Can I buy a used 2.8L Prado despite the known DPF issues?

[Thorsten Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Thorsten]

Hi everyone,

I’m looking into buying a used Prado. So far I have already inspected and test driven Prado’s from 2015-2017 with the 2.8L engine - all have between 24000km - 60000km on the clock. Everything seems to be great. I found Prado’s with an okay price and I’m also going to send an independent Mechanic for a pre purchase inspection.
However I'm still confused as you read here on the forum so many horror stories about people having massive problems with the DPF, but then you also read about so many owners still recommending the 2.8L engine over the 3.0L engine despite the known DPF issues. So I try to ask a few more specific questions.

1. Do you have to be extremely unlucky and treat your car not 'DPF friendly' and by that I mean driving only short distances and fill up dirty Diesel, to end up in one of those horror stories?
2. Basically if my first question does not apply, will then every single DPF in a Toyota 2.8L Diesel engine fail sooner or later as they are all the same badly designed DPFs which are simply doomed to cause trouble?
3. Is there anyone with the latest intel on Toyota's plans to help on this matter? Last week a dealer told me all their cars got the latest ECU update which fixes that issue - thoughts?
4. Is there anything a mechanic or I can specificly check or look for within a pre purchase vehicle inspection to see whether the Prado I'm looking at had suffered or is most likely going to suffer from DPF issues?

I think everyone pays a descent price for a Toyota Prado and therefore I don't want to miss to ask as many questions as possible.

Thanks in advance for all your opinions and advice! Cheers!

[gazzasa Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close gazzasa]

Yes the early DPF software was a concern and caused a fair few to "blow white smoke" however, in my case the recent software update to increase burn temperatures and burn cycle have resolved the issue. I would also say that my Prado runs better now then it did in the first 20 thousand km's. Now I normally get around 9.5 on country runs and 10.5 in and around the suburbs.

My 2017 goes up for sale soon, it's a white, auto, GXL 2017, 49xxxkm with some accessories (90% business use). We are not happy about selling the Prado as it was a long-term vehicle prospect but due to health concerns, something has to give. Life happens and adjustments are needed from time to time. Good luck with your search for the right Prado for you.

Message me if you'd like to discuss my Prado or see some pictures etc

Cheers

[Razorback81 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Razorback81]

if your looking a prado's with that low km, are they still under new car warranty ? if your the 2nd owner getting one from a Toyota dealer, are you able to buy the extended warranty?

[Thorsten Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Thorsten]

Yes the early DPF software was a concern and caused a fair few to "blow white smoke" however, in my case the recent software update to increase burn temperatures and burn cycle have resolved the issue. I would also say that my Prado runs better now then it did in the first 20 thousand km's. Now I normally get around 9.5 on country runs and 10.5 in and around the suburbs.

My 2017 goes up for sale soon, it's a white, auto, GXL 2017, 49xxxkm with some accessories (90% business use). We are not happy about selling the Prado as it was a long-term vehicle prospect but due to health concerns, something has to give. Life happens and adjustments are needed from time to time. Good luck with your search for the right Prado for you.

Message me if you'd like to discuss my Prado or see some pictures etc

Cheers

Thanks gazzasa for this info. That basically confirms what the dealer told me. Would be great to hear even more Prado owner with the same or similar positive experience.

[Thorsten Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Thorsten]

if your looking a prado's with that low km, are they still under new car warranty ? if your the 2nd owner getting one from a Toyota dealer, are you able to buy the extended warranty?

One Prado I'm closely looking at is only 1 year old with 24000km - it should definitely have 2 more years under the new car warranty. However this should only be for some extra peace of mind in my opinion. I don't want to spend so much money on a car, knowing I most likely have to take use of the warranty. Especially since Toyota is known for it's reliability.

[a787100 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close a787100]

Hi everyone,

I’m looking into buying a used Prado. So far I have already inspected and test driven Prado’s from 2015-2017 with the 2.8L engine - all have between 24000km - 60000km on the clock. Everything seems to be great. I found Prado’s with an okay price and I’m also going to send an independent Mechanic for a pre purchase inspection.
However I'm still confused as you read here on the forum so many horror stories about people having massive problems with the DPF, but then you also read about so many owners still recommending the 2.8L engine over the 3.0L engine despite the known DPF issues. So I try to ask a few more specific questions.

1. Do you have to be extremely unlucky and treat your car not 'DPF friendly' and by that I mean driving only short distances and fill up dirty Diesel, to end up in one of those horror stories?
2. Basically if my first question does not apply, will then every single DPF in a Toyota 2.8L Diesel engine fail sooner or later as they are all the same badly designed DPFs which are simply doomed to cause trouble?
3. Is there anyone with the latest intel on Toyota's plans to help on this matter? Last week a dealer told me all their cars got the latest ECU update which fixes that issue - thoughts?
4. Is there anything a mechanic or I can specificly check or look for within a pre purchase vehicle inspection to see whether the Prado I'm looking at had suffered or is most likely going to suffer from DPF issues?

I think everyone pays a descent price for a Toyota Prado and therefore I don't want to miss to ask as many questions as possible.

Thanks in advance for all your opinions and advice! Cheers!

I had a 2015 that was plagued by problems but the reality is that the DPF was only one part of the problem. The other was the faulty injector. I had clouds of white smoke billowing out of my car at various times day and night and Toyota were not very good at resolving it which I was unhappy about given it was a new car. That said, I ditched it and brought a Hilux with the same engine and transmission and had no problems other than not liking the drive. I'm convinced to go back to Prado now but the revised model. The 2.8 is a good engine but it can be hit or miss and without a good warranty I'm not sure that the preinspection purchase will pick up the issues that the earlier models came with.
I hope you find a great vehicle though and hope my post isn't too late for you!

[Thorsten Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Thorsten]

Thanks for responding a787100,

I'm still looking for a car, but I'm also still not completely convinced that the issue has been resolved. I guess the latest ECU updated helped and also the manual DPF switch in all Prados from July 2018. However I'm waiting a little bit longer until more owner of the 2.8L Diesel engines report something positive which backs up my theory. Cheers

[a787100 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close a787100]

i'll let you know....I'm picking up a July 2018 built Prado on Saturday....obs will take a few weeks but I'm hoping that the early schmoozle that came with the first release will be ironed out....particularly with the manual switch added. I just wish my current July 2018 built hilux was a better ride and more useable, otherwise I would of kept it. The engine and drive train on it is amazing!

[a787100 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close a787100]

Thanks for responding a787100,

I'm still looking for a car, but I'm also still not completely convinced that the issue has been resolved. I guess the latest ECU updated helped and also the manual DPF switch in all Prados from July 2018. However I'm waiting a little bit longer until more owner of the 2.8L Diesel engines report something positive which backs up my theory. Cheers

I'm 24hrs into a the ownership of a 2018 GXL manual....the thing is brilliant. The one thing I've noticed immediately to the old Prado is that the new car does a DPF burn more frequently. I'd driven about 300kms yesterday (cause...you know...in a new car you have to LOL) and at the end of the journey noticed that it was doing a regen. I think it has been programmed to do it more frequently and noticed in my interim hilux (2018) that it was doing a burn every 300kms or so, so I think they've upped the burn schedule and hopefully cleared up the issues of the injectors that were causing the problems in the first place. The manual DPF switch is just on the left hand side of the steering wheel but I'm not sure I'll need to use it if the regen rate has been upped.

If you get a chance, try a July compliant 2018 - they seem just perfect!

Good luck with your searching/choice!