Which one to buy...?

[Ambobeer]

I bought the diesel because I couldn't find a petrol (other than the one with the leaky LPG conversion that I envisaged turning into a fireball on the M1).
I have a mechanic friend and completely sheep like follow his opinion in most things car based. He reckons diesels are OK 'till they go wrong and then horrifically expensive to repair. By comparison he says petrols are cheap to fix. He drives a 3.0 V6 petrol Shogun Sport and gets the same MPG as I do.

[Surfer Ross]

Really??

In my opinion, Vince. Over its lifetime, I'd expect higher servicing costs for the 2.7 and 3.4 petrol engines. Filters, ignition leads, plugs, coils, sensors etc.

Neither Roughtrax or Milners stock engine parts for the 2.7 or 3.4

[dieselboy]

Not for 4k.

Uncles work partner bought one that had been in an accident. They knew a body repair person (my other uncle). Think it cost around 6k ish after the repairs.
Some people are funny about driving crash repaired motors. Some people can't be bothered with the hasle!

[BUSHWHACKER]

In my opinion, Vince. Over its lifetime, I'd expect higher servicing costs for the 2.7 and 3.4 petrol engines. Filters, ignition leads, plugs, coils, sensors etc.

Neither Roughtrax or Milners stock engine parts for the 2.7 or 3.4

Rubbish.......in my opinion!
These Lexus petrol engine I transplant (part of the same family of UZ-FE engines)are almost 20 years old and all on their original parts you listed above, except for engine oil and filters. Even the transmission fluids are sometimes original and they're more or less the same auto 'boxes as all Surfs.

Doesn't mean parts aren't available just because they're not advertised on their websites.
I asked Barry at Roughtrax ealier this year about parts availability and his reply was no problem getting them through him.

[Surfer Ross]

Rubbish.......in my opinion!
These Lexus petrol engine I transplant (part of the same family of UZ-FE engines)are almost 20 years old and all on their original parts you listed above, except for engine oil and filters. Even the transmission fluids are sometimes original and they're more or less the same auto 'boxes as all Surfs.

Doesn't mean parts aren't available just because they're not advertised on their websites.
I asked Barry at Roughtrax ealier this year about parts availability and his reply was no problem getting them through him.

I stand corrected!!!

I've owned 3 LS400s and am very familiar with the 4.0V8, its a brilliant engine. (They do need HT leads and an idle air control valve at that age, as I'm sure you know). If the 2.7 is anything like the same quality, its a goodun. I wouldn't have a problem owning a 3rd Gen Petrol so long as parts availability is as you say.

I was looking at one only a few weeks ago and didn't buy it because I didn't think I'd have an easy time getting parts at a reasonable price. If I hadn't agreed to buy Rich's 3rd Gen 3.0 SSR-G, I'd go back and buy the petrol.

I also had a look at a lifted 3.4 which went like stink but would have eaten me out of house and home in fuel costs.

[Apache]

Fact is, the 2.7 petrol engine is in a lot more vehicles than you'd think. Hiace and Previa spring to mind.

Air filter, oil filter both available from Halfords, though I just got a K&N air filter from eBay for a fiver, and have an OEM oil filter sitting in the shed waiting to go on when I get five minutes. Cost me £8 - for OEM. Spark plugs are the same as used by about a dozen UK market Toyotas. Leads, same as used on Hiace and Previa - Halfrauds amongst others. The only thing I'm struggling with is cheapo exhausts, though Barry at Roughtrax found me an OEM Toyota one for about 20% off OEM price. I will probably think about a side exit custom jobbie though as they last longer offroad. Even for a diesel, you have to do that yourself.

I freely admit, I did wonder about parts when I first got the truck, but a few days research on t'internet showed parts are AT LEAST as available and cheap as for the diesels. Sure, search for parts for '2.7 Surf' and you'll find nothing, but as soon as you find out what else this engine is in - parts are everywhere!

As you've seen over the last few weeks, more 2.7s are appearing on eBay at great prices. More members here are considering them. The likes of Roughtrax and Milners will support them more readily as the numbers in the UK increase (and the prices go up!)

Ross, was the lifted 3.4 on eBay a month or so back? Looked nice, but as you say, the 3.4 is juicy and wouldn't work as a daily drive unless you were as rich as Astronauts!

[Surfer Ross]

It was a light blue one on Ebay, Andy. Looked superb but had a few mechanical issues and 20mpg is dream country for the 3.4 petrols. The 2.7 is slightly jucier than the diesel around town too from what I hear?

[J i m s t e r]

The official 4Runner advert video for the 3.4 can be found on youtube and the mpg quoted there was something like 17 - 19. Yeah... and that is from the manufacturer, on a new engine... I reckon it would be a tenner everywhere with that bad boy.

I remember that one Ross, it was in Coventry and had the (IMHO) minging billet grille, no stereo and some dings. Free shares in OPEC would have been needed!

[Apache]

It was a light blue one on Ebay, Andy. Looked superb but had a few mechanical issues and 20mpg is dream country for the 3.4 petrols. The 2.7 is slightly jucier than the diesel around town too from what I hear?

I'd say the 2.7 is *slightly* less economical (bad word to use, economical ) than the 3.0TD around town, but not much in it. I'd say the price difference comes close to cancelling it out. It's *definitely* better on a run though.

However, if you have a reliable source of used veg oil, thats gonna be the better bet, economy wise!

[Surfer Ross]

The official 4Runner advert video for the 3.4 can be found on youtube and the mpg quoted there was something like 17 - 19. Yeah... and that is from the manufacturer, on a new engine... I reckon it would be a tenner everywhere with that bad boy.

I remember that one Ross, it was in Coventry and had the (IMHO) minging billet grille, no stereo and some dings. Free shares in OPEC would have been needed!

The one I saw was in Norfolk, near Kings Lynn. Perhaps it sold and then the new owner tried to make some cash from it or realised he'd need his own oil well to keep it going.

I think the reason they're so rare here is because the people who can afford to run one as a daily driver and still want to own one could probably be counted on one hand.

I'd say the 2.7 is *slightly* less economical (bad word to use, economical ) than the 3.0TD around town, but not much in it. I'd say the price difference comes close to cancelling it out. It's *definitely* better on a run though.

However, if you have a reliable source of used veg oil, thats gonna be the better bet, economy wise!

I'm still in two minds whether to run mine on SVO/Dino mix or pure Dino with new injectors and a tuning box.

[Apache]

I think the 3.4 is probably better suited to the Colorado than the Surf. Someone who owns a leather trimmed, heated seated, mahogany dashed luxury truck is perhaps going to be less concerned about ultimate fuel economy. Lovely machine - nearly bought one!

[Sancho]

My tuppence, as someone who has owned both diesel and petrol surfs and who now drives a diesel....

From a driver's point of view, I would never drive another old auto diesel. The combination of lag in the turbo and the torque converter taking an age to get going, with the sluggishness of a diesel in general, means that the throttle is frustratingly unresponsive.

The diesel I drive now is far more modern, and the autobox is excellent (and six speed) but it is still not in the same league as a petrol engine.

Diesels definitely have their place - they have more torque, are more robust, are more efficient and do better with water. I drive one now for a combination of efficiency and decent mid-range for a fairly small engine.

Personally, I'd say that for occasional use for greenlaning and expeditions a diesel is the better choice. If it's your only, or most common, drive I'd seriously consider a petrol.

When I got rid of my old V6 (god rest him), I was considering buying a petrol 3rd gen. Looked long and hard at the 3.4 but they only come in auto (I wanted a manual for a bit more efficiency and 'dynamism'), considered a 2.7 but decided that a petrol engine should always be a V and couldn't bear the idea of a big straight.

All of this deep consideration is why I now own a diesel auto for normal and an ancient auto with a straight six for best......