Buying a 90 series - v6 economy? Anything to look for?

[Smac Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Smac]

Hi,
We currently have a 2010 Kluger which is great but the misses has pranged it, which is not so great, but it opens up some options for me... She now doesn't like driving it... So once its back from the repairers I'm thinking of selling it and buying a fair bit cheaper Prado.
As we speak we are on holidays and are borrowing my fathers 100series land cruiser 4.5petrol on dual fuel, and I can't believe how thirsty this is. We used 20L / 100 from Adelaide to Mildura, admittedly we had a head wind along the northern express way.

So what I'm wondering is how thirsty is the older 3.4V6 with the Auto? Or should I try and hold out for the diesel? The misses would prefer an auto. (if it was just me I would get a manual... But you know how it goes...)

I'm not real keen on getting gas on it, as then you loose the dual tanks and I'm never been a real fan of gas.

Any ideas would be good. The 3.4 v6 models seem pretty cheap and there are a fair few low KMs versions around.

Cheers
Smac

Is there a section here which spells out the differences on models, like the VX Grande GXL etc etc ?

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

Depends on many circumstances
1. How you drive it
2. How people are driving around you
3. The condition of the vehicle, and it's service history and how it was serviced
There are many myths around about what fuel to use in the v6, according to a Toyota tech guy I know, the computer can not distingish what ron fuel you are using, so you should only use e10, or regular unleaded.
Personally I get around 11/100k to 13/100k (the latter in peak hour traffic), others are getting 15-17/100k.
On a recent trip from brisbane to sydney, fully loaded, I used 116 litres of e10. I don't drive easy on it either, if I had a chance to overtake I did

[Smac Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Smac]

Thanks mate, 13 is pretty good, I wouldn't be too unhappy if I averaged 15 around town, peak hour, as long as it went down a bit when highway touring.

[K & M McF Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close K & M McF]

I average about 14.5 around town, 12 on the highway at 90 (without Shippshape on roof), about 14 on highway at 100 with Shippshape. Ours is manual, so auto probably a bit more.

[matt150 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close matt150]

Personally, I would recommend a diesel 120 series wagon.

[Smac Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Smac]

Yeah I agree that a diesel 120 wagon would've nice, but a lot more pricey than a v6 90series. I have a few things to sort out first like getting our klugerfixed and then selling it, then will see. Our other caris an older falcon so I don't know if the misses wants to keep that or what ...time will tell.

[williade Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close williade]

As you'd be coming from a Kluger, I'm guessing the 90 series v6 will be a rude shock as far as fuel economy goes.

Bearing in mind that I was driving almost entirely in peak hour traffic, mine was using 19-20L/100km with a 2" lift, bullbar+winch, muddies and some other dead weight. It dropped to a steady 17L/100km when I stripped all the mods off before I sold it.

My 4.5 80 series uses 20-21L/100km on unleaded and ~26L/100km on LPG. Frigging loving the LPG savings but the low hanging tank makes it interesting to drive off road

[glen_ep Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close glen_ep]

My auto 3.4L with it's big lift, tyres and ratios uses 15-17L / 100KM. I drive quick but not overly wasteful (coast up to lights and take off smoothly). PURE motorway can be anything from 12L to 20L depending on my SPEED, load and conditions.

Don't buy one of these based on Croozza's average figures (11-13L/100KM). It's great he get's that, but based on everyone else's results, it's rare, and totally unrealistic to expect the same.

Regarding the Prado 120's - they're nicer inside and have newer engines, but have less ground clearance and suspension articulation than a 90 series.

[Smac Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Smac]

Cheers Glen, I am liking the idea of a 90, I always wanted a 4runner, and these are the replacements really. I can't believe how cheep they are too

[Jeepster Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jeepster]

Regarding fuel consumption, I have averaged 14.7 liter/100km over 47,000 kilometers. This includes all kinds of driving from normal city driving, to highway driving through to towing a 2.5 tonne plus trailer. This consumption was driving on 265/75/16 tyres, and the best I got on these tyres was 12.5 L/100 km. Worst was about 22L/100 towing a heavy furniture trailer over a few hundred kilometers.

Just put on new tyres (265/70/16) Bridgestone Dueler D694, and on the first tank used 11 L/100 km. So it seems tyres make a huge difference as previously the best consumption for similar driving was 12.5 L/100 km.

[marknatasha89 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close marknatasha89]

My 1999 5 speed 3.4 v6 95 series consumes 15 - 17 L LPG/100km, so just over $10/100km with a Coles voucher. The LPG doesn't miss a beat, even when towing 1T of dirt, or carving through soft sand with the car loaded to the roofrack with people and gear. The LPG tank holds 72L usable, and I still can use the 59L petrol subtank. I have experienced none of the concerns expressed by LPG skeptics, such as the excise making it not worthwhile, excess consumption, performance issues, petrol fumes, etc. The driving experience has been identical, except for less fumes and less running cost. The federal gov't rebate makes LPG conversions a no brainer. Plus using LPG is supporting Australian industry instead of consuming largely imported petrol or diesel.

[reida1991 Member Find all posts View Profile Close reida1991]

Glad to hear your having a good run Mark. I think gas systems fitted to modern petrol engines are so far ahead of where they were 15 years ago. I have mates with LPG fitted to an old Jackaroo and a 4Runner RV6. They basically turn gas into sound and not much else.

Reidy

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

I have had two 90 series, one petrol (3.4 V6) and one turbo diesel both grande's both auto's, both running the same gear which was steel winch bullbar (ARB), OME suspension (ARB), towbar, same tyres (BFG A/T's up a size) The best ever out of my 3.4 on the highway was 12.2L per 100, around town 17.2L per 100 and this was taking it easy, boot it all the time and it would be higher. The diesel was around the 14's around town and depending on wether you stuck to 90k or 110k would range from tad under 10L per 100 obviously this was keeping under 100 which was a pain in the arse just to save a few $$) but it would jump higher then the petrol if pushed to 110/115 and if it was a wet and hot steamy day running aircon it would jump to 15's, yes this is the diesel Im talking about.

The 1kz in my opinion is not an economical motor especially in auto form (I believe the manual is far better ??) and must say is better geared for the 1kz then the auto (just my opinion from having both petrol and diesel in the 90). The head (diesel) went on my 90 (very common in the 90's not in the 120's) cost 4k for repairs and went at 103k was extremely well serviced oil and filter every 5k and genuine parts always so wasn't from neglect.

LPG was the biggest mistake I personally ever made, hated it and would go back to a vitara before I changed my V6 120 to LPG. To smaller tank, felt like I was forever filling up, Gutless for towing, could watch the gauge drop when working it on sand/beach, stunk of petrol on hot days (common) couldnt fill the reserve tank any more then 3/4 on a hot day to allow for expansion or it would drip on the ground, so decreased your touring range (some thing I should have thought about prior, my mistake) The truth is I sold that vehicle due to the LPG, I didnt trust it (set up) and I didnt feel safe putting our 4 year old in it. I even took it to the RTA about the dripping onto ground and they didnt want to know about it.

Now can I also say this was not just some thing my 90 did, my neighbours up the road did it and so did 2 people who I had never met before but I approached them in the shopping centre car park and approached them asking them about fuel smell and drips on hot days and they all said yes they had to leave a window down when getting back in car to get rid of the smell so wasnt just mine and also a member on here has/had the same issue think he modified it himself to solve the problem) wont mention there user name. Yes the 90 flexed well off road and do sit higher then the 120 standard but nothing a lift wont solve.

You will probably want to drive the 90 again prior, then if still wanting petrol try the 120 V6, after owing the kluger (presuming current shape) with the 200 killer wasps the 90 V6 will feel a bit gutless but still a great long lasting motor and vehicle and known to do extremely high klms with minimal repair costs. The only real know issue with the 90's is the rattling dashboards but again can be fixed due to PP's forum on how to fix it, better then the 120's cracking issues which is a shit load dearer to repair if you cant get it through warranty....This is all my own opinion and I am sure there are people who will disagree with my reply, every one to there own.......Cheers Steve

Wasn't just the petrol dashboard that rattled my diesel was 10 times worse

[mrkrinkle Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mrkrinkle]

I've averaged 14.5 over 53k with bullbar, winch, dual battery, 265/75 tyres. Minimum 11, max 17.5. Daily drive, long distance touring and 4x4. 316k and still going strong :-)

[marknatasha89 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close marknatasha89]

Thanks Steve M. In fact, I took your posts to heart when I had my LPG conversion done and challenged the installer if petrol fumes would be emitted from the petrol subtank. He pointed out the subtank filler and breather is untouched in the conversion, so no change. LPG safety and performance come down to the quality of the install and tuning. Thankfully my installer (Carb & Gas) did an excellent job, with no discernible difference in power between LPG and petrol, even on soft sand or towing as above. Indeed when gas is not running right, it can smell, suffer excessive consumption, under-perform and even be unsafe, but we can say that of other fuels too, albeit diesel is not as combustible. Thankfully there are less LPG incidents than burning Jeeps of late!