1997 Prado Reliability - Petrol

[buzzboi Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close buzzboi]

I'm looking at buying a 1997 RV6 Prado... I know, I know, diesels are better... blah, blah, blah... lol (if the budget would go that far, and any of you bastards would sell one, I'd be looking at that!)
I've done a bit of looking around and can't actually find a hell of a lot of issues with this particular model, but have had the scares put up me a bit by a guy at work who's said they will do the head between 130-200000 kms... Has anyone experienced this?

Or any other issues... considerations? Anything at all???

Obviously I'd appreciate a pretty quick response... it's not going to be for sale forever...

Cheers!

[rhs58 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rhs58]

Sold my 97 GXL V6 after 11 years and 290,000 km.
Never had any mechanical issues at all, and was still going fine when it went to its new home.
Only 3 things ever broke - the light bulb behind the instrument cluster that told me the auto was in D, the lightbulb at the gear selector, and the automatic antenna sh1t itself.
Only hope my 120 D4D lasts as long.

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

Haha! Head at 130,000KMs? Do a quick search of the forum and you will find its the diesels that do that.

The 3.4V6 is a fairly well bullet proof engine. The main faults I would say are, annoying oil filter location, a little on the slow side, rocker covers tend to weep oil at about the age mentioned.

The rocker cover thing is not a big deal and can be ignored unless it starts dripping oil on to the hot exhaust and getting new rocker cover gaskets fitted is a fraction of the cost of getting a new head fitted on a diesel engine.

If well maintained these engines will see you past 400,000ks without a rebuild.

Just do it!

[Snaga Wishing I was lost Find all posts View Profile Close Snaga]

My 1998 hasn't suffered from anything that I haven't really caused

Check the timing belts been done if it's over the 150k mark (I think).
I had an issue with my Harmonic Balancer at the 200k mark but apart from that it's all been pretty good.

[buzzboi Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close buzzboi]

Do you happen to know if the timing is due at 150000 kms? It's due for that service, and I've had 2 different answers (looking for a price on it)...
Is there anything you'd specifically recommend I keep an eye out for?

[rhs58 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rhs58]

Do you happen to know if the timing is due at 150000 kms? It's due for that service, and I've had 2 different answers (looking for a price on it)...
Is there anything you'd specifically recommend I keep an eye out for?

Even if its not due suggest to the seller that it is and knock another grand off the price

[letsgoplaces Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close letsgoplaces]

I pretty sure the timing belt is due at 100,000k's for the '97 it changed to 150,000 in '99'ish.

[buzzboi Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close buzzboi]

How about the 4 cylinder??? Turns out the dealer was a little "ambitious" in their advertising....
grrr

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

Nothing wrong with the 4cyl petrol. Same donk as the 2.7L used in the Hilux. Obviously there will be less power to play with and that may or may not be a problem when fitting bigger tyres/bar work etc. Finding a snorkel may be harder too if you intend on going down that road.

[letsgoplaces Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close letsgoplaces]

buzzboi, you could almost move this to the 'what ticks me off' post!!!

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

Now tell the dealer he was a bit ambitious with the price.

[tassie tiger Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close tassie tiger]

I would get the 4cyl petrol. Far cheaper to fix than a V6 and not that much slower. Whatever you get your getting close to major rebuilds anyway.

[ianafloat Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ianafloat]

Hi,
I just bought a 98RV 2.7 with 310,000km, it is very good original condition, 7 seats nd two owners. I took it to my local mechanic and he said it's in fantastic shape and it's got many more KM's to go with no problems. I won't tow slot and I don't have 5 kids so the 2.7 gets along just fine for me. The dual battery tray and most of the Snorkles for the 3.4 v6 will work on the 2.7. I hope this helps, I worried about buying the 2.7 but I am very happy with the price and fuel consumption.
Ian