Specs, fluids & service · 1970–1981
Suzuki Jimny LJ series specs, fluids and service intervals
The numbers you need in the garage, on one page: spec sheet, capacities and service intervals, wheels and tires, and the parts to order. Sourced from owners, specialists and the factory; tags marked confirm in manual haven't been checked against a factory source yet.
Spec sheet
| CODES | LJ10 · LJ20 · LJ50 (SJ10) · LJ80 (SJ20) · LJ81 |
|---|---|
| BUILT | Iwata, Japan · assembled in New Zealand, Indonesia, Kenya |
| YEARS | April 1970 – 1981 |
| CHASSIS | Ladder frame, leaf springs front & rear |
| WHEELBASE | 1,930 mm · 2,200 mm (LJ81 pickup) |
| LJ10 ENGINE | FB 359 cc air-cooled 2-stroke I2 · 25 PS |
| LJ20 ENGINE | L50 359 cc water-cooled 2-stroke I2 · 28 PS |
| LJ50 ENGINE | 539 cc 2-stroke I3 · 33 PS (export) |
| LJ80 ENGINE | F8A 797 cc SOHC I4 · 41 PS · 6.1 kg·m |
| GEARBOX | 4-speed manual + 2-speed transfer case |
| BRAKES | Drums all round |
| WEIGHT | 600 kg (LJ10) – 715 kg (SJ20) |
By year
| YEARS | PLATFORM | ENGINE | OUTPUT | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970–1972 | LJ10 | FB 359 cc air-cooled 2-stroke I2 | 25 PS / 6,000 rpm | First series-production kei 4x4; spare inside, three seats; 600 kg. |
| 1972–1976 | LJ20 | L50 359 cc water-cooled 2-stroke I2 | 28 PS / 6,000 rpm | Vertical-slat grille, van body; LJ20F with outside spare for four seats; sold in the US as the Brute. |
| 1975–1981 | LJ50 / SJ10 Jimny 55 | LJ50 539 cc water-cooled 2-stroke I3 | 33 PS export · 26 PS Japan | Export from September 1975, Japan from June 1976; LJ51P long-wheelbase pickup for some markets. |
| 1977–1981 | LJ80 / SJ20 Jimny 8 | F8A 797 cc 4-stroke SOHC I4 | 41 PS / 5,500 rpm | First four-stroke Suzuki car; wider track, taller gearing; metal doors and LJ81 pickup from 1979. |
Fluids, capacities & service intervals
These trucks are 45-plus years old, so rebuild the basics before you trust one. LJ80 capacities below come from Liqui Moly's oil guide (Olyslager data). We couldn't source specs for the two-stroke LJ10, LJ20 and LJ50, so confirm those in a service manual. LJ80.de sells a complete LJ80 inspection kit.
| ITEM | SPEC / CAPACITY | INTERVAL | NOTES & PARTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inspection kit (LJ80) | Filters and service parts for the F8A | At purchase | There's also a kit for the SJ410.LJ80 inspection kit · LJ80.de ↗ |
| Engine oil & filter (LJ80) | About 3.0 L (Liqui Moly) · grade confirm in manual | At purchase, then every 10,000 km / 6 months (Liqui Moly) | Use a new drain-plug washer.Oil filter (long) · LJ80.de ↗Drain plug washer · LJ80.de ↗ |
| Two-stroke lubrication (LJ10/20/50) | confirm in manual | At purchase | Find out how your engine gets its two-stroke oil before running it. |
| Air filter | LJ80 element | At purchase | Check the rubber boot between the filter and the carburetor.Air filter, LJ80 · LJ80.de ↗Air filter to carburetor rubber · LJ80.de ↗ |
| Fuel filter | Inline | At purchase | Old tanks shed rust, so check the filter again after a few tanks.Fuel filter · LJ80.de ↗ |
| Ignition | Points, condenser, cap, rotor, plugs, leads | At purchase | Points · LJ80.de ↗Ignition lead set · LJ80.de ↗Spark plug · LJ80.de ↗ |
| Coolant & hoses (LJ20 onward) | LJ80: 3.8 L, change every 2 years (Liqui Moly) · LJ20/LJ50: confirm in manual | Flush at purchase | The LJ10 is air-cooled. |
| Gearbox, transfer case & differentials | LJ80 (Liqui Moly): gearbox 1.0 L · transfer case 0.9 L, GL-4 85W-90 · front and rear diffs 1.3 L each, GL-5 85W-90 hypoid · LJ10–LJ50: confirm in manual | Drain and fill at purchase | Replace the drain-plug seals.Transfer case drain plug · LJ80.de ↗Drain plug seal · LJ80.de ↗ |
| Brake fluid | DOT 3 or DOT 4 (Liqui Moly lists both for the LJ80; LJ80.de sells DOT 4) | Flush at purchase, then every 2 years (Liqui Moly: 40,000 km / 24 months) | Four-wheel drums; check the wheel cylinders.Brake fluid DOT 4 · LJ80.de ↗ |
| Wheel bearings | Repack with fresh grease | At purchase | Front wheel bearing set · LJ80.de ↗ |
| Spring and frame rubbers | Inspect at purchase | Spring bushing set · LJ80.de ↗Frame rubber set · LJ80.de ↗ |
Capability
| Gradeability | 35° (LJ20) · 39.7° (SJ10) Suzuki figures |
|---|---|
| Curb weight | 600 kg (LJ10) · 625 kg (LJ20) · 675 kg (SJ10) · 715 kg (SJ20) Suzuki figures |
| Top speed | 75 km/h (LJ10) · ≈97 km/h (Jimny 55) Wikipedia |
| Payload | 250 kg (200 kg van), late LJ20 Wikipedia |
Wheels & tires
| Factory tire | 16-in wheels (LJ10, Suzuki/Wikipedia) · 15-in wheels (LJ20 van) |
|---|---|
| Biggest tire · Stock | Stock size |
Common Suzuki Jimny LJ series repairs
- Sill, corner-post and floor rust repairDIFFICULTY 4 / 5
- Leaf spring bushings and shacklesDIFFICULTY 2 / 5
- Front wheel bearings and hub sealsDIFFICULTY 3 / 5
- Drum brake overhaulDIFFICULTY 2 / 5
- Transfer case reseal and mountsDIFFICULTY 3 / 5
- Ignition tune-up (LJ80 points)DIFFICULTY 2 / 5
- Chassis rust: inspect, treat and wax the frameDIFFICULTY 3 / 5
Always confirm torque figures, fluids and capacities against the factory service manual for your VIN. See the disclaimer; some parts links are affiliate links.