Land cruiser V 8 V Diesel

JayDee · Guru

Land cruiser V 8 V Diesel

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Check out the oil consumption of the early V8 diesels !!
Just be aware, I guess fixed under warranty ??

http://members.iinet.net.au/~oldenglish/toyotacomplaints.htm

-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Sunday 17th of November 2013 12:11:40 AM

Baz421 · Guru

Well where to start. I'll give you our experience.

We have a 2005 LC79 series tojo ute with 4.2L turbo diesel. Had it since new and from about 40,000km (when engine loosened up) we get about 12L per 100km @ 90-100kph.

We have upgraded GVM of 3.7 tonnes and tow a 3t van. Fuel economy is then consistently about 18L per 100km generally and about 20L per 100km up and down hills. Headwinds can result in more obviously.

We like to travel (in general terms with van on) 80-90kph to achieve best economy. On major highways we try to keep the speed up a bit ie 90kph to move better with traffic, BUT like to take back roads and amble along say 70kph.

Best ever economy was ambling along 17L per 100km,,, was proud to achieve this though.

With the weight you are talking about I would only go turbo diesel, and they go for typically 400,000 - 500,000km without major overhaul. How many km does the Tojo 100 series have up?

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

For towing with the Turbo Diesel will be a much better proposition and would do it easier and for longer.

However, 13,800 Litres of ULP @ $1.45/litre would give you around 60,000km @ 23litres/100km - cost $20,000

But a diesel would probably get about 15litres/100km and use 9,000 litres @ $1.60 for 60,000km = $14,400.

That gives a difference (saving) of $5.600 for the diesel over the petrol for 60,000km.

For example, for 60,000km -

V8 cost $40,000 + $20,000 fuel = cost of $60,000.

Diesel cost $60,000 + $14,400 fuel = cost of $74.400.

Servicing a diesel is more expensive than a petrol - albeit not that much more. You could also consider depreciation which would affect the petrol more than the diesel.

If you are heading off and going to travel full-time and towing for an extended time then the diesel would be a better vehicle. The petrol will do it too as the V8 is no slouch - just doesn't have the same low down grunt.

Only you can decide whether $20,000 is worth it.

Cheers - John

copper1 · Guru

Hey Jay & Dee we have just brought a 2009, 200 series 4.5 ltr V8 twin turbo diesel after much research and searching I think paying a little extra at the start for a diesel will in the long run be better (well it is for us). I suppose it all comes down to what you can afford we decided to spend extra as we drove a 100 series and then the 200 and that clinched it for us. We are towing a new 23' Royal Flair van that we picked up last week and you would not know it was there. All up will be towing around 2900-3000kg.

Good luck in your research and search.

JayDee · Guru

Jay&Dee here.
The V 8 I talked about has 177000 kms on the clock, and the owner says genuine.
Forgot to mention, the old owner told me to be aware that one of the batteries is on it last legs. and then rang back to say there is a leak in the A/C in the cabin.???? So owner appears to be very much up front. But a very good unit he says.
I have been searching for the diesel models, but they are as scarce as rocking horse poo.
I realise the marked difference between models, but the $$$$ unfortunately is the over riding factor.
Would like some comments from the V 8 owners if possible.

But at the end of the day what ever we choose, it will have to pass the sleep test.

Jay&Dee

KeenTravellers · Veteran Member

Hey Jay & Dee

I own a 2005 Landcruiser V8 Petrol with LPG which was installed locally to you and I in Slacks Creek. We tow a 2300Kg 21ft Van.

I installed the LPG GAS just after purchase with 99k. You also get the Gov rebate. Since then I have completed over K's around Oz and to sum it all up - its a dream. Gas technology is not like it was a years ago. Research prior to installation proved the way to go. All the so called myths about LPG proved to be wrong. At half the cost of Petrol & Diesel its so economical - its a no brainer. Tows better on GAS than Petrol and as for the "grunt" down low, well we proved that against diesel as well.

If you do your research and have a chat to Tony at Sunstate Gas (also has a Cruiser himself on LPG) you will get the full info. Also people said you cant get gas everywhere. True some remote locations dont have gas, but we have found its never that far away, so petrol until then. Would I put LPG on again You betcha ..But each to their own. If you want to chat Im Local ..private message me.

Cheers

Norm

Flicka9736 · Veteran Member

We had this exact dilemma for the last fewmmonths. We finally settled on an 03v8 and had gas installed and we're soooo happy with it. The only issue we had? A few days ago our son challenged us to take our "precious new car" mud bashing and see how it compared to his Touch Navara (which he brought from us, by the way). He and his mate were beyond shocked when we took him up on it. They didn't believe for a second that we'd allow it to get dirty... Our answer, "we didn't buy a cruiser just to tow the bloody van'! So, off we went, and flogged it through the swamp and scrub, we had a ball... And of course kicked his Navara 's arse! We didn't even need to put it in 4wd, till my son and hubby decided to have a" pi**ing contest and got both cars bogged to the axles! His mate had to run home for his Hi lux and pull us both out. The cruiser wouldn't have gotten bogged if we taken the tow Hitch for the WDH off first lol. It dug in and stopped uus from reversing out lol. Oh and what I was originally going to stay before I got carried away with this story is not only wastthe WDH an issue but so was the gas tank because the 100 series v8 is so low. Other than that... It's awesome and pulls our 2.8ton van like a dream. We're really happyw ith our purchase.... Now we've just got to get our dodgy gas installer to tune it properly and we'll be all good.

JayDee · Guru

Well we did finally purchase the 2005 V 8 Land Cruiser today.
A couple of things for the dealer to follow up on, and we will pick it up Thursday, providing of course that the hail storm that we had this afternoon, did not hit the Springwood area of Logan City. If so then deal off. But the larger hail stones were reported about 30 klms to the east towards the Gold Coast.
Will give consideration to the gas conversion????
Jay&Dee.

rosco532 · Senior Member

Question for you guys who have put your Cruiser on LPG.......Is there a maximum mileage you should have on your clock before you have LPG installed ???

Meaning...if you had say...200,000 already on the clock...is it to late to have it installed ???....or can you have it installed any time .

I had it on my 4500 Patrol from brand new...and loved it.....She ran smother than on petrol and pulled our 23ft van with ease... and of course....much cheaper to run than on petrol.

Hope you enjoy your Cruiser JayDee......They certainly will pull the skin off a rice pudding.

Cheers

-- Edited by rosco532 on Wednesday 20th of November 2013 08:56:54 PM

KeenTravellers · Veteran Member

Hey Rosco532

I dont really think there is any max mileage before Gas.
I would say that the engine needs to be in very good serviced condition - like anything - to gain the max benefit
You could talk to Tony at SunState Auto in Brisbane and he can advise you.
My working life was in the gas industry and until now - i would of also thought Diesel - especially for outback etc
however these latest system installs knock holes in the Diesel arguement.
The only real issue is where you go of course...All of the east coast and over to SA all have gas. We never have had an issue inland as well.
Just have to use the Smart phone sometimes to find out where - nowdays but thats not hard.

My Tank is located inside & I retain the sub fuel tank below. So its all neat and good ground clearance.
And no - I didnt need enginerring cert to have it installed inside, behind the 2nd row between the wheel arches. The mileage range is great. if you add up the cost of installation + the rebate + and the cost saving per kilometre - its a no brainer. You end up miles in front.
Add to that I purchased a smart chip for the that specific model cruiser (which really only supplies 256 maps instead of the existing 8 as standard) and your further in front.

My next thought is to upgrade the LPG tank to the max possible. Then we will really cover some miles without refill of petrol or gas.
By the way ...yes you do get better mileage if you drive conservatively at say 80-90klm/p/hr.
When I first started I clocked every litre and every kilometre. For what reason I still wonder.
But now with the cost of gas ...I dont worry anymore - with a 76 Ltr fill, of 95ltr tank capacity - an get 16.5L/per100klm on a bad day - who cares... It cruiser never wants for anything & is serviced every 10k. it never misses a beat - no oil leaks - excess anything. Just normal regular service - Clean as the day it was purchased and engine runs the same way.
I just drive normally at 100 -110 unhill, flat/head winds, so I never worry about it. I have done over 75k and still perfect

Anyway each to their own...its perfect for us and pulling our dual axel 2.3 ton van - you hardly know its there. We have never had any issues - and really, what more can one really expect or ask for. Perfect

Cheers

Norm

rosco532 · Senior Member

Thanks for all that Norm...

I have to admit that my 1st intention when I bought this V8 Cruiser was to whip it straight on to LPG But....When I found that its only costing me 50c more each trip into town it took away the urgency need to have it installed.....(I never realized how cheap the Toyota Petrol V8 was to run....comparing it to the 4500 6cyl Patrol I had owned...joys of modern technology )

I will pop around and see Bill at Motor-gas-Conversions here in Lawnton ....

Cheers

Rosco

Wizardofoz · Guru

I have a petrol 2009 Landcruiser and only get around 23 litres per 100km towing a 2500 ATM caravan, it is heavy on juice but as the diesel was 11k dearer, I feel that the extra expense wasn't really worth it, I know that the resale will probably recover most of it however, the cost of fuel is the cheapest form of motoring inmho, so no worries.