Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hi guys, been looking at this forum for a while now while doing research. Its a fantastic rescource!!

I have just sold my vt gen3 wagon and am looking for a 4x4 for weekends (stockton, hunter etc) and to do some touring.

A Pajero seems to fit the bill especially bang for your buck as I'm looking for something around the $10K mark. I have access to my parents Healsip camper so I would like some grunt for towing.

Now I'm in a pickle as I have been thinking petrol (heaps around, good grunt) but am thinking I should really get a diesel (better for touring etc)

I wont be doing that many k's on average (prob 10k yr max) so petrol still seems to stack up. Also been thinking GLS but maybe a GLX will be a better option as this may reduce problems with electrics etc. down the track, considering age.

So far decent diesels in 2.5 or 2.8 have been hard to find or have too many km's. What are everyones thoughts? A few guys at work have had the v6 3l's and sware by them - even up to 300k.

If I was to get a cruiser or patrol I would definately be going diesel, in Pajeros the advantage seems to be with Petrol from what I have read...

It will be a daily driver also while I build up my efi 5L VK wagon... lol

There are some excellent examples on here and I already have a list of mods in my head of what I want. I know Im probably looking at something with around 200k but dont really want to go too far beyond that.

Cheers, Vaughan

Dude if you can stretch to a 3.5 do it, much better IMHO. I cant say much for the diesels, but yes the 3.5 is a world ahead of the 3.0

Dexter wrote:Dude if you can stretch to a 3.5 do it, much better IMHO. I cant say much for the diesels, but yes the 3.5 is a world ahead of the 3.0

x2. The 3.5 performs better, and is generally regarded more economical.

When you say touring, how far are you talking? Diesel primarily comes into its own in the most remote locations, with 500km plus of 4wding between fuel stops. I would say diesel is really only important if you're planning to travel desert areas - everywhere else, I think the power benefits of the petrol outweigh the range benefits of the diesel.

If you're going diesel, go the 2.8 - just a personal opinion.

Cheers,

Scott

I own a 2.8TD GLS

I don't think i will ever look back at having a petrol 4by from now on.

Great economy, ample power and plenty of torque - and the lower diff ratio's help offroad.

The 2.8 is a great reliable little engine - but there aren't too many examples out there (tidy ones with low km's too).

I too bought the diesel with touring in mind. On long distance trips I can average 800km's a tank. Hopefully with the LR tank I have ready to go in I should be able to get 1200 useable km's out of the tank.

The only thing I dislike, and its a problem with all Pajero's (but moreso with diesels because of the lower ratio's), is that cruising at 110km/h will see the tacho at 2800-900RPM.

Good Luck!
Jayden

I have a 2.5TD with 330,000km on the clock. It's not fast (though from reports they will come alive with a bit more boost ,decent exhaust and the fuel pump worked, and still be more economical than the 2.8 or either of the petrols.

If I was looking again I would also look at a 3.5 as they are better than the 3.0 and can run LPG. Though I would still pick a diesel (with cost of fuel and I want to do some remote touring)

Thanks for the help guys. I guess the 'touring' part is where I get stuck as it will be maybe once every year or so - in which case you can always carry extra fuel.

I guess also having always owned v8's the petrol fuel consumption issue for everyday driving probably wont be any worse than I have had in the past.

I have been leaning towards the 3.5 as they are sitting in the same price bracket as most 3.0 models.

Apart from the usual diesel pump and injector maintanence - do the diesels usually give much drama above 200-250k? While Toyotas have a reputation for being strong beyond 300k I havent heard too much about either 2.5 or 2.8 (well mixed reports) - it seems the v6 is slightly more reliable in this bracket... The advantage is the Mitsu diesels seem to go pretty well especially compared to the Toyo offerings in the price bracket (the hilux 2.8 is sooo painful to drive!!) Im just not sure on life expectancy - unless a good service history is available.

I sold the VT about 3 months ago and have been doing a fair bit of looking around - but the pressure is now on to buy an engagement ring (8 years last Wed ) so I may as well extend the loan to get both!!

Ha ha so either way your going to be poor!

I think alot of the talk about the Mitsi Diesels is unjustified - most small turbo diesels from the early 90's gave trouble if they were not serviced properly as they are inheritly 'dirty' and sooty by nature. Look at Toyota's 2.4 2LT & 3.0 1KZ for there cracking head antic's, Isuzu's 3.1 for premature turbo death & head issues, Nissan's ZD30 for blowing pistons here there and everywhere. By all accounts the 2.8 is a far superior motor to the 2.5 Diesel and they are not similar motors.

Get a 2.8 with a service history and it should do you fine for years. Or a 3.5 V6 - they are great.

I have a 2.8td GLS mods lift, tyres and exhuast. Made a big difference to torque in 3rd. Long range tank i get 1200 on the high way. and about 13l to 100 around town. Mine has 180 000k's serviced every 5000 does not miss a beat. I am into touring not hard core 4wd so it does all and goes anywhere I want. For the price you get more for your buck from what i see.

Can not fault the Paj we have 3 TD in our family (cousins) all are great cars with no dramas.

buy a shorty, preferably mine

any paj is a good one,

dean

lol klrevo - was thinking swb but really need lwb just to be practical.

Your new project is looking awsome - I saw the chassis etc on ebay a few months ago and was wondering what was going on!!

I'm trying not to jump in and buy the first one - hopefully a very good comes up soon so I can pounce!!

Guys im really stuck now - have option to buy a 2.8td or 3l. Both have around 210,000km. Both around the $9k mark.

The 3l has a 2inch lift, now Cooper St's on Sunraisers, bull bar (aluminium tho) with, has had full major service, timing belt, new water pump etc. The 2.8 is pretty stock but has new springs, ok rubber (but standard) and set up for second battery but I would want to upgrade the rubber at least and fit a bull bar.

Both have had new clutches recently and both are spotless.

Now that fuel has sky rocketed I'm thinking diesel - but its still nearly 10c a litre more.

The V6 should now go for at least another 100k without too many dramas - its likely I would need to do the diesel pump and injectors within the next 100k with the TD.

Havent found a decent 3.5 that takes my fancy yet - there is also a 3l GLS with 140k (standard) for about 6500. That leaves a bit for mods I guess...

Any recomendations from these? Can the 2.8 handle 110km/hr or are they slower beasts to keep economy down? I dont want to thrash it but do a fair bit of highway driving. Also would it be capable of towing a car and float every now and again wihout too many dramas?

Take it for a drive dude - your own opinion will be much more valuable than anything found on here.
The 2.8 will cruise easy, up hills and down dale, better than the 3.0 I'd say.

Yeah I did a fair bit of research on economies last night before posting, now I remember the cost of diesel is par with premium which I use most of the time any way.

My step dad is a diesel mechanic by trade and is pushing the diesel, another mate is an lpg specialist and is pushing the petrol (but reckons the arent the best for it) - but honestly Im thinking diesel.

I will try to get out and have a drive im thinking. Probably wont be able to get to any highways etc hence the question. If they can cruise ok I think thats the best bet. Looking at the figures for the 3l I think it may be worth looking at the diesel now I've found a decent one.

Anything to do with Commodores I'm fine, just not sure on this. Thanks for your help guys.

if it was a sohc 3.5L then it would be a harder decision.

In those circumstances - diesel.

That is a good price for a 2.8 with that many Km's.

Go the diesel! Sorry, I might be a bit bias, but I have an NG with a 2.5 Turbo diesel. What people are saying is right though, When i'm sitting on 100kmh, my tacho is sitting around 2800rpm, and 110kmh is above 3000rpm and I reckon that it's a bit too high. Recently I fitted a 2.5 exhaust, upgraded the fuel pump, upgraded the turbo (now 60kw and 591nm at the wheels) and it is fantastic to drive. Around town, I get 750km+ per tank, which is pretty impressive in my books. Since I had the car, I haven't done any major trips, so I cant really comment on the economy, but i'm hoping that now (with the upgrades) I might be able to get it from Melbourne to Sydney in one tank. My car has done over 415,000km but when I got it it was sitting on 383,000km with a dead engine (the crankshaft wouldnt turn). the engine bay and all it's components were covered in red dust, and I don't know much about the service history, but I ditched the dead engine and fitted the 4D56 from my NA paj, and it has performed really well ever since (I did replace the clutch last weekend). I don't really know if 383k is good for mitsubishi diesel or not (I once rebuilt my old 4D56 engine, my first ever paj, and it lasted for a whopping 97,000km before it had to be replaced ), but I know that the Toyota diesels last forever. I cant tell you if the dead 4D56 that came in my current NG had been well maintained or neglected, but it might give you a figure in mind for the life of the engine????? I don't know...I would expect much more than that for a well maintained engine.

Well guys we have put a deposit down on the 96 turbo diesel GLX. One owner, immaculate but with 225,000km. The entire history is documented which is fantastic.

I had a look at a 99 model with 180,000 on the clock and took it for a drive and it was awful compared to the 96. Even power delivery was completely different.

So far I'm very happy - just needs some better rubber and quick wind up on the front to match the rear lift (used for towing a boat/caravan so had it set up so it would be level when loaded).

Will get some pics over the next week when we pick it up!!

I was impressed with how the TD performed around town for a diesel. Completely different to a diesel etc.

doh, coulda sold you mine. misses has it and im gunna steal it back shortly

Anyone else looking for a 2.8TD Paj. no good to me as i have the old patrol and love it to death.

Has now got a bar and some decent sunnies and hway rubber