Prado 2014 V6 Advice

[Snouto Member Find all posts View Profile Close Snouto]

Hi everyone

It's been a while since I was last here discussing all things new 2018 Prado. Even got so far as putting down an order for a VX, until the wife got the shits and "we" ended up backing out of the purchase. Probably didn't help that I was pushing for the Kakadu either to be fair...

So I'm back on the trail of buying a Prado. Thanks to "Operation Splitting Hairs" we've gone completely off the diesel engine due to the harmful crap they kick out the tailpipe, and so we're looking purely at the V6 petrol.

I'm looking for advice from any owners out there as to what, in particular for the V6 GXL, I should be paying particular attention to when at the dealer checking out vehicles. I've seen some second hand models going with around 100kms on the clock, which over the course of 3-4 years is above average, however a big V6 engine from Toyota should not have a problem doing twice that in my opinion (correct me if I'm wrong and of course "it all depends" on the particular engine I end up getting).

As a side note - is the late 2015 with 6sp auto worth pushing for in the V6? Does the 6sp make a noticeable difference over the 5sp?
I've read in several places that the V6 had some minor tweaks made to it but I can't find any specifics about it. I'm aware the GXL gained GPS too, but that's not much of a concern for me with my iPhone (and I don't mind avoiding the PITA that is getting those maps updated).

Thanks for any help!

Snouto

[Mick2211 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mick2211]

Regarding your question about the auto gearboxes, my Prado is a 2013 GXL V6 with the 5 speed auto, I think this engine/ transmission combination works really well. The 5 speed auto box is the A750 which has built a reputation of being both durable and reliable over a number of years. The 6 speed is still reasonably new so only time will tell how well it stands up.

[Duncan271 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Duncan271]

My advice is no matter where you buy your Prado from, take it to your trusted mechanic for a “pre-buy” inspection, always worth the money and time in the end. Full service history is a bonus of course. Good luck..!

[Duncan271 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Duncan271]

Also, talk the missus into getting the supercharger, chip, exhaust and gearbox upgrade, better fuel economy so longer term money saving..!

[Snouto Member Find all posts View Profile Close Snouto]

Also, talk the missus into getting the supercharger, chip, exhaust and gearbox upgrade, better fuel economy so longer term money saving..!

That sounds like my Xmas list! She’ll be over the moon I finally have some ideas of what to get me

As for the pre-purchase inspection, I don’t have a mechanic (don’t have a car) so I have been considering getting racq or redbook to do it for me, but I’ve read on this site that they aren’t as thorough as one might expect. Unfortunately for me it’s either that or nothing though. Do you have any personal experience of them?

cheers!

[Snouto Member Find all posts View Profile Close Snouto]

Regarding your question about the auto gearboxes, my Prado is a 2013 GXL V6 with the 5 speed auto, I think this engine/ transmission combination works really well. The 5 speed auto box is the A750 which has built a reputation of being both durable and reliable over a number of years. The 6 speed is still reasonably new so only time will tell how well it stands up.

Thanks for the input, and fair points. I was also curious if 6sp offers any significant on/off road benefit, such as perhaps a lower ratio 1st gear being more suited to off-road.

[vitalbyte Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close vitalbyte]

We renently bought a 2013 altitude V6 to meet the growing family needs. Coming from a small SUV it got some time getting used to. We love the cabin space and smoothness of the V6. i was bit worried about the fuel economy but its not bad. We get 1200 kms out of a full tank, the trip computer show 11.1L/100. Its double from our our previous suv but cant complain.

The cabin is very quiet and this was the main reason to go V6 rather than D4D.

The V6 is a bullet proof engine if maintained properly. Many examples with 400,000+ still going strong.

The only complain is no Bluetooth audio streaming in the altitude. And for some reason I cannot fill more than 130 litres of fuel despite the trip computer showing 0 range and gauge pointing to E. It is supposed to be a 150 litre tank.

[Snouto Member Find all posts View Profile Close Snouto]

We renently bought a 2013 altitude V6 to meet the growing family needs. Coming from a small SUV it got some time getting used to. We love the cabin space and smoothness of the V6. i was bit worried about the fuel economy but its not bad. We get 1200 kms out of a full tank, the trip computer show 11.1L/100. Its double from our our previous suv but cant complain.

The cabin is very quiet and this was the main reason to go V6 rather than D4D.

The V6 is a bullet proof engine if maintained properly. Many examples with 400,000+ still going strong.

The only complain is no Bluetooth audio streaming in the altitude. And for some reason I cannot fill more than 130 litres of fuel despite the trip computer showing 0 range and gauge pointing to E. It is supposed to be a 150 litre tank.

Thanks for the feedback, are you aware of any specific issues with the v6 that I should keep an eye out for? Might I ask how many kms your beast has done, and what fuel do you run it on, 96 octane? I’’m curious if there’s any performance benefit with 98 octane or if it’s not noticeable in the v6 and we should stick with 96 (which I read somewhere is best for the v6). I’m getting ahead of myself though.

Regarding the fuel tank I’m no expert but could it be due to fumes from the petrol?

[Duncan271 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Duncan271]

Ive not used RACQ or Redbook sorry, can’t offer any advice in that regard. My V6 is the 2004 model with the 5 speed auto, currently done just over 371,000kms. In the time ive owned it, since 2012 with 234,000kms on it, i did all the upgrades i mentioned, apart from the supercharger. The torque converter needed to be repaired, ive replaced the starter motor, radiator, and had to repair a leaking rocker cover gasket. Engine wise no issues! I always run 95.

[andrew3134 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close andrew3134]

last week we purchased a 2012 black Toyota Prado Kakadu V6 - with 120k on the clock (Previously we had a 2012 FJ Cruiser - but the misses wrote it off).

We bought the car from Audi Mornington in Melbourne for just under $40k - the sales team was outstanding - they did a 120k service - new windscreen (with rain sensor) - 4 new tyres Kumho wild peak at3 - along with a full detail inside & out.

The car is outstanding - never had a car with so many features. absolutely love it.

[vitalbyte Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close vitalbyte]

Thanks for the feedback, are you aware of any specific issues with the v6 that I should keep an eye out for? Might I ask how many kms your beast has done, and what fuel do you run it on, 96 octane? I’’m curious if there’s any performance benefit with 98 octane or if it’s not noticeable in the v6 and we should stick with 96 (which I read somewhere is best for the v6). I’m getting ahead of myself though.

Regarding the fuel tank I’m no expert but could it be due to fumes from the petrol?

It has now done 43k, when we got it only had 30k.
we have always used 95 in it so can't say ig 98 is going to bring any improvement. But every now and then it may be a good idea to fill up 98.

i would suggest get your prado looked at before buying. Look for service history, sign of leaks around the chain cover and general areas. The V6 has a chain not a timing belt.

[Snouto Member Find all posts View Profile Close Snouto]

It has now done 43k, when we got it only had 30k.
we have always used 95 in it so can't say ig 98 is going to bring any improvement. But every now and then it may be a good idea to fill up 98.

i would suggest get your prado looked at before buying. Look for service history, sign of leaks around the chain cover and general areas. The V6 has a chain not a timing belt.

Wow you did well to find a 2013 with such low kms on it, the 2014 we’re looking at has 97k on the clock!

thanks for the tip about timing chain leak I’ll read up on that. I’ll defo get a preinspection arranges I just don’t know who’s the most reliable between for example racq and redbook. Perhaps they’re all the same.

are you aware of any issues with cracking dashboards or was that specific to the earlier prado models?

[Duncan271 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Duncan271]

Yep, my dashboard was pretty heavily cracked, lke a spiderweb. Toyota replaced it for me. They never did a recall. Hit and miss who gets them replaced, I was lucky.

[Snouto Member Find all posts View Profile Close Snouto]

Yep, my dashboard was pretty heavily cracked, lke a spiderweb. Toyota replaced it for me. They never did a recall. Hit and miss who gets them replaced, I was lucky.

Oh really? That’s interesting, I had thought it was a problem related to pre 2013 (120 series specifically) models from my searching. Can I ask if the cracking was isolated to a specific area or was it all over the dash?

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

Oh really? That’s interesting, I had thought it was a problem related to pre 2013 (120 series specifically) models from my searching. Can I ask if the cracking was isolated to a specific area or was it all over the dash?

The cracking dash was a problem in the 120 series, the 120 s finished in 2009, before replaced with the 150s