is detected on the connecting rod bearings, it is necessary to measure the crankpin journals with a micrometer. If there is a wear on the crankshaft of more than 0.03-0.05 mm, the shaft should be ground; to do this, the entire engine will have to be removed and disassembled. If the connecting rod journals are worn heavily, the crankshaft may become deformed, and then it will need to be replaced.

Another F9Q disease is the fairly rapid failure of the turbine. If the turbocharger fails, the engine's oil consumption increases sharply.

Leaks and problems

The longer the mileage of the Suzuki Grand Vitara becomes, the more problems appear, as in principle with any car. Most often this is due to natural wear and tear of the engine, causing oil to burn. Although the manufacturer allows for a small consumption.

In communities about this car you can find information that engines are very sensitive to poor lubrication. And if you fill in a high-quality product, there should be no problems with fat, no more than 500 milliliters from replacement to replacement.

But if, nevertheless, the oil burn begins to manifest itself, then most often this is to blame for 2 reasons. If increased consumption is noted, but not more than 3 liters per 10,000 kilometers. You can try to fix this by replacing the valve stem seals. Over time, their elasticity is lost, which contributes to obesity.

If the consumption is even higher, then the problem cannot be corrected with caps; most likely, the oil scraper rings are stuck. In this case, you can try decarbonization, which, if it helps, is only a temporary solution. But most often, more drastic interventions are needed in the engine, such as major repairs.

All this is general information, which may manifest itself differently on each specific vehicle, since everyone’s operating modes are different. The same applies to leak locations; it is impossible to identify the cause from a distance.

Engine life certified by the manufacturer

As the practice of operating the Suzuki Grand Vitara shows, crossover engines are quite reliable, but still have some weak points. The power unit with a displacement of 1.6 liters is sensitive to overheating; it is also better to avoid oil starvation of this engine. The installed timing chain drive lasts for 120 thousand kilometers, which certainly adds reliability and longer service life to the engine. To increase the service life of the chain, the manufacturer recommends using only certified motor oil. It is also advisable to thoroughly warm up a 1.6-liter engine during severe frosts.

The manufacturer does not indicate any limits for the service life of the motors, but assures that all power units of the Suzuki Grand Vitara run for at least 250 thousand kilometers. In order for the “heart” of the car to last for the entire stated period, it is also necessary to use high-quality fuel. Low-quality fuel affects the engine's spark plugs and the fuel filter, which is assembled with the fuel pump, and the catalyst. Any breakdown of these components of the fuel system significantly reduces operating time. If you refuel with gasoline from a trusted supplier and undergo scheduled maintenance in a timely manner, you can increase the service life of the Suzuki Grand Vitara engine to 300 thousand kilometers.

What kind of oil should I put into the Suzuki Grand Vitara engine?

If you are interested in the question of what oil to fill into the Suzuki Grand Vitara engine, what volume, and of course specifications, then on this page you will get answers to them.

The following engines are installed on the Grand Vitara: J20A and JF24A/B. Accordingly, this is a 2 liter engine and a 2.4.

We recommend that you ALWAYS rely on the manufacturer's official approvals. What does he recommend?

We analyze the same 2 most popular engines, 2.0 and 2.4, from the technical manual:

• Engine oil must be approved according to: API SG, SH, SL, SJ, SM, SN .
• Viscosity: 5W20/5W30/0W20.

Original oil test

Replacement frequency, what oil to fill

According to the manufacturer's regulations, service changes of engine oil for Suzuki Grand Vitara are carried out after 15,000 kilometers or at intervals of 1 year. But some car owners consider this interval to be a little too high, recommending that it be shortened taking into account operating conditions.

According to the passport and the operating instructions, the tolerances that the engine oil must have are given. The manufacturer's recommendation indicates the use of an original product, in this case it is Suzuki 5w-30.

But here it is worth mentioning that this viscosity is recommended for use on 2.0 liter engines. Although in many instructions it appears for all engines. The manufacturer himself, in the original version of the instructions, indicates that for 2.4 liter engines the Suzuki 0w-20 composition is required.

If you choose an original lubricant, you can pay attention to Idemitsu Zepro. This is what is bottled in original Suzuki canisters. The only difference lies in the logos on the canisters, as well as the price of the product.

The manufacturer allows the use of analogues, the only thing is that they must be with ILSAC GF-4 approval or higher. Among car owners, the following names are most popular:

• Castrol GTX 5W-30 A5/B5
• Idemitsu Zepro Touring 5W-30
• Liqui Moly Molygen New Generation 5W-30
• Mobil 1 ESP 5W-30
• Motul 8100 Eco-lite 5W-30
• Profix 5W-30 SN/GF-5
• Takayama 5W-30 API SN
• Valvoline SynPower 5W-30
• Wolf VitalTech 5W-30
• ZIC TOP 5W-30

From this list, anyone can choose based on preference, price or love for the brand.

How much oil is in the engine lubrication system, volume table

What kind of oil should I put into the Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.4 engine?

So, what kind of oil should be poured into the Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.4 engine? Officially, the Suzuki company recommends using original oils, which is not surprising. Classic 0W20. Order numbers:

99M00-21R01-001 - 1 liter

99M00-21R01-004 - 4 liters

There is, of course, 5W30, which is more universal. Order numbers:

99M00-21R02-001 - 1 liter

99M00-21R02-004 - 4 liters

Instructions for changing engine oil yourself in a Suzuki Grand Vitara

Suzuki Grand Vitara is a small crossover that is produced in Japan. Production of this car began back in 1997, and today there are already two generations. By car you can not only drive around the city, but also travel with sufficient confidence on light off-road conditions. According to reviews from the owners, the machine turned out to be quite reliable for its price category, for which it has earned authority. The engine in the Vitara is very reliable, but for long-term service it needs to be serviced on time. Oil changes are no exception. In a word, if you carry out all shifts according to the regulations, then the machine will give you only positive emotions.

What kind of oil should I put into the Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.0 engine?

The same choice as for the 2.4 engine will be the answer to the question of what kind of oil to pour into the Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.0 gasoline engine. The original, universal oil with approvals goes under the article numbers:

• 99M00-21R02-001 - 1 liter
• 99M00-21R02-004 - 4 liters

Instructions for changing oil and filter on Grand Vitara

1. The first thing you need to do is to directly put the car in the pit and prepare the engine for an oil change, namely, warm it up a little. Since the oil change must be done on a warm engine.

3. The next step is to make sure what kind of engine protection is installed on the car. If there are no holes on the engine protection for replacing the oil filter and draining the oil, then it must be dismantled accordingly.

4. After all the above operations, the oil can be drained accordingly. To do this, you need to prepare a container to drain the used oil. You can use a 5 liter bottle or a canister or anything, the main thing is that the container has a volume of at least 5 liters. and as large an area as possible so that the drained oil does not get on the ground or floor. Next, after supporting the oil collection tank, unscrew the drain plug (bolt) indicated in Figure No. 1 and wait for the complete drainage of the volume of oil from the engine.

Figure No. 1

5. While the oil is draining, the oil filter must be replaced. The filter is located to the left of the drain plug at the top. Indicated in Figure No. 2. To unscrew the filter, you must use a special wrench (filter puller). As a last resort, if you don’t have a key, you can pierce the filter with a metal pin and unscrew it. It is important to know that you need to unscrew the filter counterclockwise.

Figure No. 2

6. Next, fill the new oil filter with oil and lubricate the rubber seal with oil. It is important to remember that under no circumstances should the filter be filled to the brim, otherwise, when installing the filter in place, there is a high probability of oil spilling out.

7. The next step is to install the new filter in place. To do this, we wrap the filter until the rubber gasket touches the mounting surface and then tighten it another ¾ turn to tighten it.

8. After installing the new filter, screw the engine sump drain plug into place and wipe it with a rag to make it easier to detect oil leaks after starting the engine.

9. The next step is to fill the required amount of oil through the oil filler neck accordingly. The amount of oil to be filled with filter replacement is indicated in the maintenance manual and is equal for a 2.0 liter engine. – 4.7 l., and for a 2.4 l engine. – 4.8 l. But it is important to remember that these volumes are indicated without pouring oil into the oil filter before installation.

10. After adding oil and tightening the oil filler plug, you need to start the engine and let it run for at least 5 minutes. Then stop, let the oil drain into the pan and check the connections of the oil filter and oil drain plug for leaks and the oil level. And top up if necessary.

This completes the process of changing the oil and oil filter on the Grand Vitara. As you can see, there is nothing complicated in this operation, except that there may be a problem with dismantling the oil filter.

What kind of oil to pour into the Suzuki Grand Vitara engine

Almost every owner of a Grand Vitara car, when it is necessary to change the oil, will have a question about what kind of oil to pour into the engine. But there are general recommendations specified in the Operation and Maintenance Manual and specify that the oil poured into the engine should be:

— API classification: SG, SH, SJ. SL or SM; — viscosity characteristics: for 1.6 liter engines. and 2.4 l. – SAE 0W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30, 10W-40, for 2.0 l engines. and 3.2 l. — SAE 5W-30, 10W-30, 10W-40, 15W-40.

Accordingly, it is up to the car owner to decide which company and brand of oil to pour. But it must comply with these parameters and have approval (on the label at the bottom) that it can be used on these cars.

How to change the oil filter and engine oil on a Suzuki Grand Vitara was last modified: April 28th, 2020 by Administrator

Suzuki oil analogues

If you are looking for something similar to the original with a 0W20 viscosity, then, as advised on forums such as OIL CLUB or DRIVE2, consider the following items:

Idemitsu 0w-20. The cost is about 2,000 rubles.

More universal oils with viscosity index SAE 5W30, 5W40 are presented in a very wide range. Examples:

Liqui Moly Longtime High Tech 5W-30

Mobil Super 3000 5W40

Shell Helix Ultra 5W-40

As practice shows, car owners prefer to stick to classic viscosity rather than the original 0W20. And for Russian conditions such oils are more preferable.

We suggest using this list to select a proven analogue of oil for SGV:

• ZIC A+ 5W-30
• Idemitsu Zepro Touring 5W-30
• Dragon 5W-30
• Gtoil GT Energy 5W-30

What to choose: 0w-20 or 5w-30?

If you look at the HTHS viscosity parameter for SUZUKI MOTOR OIL 0W-20, you can see the number 2.6. Without going into details, this is the limit value of this indicator, below which a significant increase in engine wear begins.

In our difficult conditions, with our gasoline, dusty roads, traffic jams, reagents, heat, cold, etc., such “border zones” with HTHS 2.6 are useless! With HTHS 2.9 and higher, wear on engine parts is significantly less! And since Suzuki, along with 0W-20, recommends a viscosity of 5W-30, then, in our opinion, this viscosity will be preferable. Moreover, SUZUKI MOTOR OIL 5W-30 exceeds the “borderline value” with a margin (HTHS viscosity, mPa-s: 3.2).

To summarize, we can say that when filling in original Suzuki oil, you can be sure that the engine will be filled with high-quality oil from a renowned manufacturer. However, it is worth remembering that 0w-20 and 5w-30 (VHVi) are hydrocracking of the third group, therefore, under severe operating conditions, no 15 thousand km of mileage is acceptable. We recommend cutting the frequency of oil changes by half and your car’s engine will delight you for a very long time.

It should be noted that historically, Zepro series oils in Japan are considered superior to OEM, and there is more trust in them. Therefore, we recommend that oil fanatics still use Idemitsu.

Consequences of untimely replacement

As a result of untimely replacement, vehicle breakdowns may occur:

• turning the connecting rod bearings;
• wear of turbocharger parts;
• wear of engine elements.

If the oil is not changed on time, it loses its effectiveness. As a result, the internal temperature of the engine increases and parts are destroyed. The same thing can happen if the oil level is insufficient. To avoid this problem and prevent oil starvation, the engine oil must be checked all the time.

Engine and transmission oils for Suzuki Grand Vitara cars

Engine and transmission oils for Suzuki Grand Vitara cars

Suzuki Grand Vitara cars are deservedly popular in Russia due to their reliable all-wheel drive, reasonable price and spacious interior. For proper and long-term operation of Suzuki Grand Vitara units, high-quality lubricants, such as those offered by Liqui Moly, are required.

The current generation of Grand Vitara (since 2010) is equipped with two types of engines, 2-liter gasoline and diesel, in two environmentally friendly versions. The choice of oil for a diesel engine must be especially careful. To choose the right oil for a diesel engine, you need to look at the operating manual, and in extreme cases, at the vehicle registration certificate, where the environmental class of the car will be indicated. If EURO 4 class is specified, then low-ash oil of ACEA C3 class should be used, for example, Liqui Moly Top Tec 4200 5W-30 or Top Tec 4600 5W-30. If the environmental class EURO 5 is specified, then the choice of oil will be limited to one type: Top Tec 4400 5W-30 ACEA C4. This limitation of possible oil grades is due to a feature of Suzuki diesel exhaust systems, namely the presence of a sensitive particulate filter in the muffler tract. The particulate filter places special demands on the engine oil additive package and thus limits the number of recommended grades.

With a gasoline engine there are no such problems of choice; a much larger number of oils are suitable and you can choose the most suitable grade specifically for your specific conditions.

For an aggressive, sporty driving style, preference should be given to fully synthetic oil Synthoil High Tech 5W-30. Fully synthetic oil is the most stable in operation and does not change characteristics during operation. That is, it provides maximum engine protection.

For cases of more gentle operation in city-highway mode without extreme loads, you should choose Special Tec AA 5W-30. This oil is made on an HC synthetic base and is aimed at increasing fuel efficiency. In addition, this oil allows the use of so-called “light” gasolines with ethyl alcohol additives. Such fuel is increasingly found at Russian gas stations. Also, this oil is ideally suited for cars converted to use liquefied natural gas.

For heavy city use, with traffic jams, frequent cold starts, short trips during which the oil does not have time to warm up to operating temperature, you should choose Special Tec LL. This oil has a very high alkalinity reserve, which ensures engine cleanliness and good resistance to oil oxidation, typical for purely urban driving.

All oils we recommend have a quality level that significantly exceeds factory recommendations, which completely eliminates increased engine wear or the formation of black sludge deposits. Recommended replacement intervals in Russian conditions are up to 10 thousand km.

Manual transmissions on Grand Vitara are rare in Russia, but you can’t ignore them. For reliable, easy and comfortable operation, they should use Hochleistungs-Getriebeoil 75W-90 oil. This is a fully synthetic gear oil with the highest service life and an extremely low freezing point, so the gear lever will not “get stuck” even in the most severe frosts. The same oil can be used in the transfer case.

Automatic transmissions are filled with a fluid that meets the requirements of JWS 3309, that is, Liqui Moly Top Tec ATF 1200. This HC-synthetic oil is designed specifically to facilitate gear shifting and for the correct operation of the torque converter. The liquid is available in liter and 5 liter canisters, which is convenient for the consumer.

The correct choice of axle oil significantly affects fuel consumption. If you try to save money and pour cheap mineral grades, then in the end, the cost of gasoline will exceed the speculative savings. Only synthetic oils with good low-temperature characteristics can both extend the service life and achieve fuel savings of more than 1% per 100 km. We recommend using the fully synthetic gear oil Vollsynthetisches Getriebeoil 75W-90 GL5. The low viscosity of this oil makes the cranking force of the all-wheel drive transmission insignificant, which facilitates the operation of all units and reduces fuel consumption.

The choice of high-quality Liqui Moly lubricants allows you to increase the service life of units, reduce the number of sudden breakdowns and save fuel, which is important for a large all-wheel drive vehicle.

Has registered approvals for VW-Audi cars with Longlife service. Also has special approvals from other manufacturers. Complies with EURO 4 and higher standards. Excellent when using natural and liquefied gas (CNG/LPG).

Fuel tank Suzuki Grand Vitara

After removing the fuel tank, check the hoses and pipes connected to the fuel tank for leaks, loose connections, wear, or damage. And also check whether the fuel pump and level gauge gaskets are leaking. Visually inspect the fuel tank for leaks and damage. Replace any damaged or faulty parts.

Engine Suzuki H25A

The 2.5-liter petrol V6 engine Suzuki H25A was produced by the company from 1998 to 2005 and was installed only on the popular Grand Vitara SUV and its clones such as the Chevrolet Tracker. There were two versions of this power unit: with a power of about 145 hp. and about 160 hp.

The H-engine line also includes internal combustion engines: H20A and H27A.

• Characteristics
• Consumption
• Application
• Breakdowns

Technical characteristics of the Suzuki H25A 2.5 liter engine

You can download the manual for the Grand Vitara 2.5 model from the SuzukiClub
FORUM
. These engines are most actively discussed on the popular forum Drom.ru