90 Series Grande with dodgey oils

[tippa Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close tippa]

Hi everyone, i have found this forum as a result of being uneasy about my possible purchase later this week....
I am pretty mechanically minded myself, and love my Toyotas. I own an 80 series myself and love it, and love my father in law's D4D Prado even more!
To the point- i am looking at buying an early Grande for my wife. I have found a really nice one, an auto petrol 1997 model VX Grande with optional Luxury pack- leather/electrics etc, with only 190,000kms and will get it for under $10grand. It seemed like a great buy until i left work at lunch and drove 3hrs to inspect it....
The problems i found were:
- the engine oil was BLACK and when wiping the dipstick there was brown burnt oil residue baked onto the dipstick itself. I have never seen this on a modern engine, but a bit of research led me to believe it might not be a cooked motor but the dipstick tube being close to the exhaust manifold. Is this more likely the situation?
- the transmission oil was dark brown. My 'cruiser's trans oil is 200,000kms old, and the car has done 360,000kms incl 3 'round Oz trips, and it is still nice and red and clean. Why would this trans oil be so degraded and dirty at such low kms when it was dealer serviced up until 3yrs ago? Are their autos known to wear clutches/bands at this amount of kms?
- the engine was just plain FILTHY. My hands were black and putrid after looking at it. The harmonic balancer and all pulleys were quite rusty. It just looked OLD and tired, although drove quite well.
- Does the timing belt need to be changed at 200,000kms? And if so is it around a $500 cost or more?
- the leather interior was very well worn and exterior paint was heavily covered in fine scratches... its like its a 400,000km car with a wound back odometer... even though it's "never been offroad" and is a city mum's bus. Its just not completely adding up in my opinion...

Whats your opinion from this info? I think its a great price for a top model, but my gut is saying "run" becuse of what seems to be such poor servicing or possible expensive mechanical wear/problems coming up.

Thanks for any advice!

[glen_ep Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close glen_ep]

Re: 90 Series Grande with dodgey oils

You sound like you know exactly what to look for. If you're gut says run, RUN!
From the sound of the oil and general condition it's been neglected. As a buyer, it's difficult to know whether that's just recent neglect or long term - quite often you'll find out when it's too late (after buying it, and copping huge repair bills to pass registration). Given petrol autos are a dime a dozen, look elsewhere!

[tippa Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close tippa]

Re: 90 Series Grande with dodgey oils

Thanks for your good advice.
I had just finished speaking with the mechanic who had been "looking after it" for the last 3yrs. Prior to that it has a full Toyota service history.
The last 3yr service details:

-replaced starter 169,000kms
-last oil change 170,000kms
- all brake pads replaced 183,000kms
-current kms 189,000kms

So its had regular oil changes all its life but hasnt had one for nearly 20,000kms which explains the black oil, and i doubt the trans oil has ever been changed, although hopefully Toyota replaced the plugs at 100,000 and the timing belt at 150,000.
Hmm...

[williade Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close williade]

Re: 90 Series Grande with dodgey oils

The trans in the 90 should have the fluid changed every 40,000 KM from memory. That alone is potentially a very expensive repair. And chances are the T-case and diffs have never had oil changes either. I'd check the diff filler plugs for traces of banana peel :lol:

And residue baked on the dipstick doesn't sound right.

[tippa Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close tippa]

Re: 90 Series Grande with dodgey oils

Cheers, i'm giving it a miss.
Thanks 8)