New Prado - engine issues ?

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

ok thanks will make sure that I get the factory extended warranty.

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

The V6 is a good engine, I wouldn't say great engine (it's missing a couple of cylinders and supercharger...). It all depends on how you drive. I have a mate with a 4L V6 and he can't get anything like the fuel numbers people on here can get and I know I am even worse. I also know that I have adapted my driving style to the diesel, slow and easy using the torque rather than revving it so that it goes from a buxom wench to a little boy. Horses for course though. The D4D isn't a bad engine and the parallels to the great Nissan hand grenade are unfounded (in my opinion). Preventative maintenance is very important but also understanding that the injectors are a consumable is important too. Like many others I had injectors go out of range on a 120. Mine was built before the latest and greatest injectors were made. I had no symptoms. Nothing at all. Keep the fuel clean, check the injector feedback values regularly (40k ish), look for blocked sump screen, fit a catch can and be prepared to change injectors at 120k or so.

EDIT the factory warranty I think is called the Extracare warranty and I bought it for the 120 just before factory warranty expired (I think it has to be before 90k is on the odometer) and I just bought it straight up on the 150. First time for either. The dealer warranties generally are snake oil and not worth the $ or time reading the fine print.

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

so the dealers sell extended warranties that are different to the factory extended warranty ?
What fuel usage figures (L/100km) should I expect from both engines ?

Thanks

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

I think no matter how u drive the difference between the two would be around 4lts a hundred ie. 4lts per hundred. Or about $1200 a year. By the time you add purchase price, Servicing, a set of imjectors, extended warranties blah blah blah I personally think it just safer to get a petrol and enjoy the power..200 killerwasps.

Hutch- Prado 150 with some TJM Kit.

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

petrol models are nearly $2k more expensive according to the Toyota website.

[Guest Close Guest]

petrol models are nearly $2k more expensive according to the Toyota website.

The petrol is $1k cheaper non drive away according to the website.

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

yeah, just realised I was looking at a manual TD vs Auto Petrol(Petrol only has Auto option)

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

The petrol is $1k cheaper non drive away according to the website.

Real life figures they are normally 3-4k cheaper from the last two times I have brought them


Hutch- Prado 150 with some TJM Kit.

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

good to know, thanks Hutch

[chimma Member Find all posts View Profile Close chimma]

Yes... stay away from the dealer extended warranty's. I just got my new girl (1 week old) and studied the extended warranty's in detail. The dealership would not offer me the Toyota warranty at all, they had their own and it was the only option; even though they are a Toyota dealership.

I called Toyota Finance directly and purchased from them. In brief:

The dealership warranty was $1295 with all servicing required to be completed by that dealership for the entire warranty period. There was a $2000 limit per claim, with unlimited claims throughout the policy & roadside care.

Toyota Finance offered their extended warranty after a discount for $1495. No restrictions on which Toyota dealership for servicing, no limitations on claims or $$$ and from what I have read on this site, IMO is a worthwhile investment.

I have copies of the policy's should you want to check them over for yourself, send me a PM and I can forward them onto you.

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

So given the above about why Hutch prefers a petrol, why do so many diesels sell ? what's the advantage of diesel over petrol ?
I guess better resale value goes out the window as you pay more upfront, less fuel usage... well you pay more per litre for diesel.

??
I'm still undecided which way to go.

Thanks

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

Bump ... any ideas ?
are the petrols cheaper to service ? is there some reason that people prefer diesels for off-road/outback (maybe availability of diesel vs petrol) ?
thanks

[Guest Close Guest]

You will get longer range from a diesel which is useful in the outback for certain areas.
Diesels are better for regular towing due to higher torque and is more efficient.
Diesels are better suited for long drives.

If the above aren't in your 'needs' list, then a petrol is most likely cheaper to run in the long run.

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

thanks amts.
do the petrol models have the 150L tanks like the diesels ?

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

As amts said but also Diesel is a lot safer if you have to carry extra fuel, which if you have a Petrol you are more likely to need to do. Drop a match in a bucket of Petrol and you have an inferno, drop a match in a bucket of Diesel and the match will go out!

For me a Petrol simply wouldn't cut the Mustard with the places I like to go, extremely remote outback travel with anything up to 1200k + between fuel stops and usually towing our off road camper trailer through these rugged and remote tracks. If I had a Petrol I would need to tow another trailer just for the fuel

A few years ago I did a remote Desert trip with one Petrol vehicle in the convoy, the only reason he was able to complete the trip was because other Diesel drivers carried all the extra fuel he needed.

As for costs, well I think some of the figures thrown around might be a bit on the optimistic side. I know when I bought my first Prado the price was exactly the same regardless of petrol or Diesel with an end of year run out sale.

Financially in my own experience I am so far in front with having owned Diesels that its not funny, but like everyone else my circumstances are unique so you need to sort out what best suits you.

Cheers Andrew