Mpg

[Ballibeg]

Well the surf is continuing to impress. It's been up and down rough as hell tracks whilst shooting (the calls of jap scr&p from the LR boys diminished at this point) and does it all in comfort.

I am pleased with its MPG as according to me its done 30.8, 31.2 and 30.9 MPG over the last 3 tanks. Its got to be said that I am in A-road country with no dual carriageways within 1.5hrs driving and I am not heavy with the foot. In fact the roads I am on are generally 50mph cruising stuff.

Still, impressed.

Dave

[TonyN]

Considering its a no lightweight, 3.0 Surfs get very respectable MPG if driven sensibly.

[toyotav84x4]

My V8 hilux pickup gives me the same mpg no matter what driving style. Which leaves me one option.

[surf novice from France]

questions

hi folks

I wonder if someone could help, my wife and I retired early to France to have some fun. As part of that we decided to buy a 4 x4, second hand (£3000)
and the one we both like is the toyota surf2.5td or 3.0 ltr td.
We read your reviews and started to worry about your comments about coolant and cylinder head problems on the older 2.4.
Could someone tell us please how big a problem this is in the early cars.
For example, if we find a decent 2.4 should we insist on the head being changed for the late 3.0ltr head, or should we go for the 3.0l assuming they dont have the same problem, and cope with the loss of mpg? By the way, could anyone confirm roughly what this is likely to be?
One more question: would flushing out the cooling system regularly avoid the problem? Help! Surf Novice (in more ways than one, as I've only just learned how to go on the net...surfing is a whole new experience!)

[BUSHWHACKER]

First things first, Hi Newbie!

Right then. there are three engines to choose from, 2.4 diesel. 3.0 diesel and 3.0 V6 petrol.

2.4s are the engines that have had cylinder head problems (cracking between the valves) but a number of 3.0s have had similar cracking issues too.

It all depends how the engine was looked after in a previous life e.g. oil changes, coolant flushing ect.
If you buy a 2.4, get documented proof that the head has been changed for the new designed one, as you won't have any future problems.
If you get a 3.0, see if there's any service history or receipts to show any repairs/servicing has been carried out.
In all cases, re-new the thermostat, timing belt and radiator cap as soon as you get your truck for piece of mind.

[Sancho]

hi folks

I wonder if someone could help, my wife and I retired early to France to have some fun. As part of that we decided to buy a 4 x4, second hand (£3000)
and the one we both like is the toyota surf2.5td or 3.0 ltr td.
We read your reviews and started to worry about your comments about coolant and cylinder head problems on the older 2.4.
Could someone tell us please how big a problem this is in the early cars.
For example, if we find a decent 2.4 should we insist on the head being changed for the late 3.0ltr head, or should we go for the 3.0l assuming they dont have the same problem, and cope with the loss of mpg? By the way, could anyone confirm roughly what this is likely to be?
One more question: would flushing out the cooling system regularly avoid the problem? Help! Surf Novice (in more ways than one, as I've only just learned how to go on the net...surfing is a whole new experience!)

welcome. Seeing as you're new to all this, I hope you won't mind me just advising that to start a new topic, go into one of the sections of the forum ('General' is a good place to start) and click on 'new thread' .

And just to supplement what Vince said about the engine types, the V6s suffer from head gasket problems so either check that they've been done before (properly, with new bolts) or buy one with high mileage (over 100,000) as that will have done all the gasket blowing it was going to do. V6 is a little quicker than the 3.0TD but doesn't pull quite as strongly and has appalling MPG. If you do low mileage (like me) it doesn't really matter and you do get a much nicer noise.

For £3,000 you should be able to get a truly excellent 2.4 with a new, modified head fitted and all the toys, a decent V6 (if you can find one) or a usable, reliable 3.0TD.

[Surftastic]

Hi all,

Quick one...... and could be a stupid one... but whats the deal with replacing the Radiator cap? I am right in thinking that this cap is the silver screw on cap that you can remove??

Why replace it? What purpose does it serve?

As I said, this could be a stupid question!

Cheers

[BUSHWHACKER]

Hi all,

Quick one...... and could be a stupid one... but whats the deal with replacing the Radiator cap? I am right in thinking that this cap is the silver screw on cap that you can remove??

Why replace it? What purpose does it serve?

As I said, this could be a stupid question!

Cheers

The problem mainly relates to the 2.4 engine, as the rad cap is seperate from the radiator and sometimes the spring gets weak and lets pressurised coolant into the expansion tank too soon causing loss of coolant in the radiator.

[Surftastic]

Ah, it all falls into place!

Cheers.

One thing I have noticed with my own 3.0 TD 1994 is that the expansion tank next to the Rad is only about a quarter full, I have posted before about this and it was explained to me that there should be a full and empty mark on the tank, on inspection I can see the full mark somewhere near the bottom of the tank, I take it that this is correct?

Thanks

[BUSHWHACKER]

Ah, it all falls into place!

Cheers.

One thing I have noticed with my own 3.0 TD 1994 is that the expansion tank next to the Rad is only about a quarter full, I have posted before about this and it was explained to me that there should be a full and empty mark on the tank, on inspection I can see the full mark somewhere near the bottom of the tank, I take it that this is correct?

Thanks

Yep, as long as the tube inside is submerged all the time, it's OK.

[Surftastic]

Thanks again

The best thing Ive done since buying the Surf is find this place!

Cheers