Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hey guys
My bro is lookin at buying a new car and has come across a holden rodeo with the 3.5 petrol motor. i dont no much else as i havnt had time to talk to him, but if anyone knows anythin bout these type of car any info would b great, like are the r petrol guzzler? or have many issues? power wise? ill try get the year model asap.
thanks chris

and it a 04 model, thanks

Nah bit of a dud of a motor mate. Normally shagged around 150k especially if servicing hasn't been done on time. I personally would avoid them.

They guzzle fuel and have a habit of guzzling oil too! Quite common to do big end bearings, I would avoid them unless it was given to me, even then I'd sell it ASAP

I tried to talk one of my good friends out of exactly the same buy your looking at.
Within 4 months, it has cost her.
An engine rebuild, gearbox rebuild, new fuel sender unit, wheel bearings, front diff rebuild, ecu, and on the list goes.

Weather she brought a dud/unserviced POS is entirely within reason, but from what I have seen over the years these are all common problems with the rodeo's.

Although she has spent nearly double what the car cost her, she wont admit its a POS money pit. Something about pride and a woman is never wrong I reckon

i had a bloke try to trade a 4x2 v6 in that was a few months old and done less than 10 000kms years ago. I said he will loose heaps of coin on it as it was brand new car still. He replied with " If i have to pay for the fuel for another year it will cost me more ". he even had cruise control fitted to try and save some $$ on petty.

lucky to get 350kms out of tank on the open road
very thirsty is an under statement

Worked at a holden dealership for a while, the rodeo V6's weren't great. Very thirsty and some used oil as people have mentioned. Also be careful if you're cleaning the engine/doing water crossings. We managed to wreck an ECU by washing the motor (mounts on top of intake manifold). Rebuilt a couple of gearboxes also. I would stay clear of them.

Love the juice!

Had one for a work vehicle in qld, overloaded pos, Drank fuel like nothing else ive seen.

Same goes for the 4x4 v6 fishibishi tritons.

My brother had one for work. Not great, thirsty as everyone already said plus a fair bit of warranty work when he had it... he got rid of it as soon as he could.

I had the earlier 3.2V6 quad cam (same motor as 3.5) just a smaller bore etc. It was dual fuel too. Went like a cut snake, got 15-17lts per 100kms on petrol, averaged 325kms on 50lts lpg. That was on 33's too. Used about 1lt of oil every 5-10K. I was'nt always kind to it either, I took it on tracks it wasn't built for and even mud drags (came second against an EFI RB30 Shorty too in the modified class.) I bent an exhaust valve stem once, think it happened while on the rev limiter spinning up a mossy granite boulder New valve was only 30 bucks from Holdens. Never had any real issues with it apart from that.

fuel as everyone has said with these is pretty dam terrible....

in saying that my new gu 3L is pulling maybe 13 stock 17L/100 moded roof rack and then up 27+l/100 loaded up cape....... Discraceful really

I have lost faith in the new Hiluxs after work stories and cape reality but the slightly older shape in diesel or something maybe worth a look over the rodeo depending on your budget.

yeah they chew the fuel, they also go through the 4wd computer (push button style setup) and they cost a few dollars, cant comment on how many km's per L or if they are any good as this one is used at surf club and over 5 years has only done 22,000k's

pull a mean skid though

350 - 400 kms from a tank on the highway. Glad I didn't have to pay for the fuel.

hj 45 wrote:350 - 400 kms from a tank on the highway. Glad I didn't have to pay for the fuel.

They're only only a 70lt tank stock. Mine was. I put 120lt Long Ranger in and got 1100kms average on the highway. Off road was better again, around town was worst.

I can vouch for how bad they are on fuel. I get around 300kms on petrol but 400kms to a 70ltr gas tank. I love it its cheap to run great work ute. I know they do big ends but my brothers a mechanic. If you put it on gas or it has gas, there a great work ute as you can get them pretty cheap now.