Prado 120 series Engines

[farazharoon]

Greetings to all.
Need some advice about Engines for the Prado.
Dont want to spend that much on fuel e.g the 1GR-FE 4.0L vvt is too big. Probably drinks too much petrol.

The engines I want to ask about are:
Diesel
1KD-FTV 3000CC 4cyl 125kW 2000 (D4D)
5L-E 3000cc 4cyl 68kW EFI
1KZ-TE 3000cc 96kW 1993
3L 2800cc 4cyl 67kW

Petrol
2TR-FE 2700cc 4cyl 111kW 2003 efi
3RZ-FE 2700cc 4cyl 112kW 1996
5VZ-FE 3400cc 6cyl 132kW

Any of these engines possible problem makers?

Also any advice over what kind of gearbox to go to with. Automatic or manual transmission. I mean any techinical issues with either. Is Auto transmission ok for mountains?

Please help.

Faraz Laldin

[Mr_B]

I'm not a Prado specialist, but I'd say a Prado will need a decent power engine... as far as I know 90/120 Prado's with these engines were available in SA:

90 Series: 3.0 L (2982 cc) 1KZ-TE, 3.4 L (3378 cc) V6 5VZ-FE

120 Series: 3.0 L (2982 cc) straight-4 Turbo diesel 1KD-FTV... um.co.za lists this engine as an RSA option for the 120...

I'm sure other members can fill in the blanks...

Mr B

[Family_Dog]

Dump the Diesel engines, they are too under-powered and prone to giving problems - except for this one:
1KD-FTV 3000CC 4cyl 125kW 2000 (D4D)

As far as the petrol engines go, the 2.7 engines are definitely no more economical than the V6, so I would only consider this one:
5VZ-FE 3400cc 6cyl 132kW

In SA, the 3RZ is also fuel injected, I don't know the other 2.7 engine at all, unless it's the latter-day 2.7 with VVT. But even this has set a few tongues wagging in disappointment, if it is indeed this one.


-F_D

[Mr_B]

....the 2.7 engines are definitely no more economical than the V6, so I would only consider this one:
5VZ-FE 3400cc 6cyl 132kW...
-F_D

Eric what engine does your Prado have?? I detect a conflict of interest...

[Family_Dog]

....the 2.7 engines are definitely no more economical than the V6, so I would only consider this one:
5VZ-FE 3400cc 6cyl 132kW...
-F_D

Eric what engine does your Prado have?? I detect a conflict of interest...

Only the best, of course... which happens to be the one under discussion... ;)


-F_D

[farazharoon]

Thanks a lot for all the information. :)
It seems to be pretty clear out of the diesels 1KD is the best. (As long as you stay away from dirty diesel, true?)

And the petrols it does not matter as they are all about the same in economy? Might as well go for the bigger. I think the new 2.7L is VVTi at least the ones coming in the Fortuner. Were the old 2.7L not VVTi?
VVTi should translate to better economy right?

Eric which engine do you have? The 5VZ, petrol V6?

Any comments about manual vs automatic transmission? Is Auto ok for mountains? I heard that going downhill with Auto gearbox can cause brakes to overheat, because its keeps shifting up in the gears, true? .

[Family_Dog]

I HAVE THE 3.4 V6, yep! Great engine, very smooth and good for hundreds of thousands of kilometres of trouble-free motoring. All you have to do is to change the Cam belt every 100,000km or so.


-F_D

[farazharoon]

Thanks a bunch for your replies especially to Eric.

Sorry to be a bit pushy about this but really do want to know the answer to this if possible.

About manual vs automatic transmission? Is Auto ok for mountains? I heard that going downhill with Auto gearbox can cause brakes to overheat, because its keeps shifting up in the gears due to incline, true? .

Do auto gearbox break easier?

[Mud Dog]

About manual vs automatic transmission? Is Auto ok for mountains? I heard that going downhill with Auto gearbox can cause brakes to overheat, because its keeps shifting up in the gears due to incline, true? .

This would be true if you left it in "D" (Auto), but with most auto boxes you can select your gear "1/2/3" etc. So if you were to select 1st on a downhill you would use as little brakes as anyone else. As far as auto boxes being weaker than manual goes, it does''t sound right to me although there is a lot more that can go wrong. Maybe someone with more knowledge can clear that one up for you.

[2.8 d/cab SFA]

Prado newer has hill descent on auto box, so no worries with auto.
Diesal rulz

[farazharoon]

Thanks guys for your info about Auto and manual boxes. .

Maybe I'll put up a another forum post on toyota auto boxes vs manual. To get more feedback.

When you say the "newer" Prado has hill descent are you talking about
120 series i.e after 2002?

[farazharoon]

This is another question concerning petrol Engines for Surf and Prado so will continue in the same threat.

Do you have to put hi-octane "premium" petrol in any of the below Engines?

3RZ-FE 2700cc 4cyl 112kW Y1996
2TR-FE 2700cc 4cyl 111kW Y2003
5VZ-FE 3400cc 6cyl 132kW
1GR-FE 4000cc 6cyl 215kW

Or can normal petrol be put into it?

[Family_Dog]

I run normal octane unleaded in my 5VZ-FE, not sure what the octane rating is up here in the Highveld (±1400M A.S.L.) but the coastal areas do have a higher octane rating than upcountry.


-F_D

[farazharoon]

Decided to go with 1KD as that is a very common engine here.

[HennieJ2]

Faraz, nothing wrong with those D4D engines, especially if you use low sulphur diesel (50 ppm). Their weak point is the injectors - if they get dirty diesel, they don't last long. There is an extensive discussion on them on the 4x4Community's Toyota section.

Hennie