The Lifan X60 is equipped with a 1.8-liter gasoline engine with a capacity of 133 hp. With. This is enough for a measured, quiet ride. Those owners who want more from their car change the firmware. At the same time, one of the main advantages of the Lifan X60 engine is moderate consumption in the city; you can invest 10 liters per 100 km. But it all depends on the driving style, the type of drive, the installed gearbox: five-speed manual transmission, CVT.

In general, the X60 resembles the Toyota RAV-4 CA30 crossover, which was produced until 2013. There is a similar radiator grille, side panels, and the outline of the front optics. Lifan is inferior to its Japanese counterpart in terms of reliability and technical characteristics. Although this is a decent car for the money. Let's look at the pros and cons.

AdvantagesLifan X60	FlawsLifan X60
✓ Good value for money, even in the most “charged” versions	X Obvious assembly flaws - both in the body and in the interior
✓ Large ground clearance – 180 mm	X You need to get used to the peculiar clutch-box connection
✓ Spacious interior, spacious trunk (1638 liters with seats and shelf folded)	X Weak paintwork, rust appears in places on the arches, trunk lid, under the door seals
✓ The box is successful in terms of clarity and smoothness of switching, which is rare for Chinese-made cars
✓ High energy consumption of the suspension

Lifan X60 engine: detailed acquaintance, resource assessment

The Chinese company presents the four-cylinder in-line engine Lifan X60 LFB479Q as its own unique development, which was made jointly with the British company Ricardo. In reality, this is a prototype of the Toyota 1ZZ-FE internal combustion engine. The Japanese engine was installed on Avensis, Corolla, Matrix, and Selick. It is considered reliable, but when running over 150 thousand km, it begins to consume oil: oil scraper rings and exhaust valves become coked, and the clearances between the piston and the cylinder walls are damaged. This is fraught with failure of the catalyst, which is often replaced with a flame arrester. To avoid such a fate, you need to follow the maintenance regulations and refuel with high-quality gasoline.

If you have filled in with fuel of questionable quality, we recommend using a combustion catalyst. It will increase the octane number of gasoline, minimize carbon formation and consumption, and protect against the Check Engine engine error, which often lights up when refueling with gasoline with an octane number below 93. Such an error may lead to changes in the engine control program.

The RVS-Master tribotechnical composition will also help extend the service life of the Lifan X60 engine. To process LFB479Q you will need (oil volume in the system - 3.5 l). Thanks to the treatment of the Lifan X60 motor with a friction geomodifier, it will be possible to:

• Normalize compression by restoring working surfaces using a layer of metal ceramics.
• Simplify cold starts.
• Reduce noise and vibration.
• Stabilize idle speed.
• Achieve an increase in resource - up to 120 thousand km.

With a range of more than 100 thousand km for the Lifan X60, it makes sense to use it, which will improve the functioning of the injectors and dynamics, eliminate failures during acceleration, and reduce gasoline consumption.

What is remarkable about the Lifan X60 box?

The Lifan X60 crossover is available with a five-speed manual and a four-speed automatic. The manual transmission is quite durable, although aggressive driving style, driving on rough terrain, and untimely oil changes can shorten its service life. This will manifest itself as a characteristic howl, difficulties with switching, and extraneous sounds of a metallic nature. If the above problems are associated with natural mechanical wear, treatment with the compound will help. This will restore the geometry of the gears, increase the service life of the parts, compensate for existing wear, and make gear shifting smoother.

Automatic versions use the popular Punch Powertrain CVT. The oil in it should be changed at a mileage of 60 thousand km. And to restore and prevent breakdowns, it is advisable to combine maintenance with treating the Lifan X60 box with the composition.

You can buy a new or contract Lifan X60 engine in our store. An engine (ICE) for a Lifan X60 is usually purchased if repairing the old engine is not possible. In addition, if, for example, only the nominal dimensions of the piston group are used for the engine, and the crankshaft will need to be sharpened, then the only option left is to purchase another engine.

You can buy an engine (ICE) for the Lifan X60 in the following options:

1. Used Lifan X60 engine- This is an engine that was removed from another car and presumably can work. As a rule, such engines are removed from damaged cars. Some have mileage data, some don't. The warranty for a used engine is from 5 to 30 days from the date of purchase. In fact, the warranty ends at the time of installation and testing of its functionality.

2. Rebuilt Lifan X60 engine- 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 the motor mechanic, who slowly purchases the necessary spare parts and repairs it. As a rule, in addition to new parts for the previous problem, all gaskets and seals on the engine are replaced. Rebuilt engines are usually sold without attachments. This is the rarest type and if it is available, it is better to immediately buy such an engine. The warranty on the rebuilt internal combustion engine is 3 months or 20,000 km. mileage

Every year, representatives of the Chinese automobile industry are gaining new leadership positions in the market. With the growth of positions, the confidence of motorists in SUVs and crossovers from the Middle Kingdom is strengthening. The large private company Lifan was one of the first to volunteer to dispel the negative perception of the reliability and quality of products from China. In 2011, the company presented a compact crossover called Lifan X60. In a relatively short period of time, the car was able to get into the main automobile charts, including the list of the best Chinese crossovers.

Why did domestic drivers like the model? Everything is extremely simple. Lifan X60 is an inexpensive and accessible mid-size crossover with good dynamic characteristics. The car is quite simple in design: 1.8-liter Toyota gasoline engine, reliable 5-speed manual transmission, front-wheel drive. It’s a pleasure to drive such a car 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 service life of the Lifan X60 engine is.

What engine is under the hood of the Lifan X60?

Chinese engineers do not hide the fact that when designing the car, their views were focused on the bestsellers of the automotive world - the Hyundai Santa Fe. As a result of the Japanese-Korean symbiosis, something in between came out, but it is worth saying that the model turned out to be attractive in appearance. 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 became legendary with operation in many Japanese cars, with great success covering 500 thousand kilometers or more. True, the motor underwent some changes before installation.

The engine optimization for the Chinese crossover was carried out by the English company Ricardo. The engine was equipped with a variable valve timing system, and the installation itself received a transverse arrangement. The power unit index is LFB479Q. Changes also affected the control unit - it was equipped with different firmware - and the Chinese developed some layout elements independently. 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 is AI-95;
• piston stroke – 91.5.

The non-alternative front-wheel drive modification of the crossover suggests that the car is adapted to Russian operating conditions, but still not fully. While the “Chinese” can overcome bumps and small potholes without problems, it cannot cope with heavy off-road conditions. The model is best suited for urban use. Thanks to electronic fuel injection, it was possible to reduce the 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 its parent, the 1ZZ-FE, not only its main advantages, but also its disadvantages. Chinese engineers, together with English 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 many chronic diseases in the Toyota engine. Car enthusiasts note a slight excess oil consumption after 150 thousand kilometers. And this is truly a fact proven by the practice of operating cars with VVT-I series engines. It is almost impossible to influence this process, since the level of lubricant consumption is largely predetermined by the design features of the engine.

When the LFB479Q begins to “eat” oil, many owners decide on a not-so-cheap procedure - replacing the catalyst with a flame arrester. With excessive consumption of engine oil, failure of the catalytic converter is a matter of time. For this reason, the first problems with the engine may begin after 150-200 thousand kilometers. In China, car owners found the following way out of the situation: switch from the recommended mineral lubricant to semi-synthetic.

Operating rules for LFB479Q maintenance:

• The first maintenance should be carried out after 3000 km - completely change the engine oil;
• Do not exceed 3500 crankshaft rpm during the first 1000 kilometers;
• During the break-in period, do not drive long distances;
• Do not tow the car;
• Refuel with the recommended AI-95 fuel, otherwise problems with the engine may occur at an early stage;
• Adhere to the manufacturer’s settings in terms of engine oil selection and material change intervals.

The LFB479Q uses a resource-intensive chain as a drive. On average, it lasts for 100 thousand kilometers. It is necessary to periodically check its condition; due to unfavorable operating conditions of the car, early stretching of the product is possible. With timely and high-quality maintenance, the service life of the Lifan X60 engine will be 300 - 350 thousand kilometers.

Reviews from car owners

The Chinese are strong in the quality of the service they provide; 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 for the Lifan X60 in every city in Russia. At the same time, Chinese car manufacturers are largely focused not only on the domestic market, but also on the external market, in particular, the Russian one. Domestic buyers have access to various car configurations: from basic to luxury. What is the actual service life of the Lifan X60 engine, reviews from the owners will tell you in detail.

1. Egor, Taganrog. I purchased Lifan X60 in 2012 at a dealership. I was serviced there for the first time. The run-in period went smoothly and without incident. After passing the first 3,000 km, the engine oil was completely replaced. The engine runs stably, the speed does not fluctuate. I'm also satisfied with the car's dynamics. Many people complain about the lack of engine power. I don't agree with this. The car feels confident on the track. Doesn't get out of breath when overtaking. I try not to overload the installation. Already covered 120 thousand kilometers. The oil doesn’t “eat”, I change it according to regulations. There were no problems with the car. Of course, the “Chinese” does not reach the level and status of the RAV-4 or Santa Fe, but it can easily compete, for example, with the Kia Rio.
2. Albert, Moscow. Before purchasing a crossover at an attractive price, I was interested in one question: “What engine is in the Leaf X60?” In the end, it turned out that the engine was Toyota. Without hesitation, I collected the required amount of money and went shopping. I purchased the car new from a dealership, this 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 lubricant G-Energy F Synth 0W-40. Oil is inexpensive, but sometimes it’s not so easy to get. As an alternative, I recommend Liqui Moly Longtime High Tech with a viscosity of 5W30.
3. Sergey, Voronezh. The Lifan X60 crossover was given 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 life 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 engine, so there have never been any problems with it. I haven’t even changed the chain yet, but I may have to do this work soon, since its service life is designed for exactly 100 thousand.
4. Vyacheslav, Irkutsk. I got the car straight from China. After four years of driving the Lifan X60, I can responsibly say that the Chinese have seriously prepared for the release of this model and have spent a lot of effort and money on implementing the idea. The result was a good product, and the engine was excellent. Something, but the engine in this car is reliable. Slightly other components of the vehicle suffer - the suspension, and there are shortcomings in the interior. But these are trifles, considering the cost of the Lifan X60. Recently I was at a service station, the technicians carried out diagnostics and said that the engine was in excellent condition, and this was after 95 thousand kilometers. Also in their words: the LFB479Q resource is at least 300,000 km.
5. Valery, St. Petersburg. I have personally been convinced more than once that cars with a 1ZZ-FE engine go for half a million kilometers. As we know, LFB479Q is a prototype of a Toyota engine. We can safely assume that the Lifan X60 installation resource 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 change to change.
6. Kirill, Rostov. Not a bad car that I have been using since 2015. I bought the car on the secondary market in excellent condition for a decent amount. At that time, the car's mileage was 50 thousand km. Today is already 110 thousand. The power unit is sensitive to the quality of fuel and engine oil. Refuel only at trusted stations, and also do not deviate from the manufacturer’s recommendations in terms of choosing engine oil. At a minimum, buy decent analogues. Otherwise, the oil scrapers will coke, the clearances will be damaged, and the valve mechanism will fly. Problems cannot be avoided then. Personally, there were no problems with my car. It starts in any weather, does not “eat” oil, although they write on the Internet that the engine is characterized by “oil loss”. Who knows, maybe the time hasn't come yet. But I am sure that with the proper attitude there will be no breakdowns of the “heart” of the car.

The service life of the Lifan X60 engine is in strict correlation with the quality of service of the crossover. Many owners try to extend the life of the power plant by using repair and restoration compounds. In practice, such manipulations often lead to the desired result: compression is normalized, the engine noise level during operation is reduced, and the engine life is increased by several tens of thousands of kilometers. The LFB479Q motor is designed for 300 – 350 thousand km. It is very easy to develop all the potential built into the installation by the manufacturer, but extending the service life of the CPG parts is not so easy.

The fact that the Chinese are copying the developments of famous manufacturers with all their might is no secret to anyone. Lifan uses licensed copies of Toyota engines in its models, which it adjusts (most likely in order to reduce the cost of production) to its standards. For example, in the popular model, but with modifications.

The Lifan X60 is equipped with an engine that was copied from the legendary 1ZZ-FE series, legends about which are spread throughout the Far East.

The index for the 1.8-liter Lifanovsky 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 also has its drawbacks, most domestic car enthusiasts are very afraid of the belt breaking; this fear probably dates back to the domestic automobile industry.

Engine Features

The location of the power unit in the Lifan X60 is transverse. Engine with variable valve timing system. By the way, the LFB479Q version is called VVT, which clearly shows a connection with Toyota’s VVT-i development. The Chinese have removed the prefix -i (with intelligence). An interesting fact is that the British (engineering company Ricardo) took part in the development of the Chinese engine.

The Toyota engine was very reliable, it was installed on the most popular models, including the Corolla (the best-selling car in the world in the C class), 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 appears 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 nice way. Most owners just put up with it. They switched to semi-synthetics (whereas according to the specification it should be 5w-30 synthetics) - it is cheaper. But it is worth remembering that in the Far East such engines are not capitalized; 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 run into them anymore. But the Japanese do not have contract Chinese engines of the LFB479Q series, and cannot have them. The possibility of a swap is unknown.

If the Lifan X60 engine starts to consume oil, the catalyst may soon fail. In this case, it is replaced with a flame arrester; the company’s technology has been proven, but the cost is not cheap.

Among manufacturers of gasoline engines, one of the leading places in the world market is occupied by the Chinese industrial group Lifan Industry Co. Ltd (Lifan Group). The Lifan engine is produced by the company in a wide range.

Lifan Group enterprises produce power units that are successfully installed on:

• vehicles of any carrying capacity;
• mopeds and motorcycles;
• pumps and presses;
• garden, snow removal and household equipment.

The technical characteristics of Lifan engines meet the requirements of world standards, and the optimal price/quality ratio allows the company to compete with the most famous manufacturers of power units.

Of particular interest are automobile gasoline engines developed in collaboration with the British engineering company Ricardo. An example of effective cooperation is the Lifan LFB479Q engine installed on the Lifan X 60 crossover.

In addition, the company's engineers, using the developments of the world's leading manufacturers, independently design reliable automobile engines. Thus, the LF48Q3 gasoline engine, intended for the Lifan Solano model, was developed on the basis of the licensed agent Toyota 4A-EF, which has long been the standard of reliability and quality throughout the world.

Technical characteristics of Lifan automobile engines

OPTIONS	MEANING
Cylinder displacement, cubic cm.	Depending on engine type: 1794 (LFB479Q) 1587 (LF481Q3)
Power, l. With	128 (LFB479Q) 106 (LF481Q3)
Cylinder diameter, mm	79 (LFB479Q) 81 (LF481Q3)
Compression ratio	10 (LFB479Q) 9.5 (LF481Q3)
Piston stroke, mm	91.5 (LFB479Q) 77 (LF481Q3)
Number of cylinders	4
Ignition algorithm	1 - 3 - 4 -2
Supply system	Multiport fuel injection
Combustion chamber shape	Comb-shaped (LFB479Q) Wedge-shaped (LF481Q3)
Gas distribution mechanism	DOHC 16V + VVT-i (LFB479Q) DOHC 16V (LF481Q3)
Lubrication system	Combined (spray and pressure)
Oil volume, l	3.5 (LFB479Q) 4 (LF481Q3)
Oil type	Not lower than category SG (LFB479Q) 5W-40, 10W-40 (LF481Q3)
Cooling system	Forced circulation of coolant
Fuel type	Unleaded gasoline A-92, A-95
Fuel consumption, l/100 km	8.2 (LFB479Q) 8 (LF481Q3)

The engine was installed on the following cars: Lifan X 60 and Lifan Solano.

Description

The Chinese Lifan LFB479Q and LF481Q3 engines are structurally an in-line four-cylinder power unit with two overhead camshafts and a 16-valve cylinder head (DOHC 16V).

Their design has much in common, for example, the same type of lubrication and cooling systems. Fuel supply is carried out by distributed injection with an electronically controlled throttle valve.

However, there are significant differences in the design of the motors. For example:

• the gas distribution mechanism in the LF481Q3 engine is driven using a belt, the service life of which does not exceed 100 thousand km, and in the LFB479Q a metal chain with a large margin of safety is used for this purpose;
• the combustion chamber of the LF481Q3 engine, unlike the LFB479Q, has a wedge-shaped shape, which ensures a high rate of fuel combustion and reduces coolant losses;
• The piston stroke in the LF481Q3 engine is less than the cylinder diameter (short-stroke engine), which requires higher speeds to achieve maximum power;
• motors and electronic control systems differ. The LFB479Q power unit is equipped with an efficient VVT-i variable valve timing system, which allows you to obtain maximum torque (168 Nm) already at 4200 rpm. min.

Tuning

Chinese engines LFB479Q and LF481Q3 can be subjected to CHIP tuning in specialized tuning studios.

Engine tuning performed by specialists will allow you to:

1. Increase power.
2. Eliminate factory software defects that lead to unpredictable jerks and jerks.
3. Increase engine life.
4. Increase the responsiveness of the electronic gas pedal.
5. Reduce fuel consumption.
6. Increase the amount of torque.

For firmware, use the OBDII diagnostic connector, which is usually located in the pedal area.

Low-power engines from Lifan

One of the priorities of the Lifan Group is the development and mass production of gasoline engines with power from 2.5 to 15 hp.

Among them there are also models:

• with electric starter;
• with reduction gear;
• with automatic clutch;
• with lighting coil.

These engines are installed on:

1. Motoblocks.
2. Electric generators.
3. Motorized towing vehicles, motorized winches, etc.

A typical representative of this type of product is the single-cylinder Lifan190F-R engine, with a power of 15 hp, and intended for installation on cultivators and other low-power equipment. It is durable and economical, and the presence of a reduction gear allows you to expand the scope of its application.

In addition, the motor is equipped with a lighting coil, which makes it possible to connect the necessary equipment with a total power of no more than 40 W.

To start it, a transistor ignition system is used, which ensures reliable operation in any operating conditions.