Announcement

**laser_jock@work** · 24 March 2005, 14:31

Hi,

both these cars look like the 2.4L diesel engine which has a 'design problem' (i.e. cylinder head can crack on occasion)- so if possible look out for the 3.0L diesel model or even the 3.0L V6 petrol model. Due to the large numbers of Surfs here in the UK we seem to be well supplied with spare parts. In Canada if the head cracked on a 2.4L you might struggle to find a replacement head?

Assuming you are right hand drive in Canada then it might be worth considering importing one from Japan. I'm sure there will be Canadian import agents who specialise in Jap import cars.

Here's some:

http://www.japaneseusedcars.com/japa...how_to_buy.htm

http://www.outbackimports.ca/hilux.html

Says the cars have to be 15 years old to be imported- which is why you might not get hold of a 3.0L diesel yet since they're all 1993 onward.

So it's either a two year wait or take a chance on a 2.4L!

Nevillef

**Dog_Book** · 24 March 2005, 17:46

My cousin lives in Canada and says they are good trucks, called 4runeers over your end.

Try contacting him, Gary on automotivelectronics@hotmail.c om

**mrkeeg** · 24 March 2005, 20:33

Thanks for the thoughts guys.

Actually, we are left-hand drives in Canada, so most cars from the rest of the world are goofy for us. However, a number of people import cars and just drive on the "wrong" side.

I'm not an expert, but there are some import laws that make it very expensive to import newer cars - I have never been able to find the 3.0 diesel.

We do have petrol 4runners - but I want a diesel for the fuel economy and the durability. Domestically available 4runners are also very expensive.

I have heard rumors about this cracking cylinder head thing... is it very common (inevitable?) and hard / expensive to fix? Are there preventative measures?

Thanks,
Keegan

**mrkeeg** · 24 March 2005, 20:58

Well I've poked around the forum a little bit more... sorry, I probably should have before I posted...

I'm still awefully tempted by these trucks... my current Isuzu rodeo is around 320,000k and wheezing and clunking in a way that says "the time is coming soon"

Someone mentioned that the head cylinders are a problem on 20% of 2.4's ... that's one in five... I'm unclear though... if I'm buying a 12 yr old truck... if it was predisposed to cracking, would it have done so by now? Is there a way for me or my mechanic to assess this before purchase? Also to clarify... imports from Japan may have been recalled and fixed.. but imports from elsewhere (I think these are Aussie) are unlikely fixed?

Replacement looks like a big chunk of money... esp if I have to import parts to Canada... head replacement would be 20% again the used purchase price :-(

Good maintenance of the cooling system will help protect from this problem?

Finally... when people rave about these trucks being bomb-proof and long lived... just how long are we talking? Any comments from the forum on how many K's they've gotten from thier baby? Driving in Canada is slightly different I think. I put on 50-80,000 K /yr.

Sometimes I wonder if the claims of longevity of toyotas in america are a little exaggerated... like I said, my little isuzu has easily passed 300,000

Anyway, thanks again for all your thoughts folks!

Keegan

**TonyN** · 24 March 2005, 23:42

Originally posted by mrkeeg

Well I've poked around the forum a little bit more... sorry, I probably should have before I posted...

I'm still awefully tempted by these trucks... my current Isuzu rodeo is around 320,000k and wheezing and clunking in a way that says "the time is coming soon"

we rarely do that many miles, my 84 4Runner is on 220,000, but theres not that many around, most of our cars rust before they get that old!

Someone mentioned that the head cylinders are a problem on 20% of 2.4's ... that's one in five... I'm unclear though... if I'm buying a 12 yr old truck... if it was predisposed to cracking, would it have done so by now? Is there a way for me or my mechanic to assess this before purchase? Also to clarify... imports from Japan may have been recalled and fixed.. but imports from elsewhere (I think these are Aussie) are unlikely fixed?

Anything thats called a Surf will have come from Japan, Oz had 4Runners, all the trucks we've had on the forum that have cracked a head have come from Japan, its no guarrentee

Replacement looks like a big chunk of money... esp if I have to import parts to Canada... head replacement would be 20% again the used purchase price :-(

Good maintenance of the cooling system will help protect from this problem?

it goes a long way, the heads have water chambers to close to the conbustion chambers, any sort of overheating will cause them to crack. Usually something else fials, like a rad cap, water leak, head gasket, etc, etc, that causes the motor to overheat and crack the head.

Finally... when people rave about these trucks being bomb-proof and long lived... just how long are we talking? Any comments from the forum on how many K's they've gotten from thier baby? Driving in Canada is slightly different I think. I put on 50-80,000 K /yr.

Nowhere near, 10-15,000 milesa year is the average milage for cars here.

Sometimes I wonder if the claims of longevity of toyotas in america are a little exaggerated... like I said, my little isuzu has easily passed 300,000

the highest miles on a car we own is my 4Runner as mentioned above, 220,000km's and this is a 2.0lt petrol from 1984!

Anyway, thanks again for all your thoughts folks!

Keegan

I'd avoid a 2.4 living where you do, the cost of repairing it would be huge, and limited local knowledge will not help.

**laser_jock99** · 25 March 2005, 00:50

Originally posted by mrkeeg

Sometimes I wonder if the claims of longevity of toyotas in america are a little exaggerated... like I said, my little isuzu has easily passed 300,000

Keegan

My Toyota Camry went over the 300000km mark and I really neglected that engine!

Nevillef

**mrkeeg** · 27 March 2005, 00:24

Thanks for the thoughts guys! This forum is great.

I guess I'll go test drive it and see what I think. For the resonable price it's offered at ... I could almost pay for a new head with the money I save burning diesel instead of petrol... (cheaper at the pump, and better mpgs..)

Too bad the 3lt ones aren't available here.

Thanks again,
Keegan

**mrkeeg** · 15 May 2005, 06:11

New stuff on Old Thread - LN106

Hi again all,
Thanks again for the thoughts last time.

Well.. I discovered another kind of truck for sale here.... a 3lt 1989 LN106 - it's a crew cab with 4 doors and a short (54") box. This would be great... the deisel fuel economy, room for passengers and gear, as well as a box for things like a quad (ATV), spare gas cans, dirty equipment, etc.

Anyone have experience with these trucks? Thanks a lot!

Keegan

**openback** · 15 May 2005, 17:32

hi i'm running a LN107, '93 double cab with a 2.8 diesel, great truck v v v happy. mine was a jap import, i think the 3ltr of that age is of aussie origin. if it is, i read in a 4x4 mag a friend brought back from oz that the 3ltr is even better, stronger clutch etc. has the ln106 got idependant front suspension or a solid axel? both ok for what you want, solid just a bit better for extream offroading

**jax** · 15 May 2005, 21:25

Originally posted by mrkeeg

Hi again all,
Thanks again for the thoughts last time.

Well.. I discovered another kind of truck for sale here.... a 3lt 1989 LN106 - it's a crew cab with 4 doors and a short (54") box. This would be great... the deisel fuel economy, room for passengers and gear, as well as a box for things like a quad (ATV), spare gas cans, dirty equipment, etc.

Anyone have experience with these trucks? Thanks a lot!

Keegan

Likewise, I had a 2.8 crew cab - one of the first in this country, it was a great truck and very reliable but because I was using it for work (farming), off road most of the time I went through a whole heap of rear springs which got to be expensive.

........................
Jacqueline

**slim** · 15 May 2005, 22:57

Originally posted by laser_jock99

My Toyota Camry went over the 300000km mark and I really neglected that engine!

Nevillef

a m8 of mine claimed to have had a hilux pickup that reach 280000 miles thats when he sold it to buy landrover if iam right that is about 450000 km!!!!!

**mrkeeg** · 16 May 2005, 21:46

Thanks for the thoughts again all.

I think it is "called" the 3 lt, but is actually the 2.8, as you say. I'm just happy that it's not the 2.4 engine with the cracked head problems.

I'm glad someone else responded who used this truck for work rather than play - that's why I need it. I don't like the sound of a bunch of rear springs! :-( My main concern about this truck is it's ability to stand up off-road with a load (the option I'm leaning towards is a full size). I assume the springs are at least compatable with other toyota trucks? (the common model over here is the SR5)

Also... what kind of fuel economy are people getting? I found a site which listed it at 17.5 k/lt - which is somewhere over 40mpg - which I don't quite believe...

Thanks a ton all!
Keegan
PS: here's the truck I'm looking at... actually, this importer has two that are simmilar:
http://www.mustang.bc.ca/import-surf.htm#25617

**That Ruddy Squirrel** · 16 May 2005, 21:54

Originally posted by mrkeeg

Thanks for the thoughts again all.

I think it is "called" the 3 lt, but is actually the 2.8, as you say. I'm just happy that it's not the 2.4 engine with the cracked head problems.

I'm glad someone else responded who used this truck for work rather than play - that's why I need it. I don't like the sound of a bunch of rear springs! :-( My main concern about this truck is it's ability to stand up off-road with a load (the option I'm leaning towards is a full size). I assume the springs are at least compatable with other toyota trucks? (the common model over here is the SR5)

Also... what kind of fuel economy are people getting? I found a site which listed it at 17.5 k/lt - which is somewhere over 40mpg - which I don't quite believe...

Thanks a ton all!
Keegan
PS: here's the truck I'm looking at... actually, this importer has two that are simmilar:
http://www.mustang.bc.ca/import-surf.htm#25617

Prefer the look of the cheaper one

but that mpg seems a bit optimistic, hippo (3 litre TD) does 1/2 that, and I do not have a lead foot !

Trev

Trev

**mrkeeg** · 17 May 2005, 00:15

:-0!! I just looked at the site and the cheaper one is sold!

1/2 of 40mpgs? that's terrible milage for a diesel ... I was hoping for at least 30 on the highway - that's the main reason I wanted to buy this truck. Even a full size petrol truck runs 18mpg.

Thanks for any further thoughts,
Keegan

Announcement

Considering Purchase in Canada

Considering Purchase in Canada

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment