200k Diesel Maintanance

[Pheonix Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Pheonix]

A question I found which I thought was very interesting as a lot of 90 series would be getting to this age around about now.

"Just wanting to get everyone's thought on any preventative maintenance that I shoud get done to the Prado now that it is nearing the 200 thousand k mark. I have a 2000 diesel that has been well maintained but has most of the original components bar suspension. I'd really like to avoid a cracked head on the 1kzte. The engine has no cooling issues. Regardless I was thinking new belts, hoses, thermostat, fan clutch, get the radiator properly cleaned and checked and a new radiator cap. Also get the injectors serviced as they have never been touched, value clearances and possibly new glow plugs. Is there anything else I should get done? I've already replaced all driveline oils and all filters. The radiator is looking a bit tired. It doesn't leak but the fins toward the bottom of the radiator have insect and stone damage and some are quite flaky. If the radiator is still working fine should I just get it cleaned out or should I spent the extra $$$ and get a new radiator. Like I said, I'd really like to try and avoid paying for a new head and it seems around the 200 thousand k mark is when people often have dramas."

Looking forward to your responses

[FlyingBushPig Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close FlyingBushPig]

Re: 200k Diesel Maintanance

I shudder to think hat I've well passed the 200K mark and mine is a 120 2006 model :?
Haven't got any thoughts for you, I guess if you've got the spare money to throw at it, it can't be a bad thing but at 200K, a diesel should be just broken in.
Not sure what the lifetime of current diesels is, my guess is that with turbos etc they don't last as long as they could.

[StormyKnight Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close StormyKnight]

Re: 200k Diesel Maintanance

I'm at 190,000 & have just fitted a water temperature device mainly for piece of mind & perhaps it will give enough warning of an issue before its too late.

Its a bit hard to predict when a radiator will start to leak & then how badly.....The outside can look quite poor but the cores are still a way off from having any holes form. By the same token, a good looking radiator can also leak ....

Cheers

[Pheonix Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Pheonix]

Re: 200k Diesel Maintanance

Richard,

What water coolant alarm did you fit? MY TD is at the same mark as yours and still going strong.

[Yowie in Oz Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Yowie in Oz]

Re: 200k Diesel Maintanance

My 2002 TD Prado now has over 245 000 clicks on the clock and still going strong. The oil, oil filter, tyres rotated, and air cleaner cleaned (K&N) every 5000 clicks. Had the radiator flushed about 15000 clicks ago. Changed the rear pads and shoes, and changed the rear diff oil about 10000 clicks ago. If you are fastidious about your maintenance, and if it aint broke, don't touch it. Murphy's Law prevails......you put a new part in here, and something else breaks there.

I think it wise to change all fluids in gearbox, transfer case, and diffs every 20000 click intervals atleast. In saying this, I have only done the rear diff in the whole time I have owned the Prado, just over 18 months, put on over 60 000 clicks in that time, and everything still good. I did change my fuel filter a few months back. I am looking to doing the timing belt at 300 000 clicks, and when I do that I will change the thermostat, flush the radiator, usual oil and filter changes.

If you drive through a lot of mud, be sure to wash down your radiator from inside the engine bay out to the front of the car. The mud will sit between the radiator and AC condenser, and dry up causing lack of air flow, which leads to temperature increase.

Yowie

[StormyKnight Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close StormyKnight]

Re: 200k Diesel Maintanance

Richard,

What water coolant alarm did you fit? MY TD is at the same mark as yours and still going strong.

I have this one....


http://www.carsensors.com/ETMS.html

It has a lower profile then this one below....



http://www.sig.itel.net/

However from what I have seen both are adequate.

The advantages/disadvantages of each are....
The top one has a smaller display profile however it has a second unit that is required to be fitted under the dash
The top one's temperature threshold is adjusted by dip switches rather than thru the digital display like the bottom one
The top one can have parking sensors added to the unit
Either can have an external buzzer/light if required

Cheers

[Pheonix Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Pheonix]

Re: 200k Diesel Maintanance

Rob,

I have just bought the TM2, where did you put the thermostat probe? Any chance of a pic and what temps are you obtaining it would be interesting to see if the temps are similiar.


Cheers

Graeme

[StormyKnight Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close StormyKnight]

Re: 200k Diesel Maintanance

I tried the engine block but the bolt sizes were too big for the sensor so at the moment it is mounted on the top radiator inlet pipe using the engine diagnostic connector bolt.

Here I'm getting anything from 69-83 depending on ambient & length of hill..This summer will be the test when I do some 4WDring & long mountain climbs...I did get it to 98 after an extended run on the soft sand at Fraser in high range trying to make up time.....I had the alarm set at 90, it went off rather early in the drive ops:

I kept an eye on the OEM gauge, it didn't move at all, so I was happy with 98 degrees & kept pushing.

Cheers