WTF is it with the LC200 4.5?

[patrolmad]

I have a 12 month old 200 series and it is the biggest heap of s&%t I have ever owned. It uses around 5 litres of oil per 10,000 kms. I approached the dealer and they said that this should settle down at around 150,000 kms. It has the front diff replaced twice already so they obviously still run Hilux front diffs in them. I also tow a small caravan and it won't change out of 4th gear on the highway. Why fit them with a 6 speed box if they don't have the power to drive it.
The dealer's answer was that the new LC is not designed to be taken off road or to tow!
After owing 6 Patrol and never had any dramas whatsoever, I know what I will be buying next time.

[rockcrawler31]

I have a 12 month old 200 series and it is the biggest heap of s&%t I have ever owned. It uses around 5 litres of oil per 10,000 kms. I approached the dealer and they said that this should settle down at around 150,000 kms. It has the front diff replaced twice already so they obviously still run Hilux front diffs in them. I also tow a small caravan and it won't change out of 4th gear on the highway. Why fit them with a 6 speed box if they don't have the power to drive it.
The dealer's answer was that the new LC is not designed to be taken off road or to tow!
After owing 6 Patrol and never had any dramas whatsoever, I know what I will be buying next time.

I have heard the oil issues will settle down with a bit of mileage once the engine internals settle and bed in.

As for towing, any car is going to work towing a caravan, and labouring the motor by allowing the gearbox to stay in top is asking it to overheat. Diesels like to breath and mashing the accelerator while towing and labouring the motor just pours in fuel that won't get burnt by the combustion cycle and will continue burning as it goes past the valves and turbo.

So let me get this straight (and i'm a toyota man saying this), you had a look at a 200 series, inspected the whole package ( i know i would if buying 80 grand plus worth of vehicle) and DIDN'T ask the towing specs or do a bit of reasearch on vehicle specs or componentry? I can tell just by a quick glance that the 200 is a toorak tourer heap of crap. I'm guessing that you just got glamoured by the 4.5V8 diesel.

I know that if i was going to buy a vehicle that does off road work and touring/towing it's either going to be a 70series of any vintage or a patrol with the 4.2TD.

I don't really know what the answer is for you. I don't know why you're doing front diffs, they're not great, but for normal driving they should be fine, there's plenty of smaller diffs getting about in IFS front vehicles that are potting about just great. Put a decent exhaust system on the car from the turbo back and you may find the extra HP you get may help with the gear it likes to sit in.

[+dj_hansen+]

I would jump on www.lcool.org, join up and have a read through the 200series section as most of the questions to your frustrations should be answered already

[patrolmad]

Problem solvered.

I ordered a new Patrol today and have it booked in for a 6.5L Chev conversion.

Thanks for your help anyway.

[80's_delirious]

Problem solvered.

I ordered a new Patrol today and have it booked in for a 6.5L Chev conversion.

Thanks for your help anyway.

if the patrol is so good, why the Chev conversion??

[patrolmad]

Because 180kw just doesn't cut it.

[hdj105]

I think you need to talk with your dealer more firmly, or find another dealer. Dealers are well aware of the oil consumption issue and should have put it on an oil watch so they can record the cosumption accurately.

You don't state the size or weight of your van, but I've never heard of anyone complaining about the auto not shifting above 4th. They are reluctant to shift into 6th, but a software update (again should have been done by your dealer) should have addressed that.

Why has the front diff been replaced twice?

Regardless, I'd still prefer it to sticking an old technology 6.5L boat anchor in t Patrol.

[patrolmad]

The caravan only weighs 1,850 kgs. I have spoken with a few LC200 owners who are having the same problem.
I have never been a Toyota man, the wife wanted it. This is a great excuse to get rid of it.

[the gun]

Problem solvered.

I ordered a new Patrol today and have it booked in for a 6.5L Chev conversion.

Thanks for your help anyway.

I'd be doing some reserch to how many happy 6.5 owners there are. I personal know of one that been nothing but trouble and have heard of a few more. Overheating seems to be a common complanit

[patrolmad]

I think you need to talk with your dealer more firmly, or find another dealer. Dealers are well aware of the oil consumption issue and should have put it on an oil watch so they can record the cosumption accurately.

You don't state the size or weight of your van, but I've never heard of anyone complaining about the auto not shifting above 4th. They are reluctant to shift into 6th, but a software update (again should have been done by your dealer) should have addressed that.

Why has the front diff been replaced twice?

Regardless, I'd still prefer it to sticking an old technology 6.5L boat anchor in t Patrol.

Hardly a boat anchor. It is the current 6.6L Duramax which produces 365 HP at 3,200 RPM and 660 lb-ft at 1,600 RPM.

[patrolmad]

Ie. 272 kw & 900 nm.

Just making sure I don't end up with a gutless POS twice!

[Simo63]

Problem solvered.

I ordered a new Patrol today and have it booked in for a 6.5L Chev conversion.

Thanks for your help anyway.

With all due respect, it sounds to me like you've got more money than sense.

The caravan only weighs 1,850 kgs. I have spoken with a few LC200 owners who are having the same problem.
I have never been a Toyota man, the wife wanted it. This is a great excuse to get rid of it.

So are you selling this useless, gutless, oil using, POS Cruiser??? If so I'm interested but with all it's well documented problems, it's probably only worth $20K ... I'll take it, thanks. I'll hand over the cash when you hand over the keys .. how long do I have to wait?

[mmaaxx]

I doubt the front diff is the same as the hilux....new hilux diff being an 8 inch design is alot stronger than any previous front diff's.....even the 80 series front diff is an 8" in size.

Im guessing maybe you've been working this vehicle too hard and expecting too much of it.....just my opinion.

and the oil usage issue usually settle down after 15,000km of running in.

[SIMMO84]

My mate had his 4.5 oil burning engine repaired after he refused to take the vehicle home and told toyota to skick it up there ar5e. Apparently it took 4 hours to repair and hasnt used a drop of oil since. The only info he got out of toyota was that a gasket was left out (or incorrectly fitted ect) in the factory and was a knowen fault, theres alot of others with the same problem.

[NQCalais]

My work one used about 1 litre before the 10,000 km service and hasn't used any since. I towed a 3500kg trailer from Ayr (near Townsville) to Gunnedah, back to Toowoomba, back to Wee Waa, back to Dalby and then back to Ayr - about 7000km in 3 weeks all up. Used no oil and averaged about 17-22L/100km with the trailer on and about 10-12L/100km without the trailer. No oil usage at all.

My old V8 petrol 105 Series averaged 37L/100km on the same trip to Gunnedah last year - I stopped counting after that as it was soooo baaaddd........

That being said, we run 3x 200 Diesels and the earliest one (Oct 2007) used a bit of oil until the "mod" was done. The latest two (including mine May 2009) haven't had any real trouble with this.

[Auto-Craft]

Patrol with new motor will be better than a 200 with the same $ spent.... he he,... thats funny! one has {supposed} hilux diffs, the other a chassis and drive train from a 1987 model car

I am looking at duramax for my next truck as well [as 2 others we are looking at converting] trying to chase down some engines and six speed allison auto's at the moment.

[Toyo80]

Since when did any IFS cruiser have such a diff?

[frp88]

Are you nuts a duramax how overkill is that my Middy with a stock 13B-t pull an old 2 ton van can get up 100 on flat road how much faster do need to go. When we came back from noosa it took me 15 minutes longer to get home then my buddie who was towing a box trailer . So it slows do on some hills I see why pulling a van at 110 or 120 is such a big draw card .

[joel HJ60]

Thanks for coming petrolmad.

[SimonInAustralia]

Problem solvered.

I ordered a new Patrol today and have it booked in for a 6.5L Chev conversion.

Thanks for your help anyway.

No experience myself, but have spoken to a couple of 6.5L Chev owners with the opinion, and have read online, that they are not really up to the big litre hype, and are often not as much of an upgrade in terms of performance to the standard engine as expected.

Owners often seem to have to put turbos on them, after the initial install, to get performance up to what they initially expect.

[+dj_hansen+]

Have a look at heathgu's thread on the work involved in shoehorning the duramax in...

My way of thinking, you have the 200, put the pressure on the dealer and get the issues resolved, outlay the dollars on setting it up (GVM upgrade, chip etc) and have comfort and towing capacity. YMMV ofcourse

[dow50r]

You cant beat a hdft 80

[hdj105]

Hardly a boat anchor. It is the current 6.6L Duramax which produces 365 HP at 3,200 RPM and 660 lb-ft at 1,600 RPM.

You typed it was booked for a "6.5L conversion". The Duramax is a different kettle of fish.

So what drivetrain are you putting behind it?

[ferrit]

dont feed the trolls!

[SCANAS]

Don't speak to your dealer they just talk to the manufacturer and tell you what the manufacturer told them - dealers do not warrant the vehicle the manufacturer does hence why it is a MANUFACTURER'S warranty. Call toyota customer service and write them a letter.... Better result!

6.6 Duramax = cool Vs. 6.5 Chevy = boat anchor

[rosscotd105wa]

"dont feed the trolls! "

[killalux]

Can't comment on the cruiser issues, But you cant go wrong with a duramax, would tow 4Ton and still use bugger all fuel. As for getting it in there than speak to right people and will be no probs.

[dumbdunce]

You cant beat a hdft 80

shhhh they're expensive enough already.

[GO79]

3 cruisers with 6.5 ltrs ive been in, are the biggest doweist gutless heaps of shit out
and one had a turbo with high flow heads intercooler blah blah and still overheats like a dog and is dowy and the owner has spent nearly $30 g and says if he wasnt so deep in it he would never ever use one of these motor conversions again, wish he stuck with his 4.5 petrol motor

Maybe you could get a petrol patrol and turbo it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v55UtXvSUZ0

[chunks]

A mate's brother has a 200 Sahara which is still using a shitload of oil with something like 20 000km on the clock. Toyota did the 'mod' but its still guzzling the oil, think he's trying to get them to replace the engine. He's pretty happy with the towing ability, even more so since putting a 3.5" exhaust on it. Duramax sounds cool but I think you have way too much money...