Every year, representatives of the Chinese automotive industry are gaining new leadership positions in the market. With the growth of positions, there is also a strengthening of the confidence of motorists in SUVs and crossovers from the "Celestial Empire". A large private company Lifan was one of the first to volunteer to dispel negative perceptions about the reliability and quality of products from China. In 2011, the company presented a compact crossover named Lifan X60. In a relatively short period of time, the car was able to hit the main car charts, including the list of the best Chinese crossovers.
Why did domestic drivers like the model? Everything is extremely simple. The Lifan X60 is an inexpensive and affordable mid-size crossover with good dynamic characteristics. The car is quite simple in terms of construction: a 1.8-liter Toyota gasoline engine, a reliable manual 5-speed gearbox, front-wheel drive. It is pleasant to drive in such a car even in the city, and you can drive along a country road with relative comfort. But, before buying a crossover, it is best to immediately find out what the resource of the Lifan X60 engine is.
What engine is under the hood of Lifan X60?
Chinese engineers do not hide the fact that during the design of the car, their views were focused on the bestsellers of the automotive world - and the Hyundai Santa Fe. As a result of the Japanese-Korean symbiosis, something in between came out, but it should be said that the outwardly model turned out to be attractive. In addition to the design, the technical component was also borrowed: a 1.8-liter 1ZZ-FE engine was installed under the hood of the crossover, which has become legendary with operation on many Japanese cars, which have covered 500 thousand kilometers or more with great success. True, the motor underwent some changes before installation.
The English company Ricardo was engaged in optimization of the engine for the Chinese crossover. The engine was equipped with a variable valve timing system, the installation itself received a transverse arrangement. The powertrain index is LFB479Q. The changes also affected the control unit - it was equipped with a different firmware - and the Chinese developed some of the layout elements on their own. At the output, the engine received 128 horsepower at 6000 rpm.
LFB479Q Specifications:
- type - four-cylinder, in-line engine;
- number of valves - 16:
- compression ratio - 10;
- preferred gasoline - AI-95;
- piston stroke - 91.5.
The uncontested front-wheel drive modification of the crossover suggests that the car is adapted to Russian operating conditions, but, nevertheless, not fully. If the "Chinese" overcomes bumps and small potholes without problems, then he cannot cope with heavy off-road conditions. For urban use, the model is best suited. Thanks to electronic fuel injection, it was possible to reduce the level of fuel consumption of the unit by as much as 3%. At the same time, the motor is 8% more powerful than similar engine options thanks to Delphi and Bosch control systems.
Potential resource
The LFB479Q motor took over from the parent in the person of 1ZZ-FE not only the main advantages, but also the disadvantages. Chinese engineers, together with British designers, have done a lot of work in improving the engine, they really managed to increase the power and reduce the "appetite" of the unit. There are not so many chronic diseases in the Toyota engine. Motorists note a slight overconsumption of oil after 150 thousand kilometers. And this is really a fact, proven by the practice of operating a car with motors of the VVT-I series. It is almost impossible to influence this process, since the level of lubricant consumption is largely predetermined by the design feature of the engine.
When LFB479Q starts to "eat" oil, many owners decide on not the cheapest procedure - replacing the catalyst with a flame arrester. With excessive consumption of engine oil, the failure of the catalytic converter is a matter of time. For this reason, the first problems with the engine can begin after 150-200 thousand kilometers. In China, car owners have found the following way out of the situation: switch from the recommended mineral lubricant to semi-synthetics.
LFB479Q maintenance operating rules:
- The first MOT pass after 3000 km of run - completely replace the engine oil;
- Do not exceed 3500 rpm of the crankshaft during the first 1000 kilometers;
- Do not drive long distances during the running-in period;
- Do not tow the car;
- Refuel with the recommended AI-95 fuel, otherwise there may be problems with the engine at an early stage;
- Adhere to the manufacturer's guidelines for engine oil selection and material change intervals.
A resource-intensive chain is installed on the LFB479Q as a drive. On average, it serves for 100 thousand kilometers. It is necessary to periodically check its condition, due to the unfavorable operating conditions of the car, early stretching of the product is possible. With timely and high-quality service, the lifespan of the Lifan X60 engine will be 300 - 350 thousand kilometers.
Car owners reviews
The Chinese are strong in the quality of the service and service provided, thanks to these advantages, compared to other representatives, today they are able to win an increasing number of buyers. There are plenty of parts and components in Russia for Lifan X60 in every city. At the same time, Chinese car manufacturers are largely focused not only on the domestic market, but also on the external one, in particular, on the Russian one. Domestic buyers have access to various car configurations: from basic to luxury. What is the resource of the Lifan X60 engine in fact, the reviews of the owners will tell in detail.
- Egor, Taganrog. Lifan X60 acquired in 2012 at a dealership. Served there the first time. The break-in period went smoothly and without incident. After passing the first 3,000 km, the engine oil was completely changed. The engine runs stably, the rpm does not float. I am also satisfied with the dynamics of the car. Many people complain about the lack of motor power. I disagree with that. The car feels confident on the track. When overtaking, it does not suffocate. I try not to overload the installation. Already passed 120 thousand kilometers. The oil does not "eat", I change it according to the regulations. There were no problems with the car. Of course, the "Chinese" does not reach the level and status of RAV-4 or Santa Fe, but it may well compete, for example, with the Kia Rio.
- Albert, Moscow. Before buying a crossover at an attractive price, I was interested in one question: "What engine is in the Leaf X60?" As a result, it turned out that the engine was Toyota. Without hesitation, he collected the required amount of money and went shopping. I bought a new car in the salon, it was in 2013. Since then, the car has covered 130 thousand km. Were there any problems with the engine? Absolutely none. I fill in the recommended G-Energy F Synth 0W-40 lubricant. The oil is inexpensive, but sometimes it is not so easy to get it. As an alternative, I recommend Liqui Moly Longtime High Tech with a viscosity of 5W30.
- Sergey, Voronezh. The Lifan X60 crossover was presented to me by my parents. I'm not a fan of big cars, but I personally liked this model. I have been using the car for 5 years, the odometer now shows exactly 100 thousand kilometers. According to the manufacturer, the engine resource is at least 200 thousand kilometers. But, it is quite obvious that the figure varies up and down, depending on the timeliness of the maintenance. I monitor the condition of the motor, so there have never been any problems with it. I have not even changed the chain yet, but it may soon be necessary to do this work, since its service life is designed specifically for 100 tyk.
- Vyacheslav, Irkutsk. I got a car straight from China. For four years of driving the Lifan X60, I can say responsibly that the Chinese have seriously prepared for the release of this model, have spent a lot of effort and money on the implementation of the idea. It turned out to be a good product, and the motor is excellent. Something, but the engine in this car is reliable. Slightly other components of the vehicle suffer - the suspension, there are drawbacks in the cabin. But these are trifles when you consider the cost of the Lifan X60. Recently I was at the service station, the masters carried out diagnostics, they said that the engine was in excellent condition, and this was after 95 thousand kilometers. Also from their words: the resource LFB479Q is at least 300,000 km.
- Valery, St. Petersburg. I was personally convinced more than once that cars with a 1ZZ-FE engine run half a million kilometers. As we know, the LFB479Q is the prototype of the Toyota engine. We can safely assume that the lifespan of the Lifan X60 installation is at least 300 thousand km. I have a 2012 crossover in the maximum configuration. I'm surprised by the car in the positive sense of the word. The Chinese have really learned how to make decent SUVs and crossovers. Today the mileage is 160 thousand. Oil from replacement to replacement.
- Kirill, Rostov. Nice car that I have been using since 2015. I took the car in the secondary market in excellent condition for a decent amount. At that time, the car's mileage was 50 thousand km. Today there are already 110 tyk. The powertrain is sensitive to the quality of fuel and engine oil. Refuel only at proven stations, and do not deviate from the manufacturer's recommendations in terms of choosing engine oil. At the very least, get worthy counterparts. Otherwise, the oil scraper will coke, the gaps will be violated, the valve mechanism will fly. Then problems cannot be avoided. Personally, there were no problems with my car. Starts in any weather, oil does not "eat", although the network writes that the engine is characterized by a "masloger". Who knows, perhaps the time has not come yet. But I am sure that with the right attitude and breakdowns of the "heart" of the car will not be.
The lifespan of the Lifan X60 engine is in strict correlation with the quality of service of the crossover. Many owners are trying to extend the life of the power plant by using repair and recovery compounds. In practice, such manipulations often lead to the desired result: the compression is normalized, the engine noise level during operation is reduced, and the engine resource also increases by several tens of thousands of kilometers. The LFB479Q motor is designed for 300 - 350 thousand kilometers. It is very easy to develop the full potential of the manufacturer in the installation, but it is not so easy to extend the service life of the CPG parts.
Of course, the Lifanovites call the x60 their own development, but the genesis of the model is more prosaic - the second generation Toyota RAV4 model is taken as a design basis. Apparently, unofficially: Lifan has no legal relationship with the Japanese company, and the Chinese are engaged in "imitation" at their own peril and risk. But it would be rash to call the x60 a copy of the RAV4. Rather, it is a "plot based on": the structural and layout scheme is similar to the RAV4, but the dimensions have been changed, as well as the overall aesthetics of the car.
Lifan x60 is a car with a monocoque body and a transverse power unit. The engine is new, with a volume of 1.8 liters (133 hp), with a variable valve timing system. In the Chinese version, the phase shifter is denoted by the abbreviation VVT (Variable Valve Timing), which also echoes the "Toyota" development VVT-i (Variable Valve Timing with intelligence). The 1.8 VVT LFB479Q engine was made in cooperation with the English company RICARDO, which is even mentioned on the official website of the British. Many other design details are also taken from European manufacturers, in particular from Bosch and Valeo. The Chinese are even proud of this, emphasizing the "new level of quality."
The x60 design is quite typical for cars of this class: McPherson front suspension, rear - independent "multi-link", disc brakes on all wheels with 4-channel ABS. Rack and pinion steering, with hydraulic booster. The supports of the power unit are selected correctly, no vibrations are transmitted to the body and controls. Even the air conditioner radiator is not rigidly fixed to the front beam, but through additional dampers and is separated from the engine radiator by foam rubber gaskets. A trifle - but nice.
Transmission - only a five-speed "mechanics", no variator, no automatic transmission is provided. Unfortunately, no all-wheel drive is envisaged either, they think about it, but there is no solution yet. It's expensive and goes beyond the concept of the x60 as an extremely cheap car. At the same time, the Chinese already have the design of the drive to the rear axle through a viscous coupling, it's only a matter of the economy of the project. Now the Lifan marketers think that the all-wheel drive version of the x60 may not withstand the competition.
From this it is easy to deduce the market framework of the model: an urban SUV or even just a station wagon with an increased ground clearance, in which there are more comfort, convenience and versatility than claims to conquer off-road. The salon is not made in Chinese with high quality, even, from good fabrics and plastics. There is a pungent smell in new cars, but this is not phenolic emissions, but the "aroma" of glue and sealants, which quickly evaporates. We got used to the smell after half an hour of getting to know the car.
The architecture of the front panel is simpler than "Toyota", for example, the Chinese did not begin to reproduce the spectacular "glove compartment" with a sliding lid located in Toyota between the passenger airbag and the main glove compartment. The center console and dashboard are different here. The RAV4 is only reminiscent of a similar arrangement of deflectors and climate control "krutilok". The transformation of the interior is beyond praise: the rear seat can be folded separately and completely, while the cushions are reclined forward, and the backs lie on the floor, forming an almost level platform. For rear passengers, there is a large folding armrest with two cup holders. More of the little things: a 12-volt socket in the armrest box for the front riders, cup holders in all side doors, a small folding niche to the left of the driver.
So far, the Lifan x60 is offered in two trim levels - LX and EX. The first - basic - includes two front airbags and ABS + EBD. The EX adds various niceties, such as a two-din DVD audio system with a large screen, navigation and visual parking sensors, a key with a remote trunk opener, a leather steering wheel, front seat belt pretensioners, climate control.
The Lifan Motors proving ground, where it was proposed to test new crossovers, is not very suitable for a full-fledged test drive, to put it mildly: it is extremely compact, representing only a road with three types of irregularities and one “driving” hairpin turn. Therefore, so far we can only speak approximately about what x60 is in motion.
The curb weight of the crossover is 1330 kg, which is comparable to a conventional C-class car. Therefore, the engine is 133 hp. "Lifan" is more or less enough. The Chinese have not yet shown the graph of the dependence of the torque on the rpm, but it is obvious that the motor reaches its maximum return at about 4500 rpm.
The first two gears are quite short and fast, and the third is long, with a claim to economy. With a sufficiently "sharp" steering wheel (a little more than 3 turns from lock to lock), the steering wheel lacks sensitivity. The position of the rudder at "zero" is indistinct and there is not enough feedback. This does not add confidence when maneuvering at high speed.
Third gear, revs of about 4000, "throttle to the floor" - and at the apex the engine starts to die down: it lacks traction. In general, Lifan x60 has a weak handling character, unsuitable for active driving. But economical urban movement is his element. Hence the excellent fuel consumption indicator: 8.2 liters per 100 km (according to the passport). The 1.8 VVT engine is the only one in the Lifana range, controlled by an electronic gas pedal and complies with Euro-4 standards.
From April Lifan x60 will be produced in Russia at the Derways plant in Cherkessk. The scope of the project has not yet been determined, even the Chinese themselves do not know in what configurations the car will enter the Russian market and at what prices. The future name of the novelty is also unknown. Although the “Lifanovtsy” in Russia give their cars more poetic names than digital indices. The price will be more affordable than that of the main competitor - Vortex Tingo. The latter in a mono-drive version is now sold for 500 thousand rubles.
With all-wheel drive for x60, there is no clarity yet, but "automatic" for the car is not provided in principle. And this is a big marketing blunder of the Lifanovites. It will be very difficult to sell the planned 25 thousand cars without the "automatic machine". It is this amount of x60, according to the Chinese, that the Derweiss conveyor is capable of providing. In China itself, by the end of this year, only 10 thousand cars will be assembled, half of which will be exported.
The fact that the Chinese are copying with might and main the developments of eminent manufacturers is no secret to anyone. Lifan uses licensed copies of Toyota engines in his models, which he adjusts (most likely in order to reduce the cost of production) to his standards. For example, in a popular model, but with modifications.
An engine is installed on the Lifan X60, which was copied from the legendary 1ZZ-FE series, which is legendary throughout the Far East.
The index of the 1.8-liter Lifan engine has the abbreviation LFB479Q.
Chain or belt
Let's immediately answer the question that worries many lifanovodov, belt or chain? Rejoice ...
Although the chain has its drawbacks, most domestic motorists are very afraid of a belt break, probably this is a fear from the domestic auto industry.
Engine features
The location of the power unit at the Lifan X60 is transverse. Engine with variable valve timing system. By the way, the LFB479Q version is called VVT, in which there is clearly a connection with Toyota's VVT-i development. The Chinese removed the -i (with intelegence) prefix. An interesting fact is that the British (engineering company Ricardo) took part in the development of the Chinese engine.
Toyota's engine was very reliable, it was put on the most popular models, including the Corolla (the best-selling car in the world in class C), Avensis and even Celica. The most common problem was oil consumption - this is a disease of all engines with VVT-i technology, which is caused by a design feature and manifests itself after 150 thousand km.
Photo, where the rings are stuck on the 1ZZ-FE engine, resulting in increased oil consumption.
In the Far East, they solved the problem in a not very beautiful way. Most owners just put up with it. They switched to semi-synthetics (while the specification should be 5w-30 synthetics) - it is cheaper. But it is worth remembering that in the Far East such engines do not capitalize, they simply order contract spare parts - these are spare parts with a mileage of no more than 50-70 thousand. Japan is islands, you can't hit it anymore. But the Japanese do not have contract Chinese engines of the LFB479Q series, and cannot be. Swap capability is unknown.
If the Lifan X60 engine starts to eat oil, then the catalyst may soon fail. In this case, it is changed to a flame arrester, the company has worked out the technology, but the cost is not cheap.
Chinese manufacturers do not stand still and release more and more new cars with enviable regularity. And for some reason, their new items are much more attractive, at least externally, than the new items of AvtoVAZ. And if we were to improve things with the build quality on the derweiss, then the cars would be the first in terms of price-quality ratio. In the meantime, there is what is ...
The new Lifan X60 crossover does not remind me of anyone personally, and in general you can give a lot of examples of similar cars from other brands. The big disadvantage of Lifan is that it is a front-wheel drive crossover. It was originally planned as an SUV, but four-wheel drive would have made the car a lot more expensive. And the Chinese have rightly decided that they will not be able to compete in the SUV segment yet.
Few people will be expensive to buy Chinese cars; preference will be given to more famous brands in the same price category. So they decided to make it cheap and beautiful.
Well, it turned out to be a very nice car for moving on city roads and highways. The small volume of the luggage compartment can be compensated for by installing a streamlined luggage compartment on the roof. There are already rails for it.
Well, now closer to the body. Let's look at some of the characteristics of the new X60 bra.
Engine
The engine of this SUV was named LFB479Q. But in fact it is a copy of Toyota's 1ZZ-FE. The engine displacement is 1.8 and it is equipped with a continuous -i system. Like the Japanese, this motor is long-stroke, which allows it to develop good traction at low crankshaft speeds. The cylinder diameter is 79 mm and the piston stroke is 91.5 mm.
But the engine is still different from Emgrand's. On the X60, it has an electronic gas pedal, and on the Emgrand, the 1.8 engine is equipped with a cable drive.
Related video: Test drive Lifan x60
The ignition coils on the X Sixtieth are individual for each cylinder, which, however, in my opinion, does not give any tangible benefit, but only leads to an increase in the cost of the entire structure.
Well, I immediately foresee the question: Where is the thermostat on the Lifan X60? It is not located in the most familiar place. It is at the location of the thermostat that the coolant flows from the radiator to the engine. Here are two photos to make it clear where the thermostat is.
Transmission
The X60 has a 5-speed manual gearbox. One-disk clutch with hydraulic drive. Possible clutch malfunctions. Vibration of the clutch can be due to uneven pressing of the disc, slipping of the driven disc. The clutch will also vibrate when the disc is oiled or the clutch housing is loosened.
Manual transmission noise
1.Lack or poor quality of oil
2.Worn or damaged bearings
3.Worn or damaged gears
4. Damage to the synchronizer.
Difficulty shifting gears
1.The fork is deformed
2.Worn or damaged friction cone of the synchronizer ring
3.Defective gear selection mechanism
4. Poor mobility of the gear shift drive cables.
Malfunction of constant velocity joints
A crunch in the front when the wheels are turned out and driving at low speed indicates the need to replace the outer CV joint.
Vibration at the beginning of acceleration when driving in a straight line indicates the need to replace the inner CV joint
Undercarriage
Suspension type:
Rear suspension - three - link independent with trailing arm
| Parameter | Meaning |
(not loaded car) Note Camber front-1 ° 12 ′ ± 30 ′ Toe-in of front wheels -0 ° 43 ′ ± 30 ′ (-7.5 ~ -3.5mm) adjustable Lateral tilt (reference) 11 ° 2 ′ ± 30 ′ Caster (longitudinal tilt 2 ° 44 '± 30' Rear Camber -0 ° 57 '± 30' Adjustable Rear Camber -0 ° 6 '± 30' (-1.1 ~ 2.8mm) Adjustable
Compression engine
Installing marks on the timing chain when replacing it on the Lifan X60 engine
The photo below clearly shows how you need to set timing marks when replacing the chain.
You can buy a new or contract Lifan X60 engine in our store. The engine (ICE) on the Lifan X60 is usually bought if the repair of the old engine is not possible. In addition, if, for example, only the nominal sizes of the piston group go to the engine, and the crankshaft needs to be sharpened, then there remains only the option of buying another engine.
You can buy an engine (ICE) for Lifan X60 of the following options:
1. Used engine Lifan X60- this is an engine that was removed from another car and presumably it can work. As a rule, such engines were removed from damaged cars. Some have mileage data, some don't. Second-hand engine warranty - from 5 to 30 days from the date of purchase. In fact, the warranty ends at the time of installation and verification of its functionality.
2. Moved engine Lifan X60- this is an engine that had problems that the client did not want to fix or the delivery time for spare parts was very long. The client leaves such an engine to a minder and he slowly buys the necessary spare parts and makes repairs. As a rule, in addition to new parts for the previous problem, all gaskets and oil seals on the engine are changed. Remanufactured engines are usually sold without attachments. This is the rarest type and if available, it is better to buy such an engine right away. The warranty for the remanufactured internal combustion engine is 3 months or 20,000 km. mileage.
