4wd - options

[neels]

I've got a 94 terrano that I've had for 8 years and 90k's, in that time it's cost me some cv boots and suspension joints, otherwise it just keeps going.

If you crunch the numbers on fuel economy the diesel is still cheaper than the petrol, even with 4.6c/k RUC and the extra $130 rego.

Can't see me replacing it any time soon, it's probably got another 100k's in it yet, and the options for something newer are limited if you like the idea of a 4wd with a full chassis under it.

[Swoop]

Dunno about Surfs, all I know is the early one's do heads

A mate's Surf decided to put a piston out into some fresh air... He certainly maintained the thing well, but it still shat itself.

Another mate has had one for 7 years now and hasn't had any hassles with it.

[JimO]

When we were looking for a 4x4 a mechanic friend said "Mitsubishis keep me in business" - meaning he was always fixing them. Dunno how true that is, but it put me off Mitzis - even tho' they are nice to drive.

they give a good warranty on the new ones now

[Smifffy]

A mate's Surf decided to put a piston out into some fresh air... He certainly maintained the thing well, but it still shat itself.

Another mate has had one for 7 years now and hasn't had any hassles with it.

The helium would be more expensive than the postage

[Jackal]

Have owned a 2.7 petrol Surf for over 12 years. Done over 310,000 km's and it still drives like the day we got it. Have not spent a penny on anything serious. (Transfer case seal and radiator top tank split the only 'workshop jobs') Used it on the farm and never got it stuck. Towed farm impliments and tamdem trailers full of deer both on road and in the paddock. Found the auto good as gold in all conditions. Did the sums before getting this in regards to petrol v diesel. Taking into account RUC, twice as many services and the ever narrowing gap between petrol/diesel prices we went for the non-turbo petrol model.

[cbfb]

Thanks heaps, some really good stuff here.

Just trying to find some info on petrol/diesel economy, got a few models but does anyone know what the following will do? Petrol and/or diesel is good.

Want to work out the approximate costs of running them.

Bighorn, Wizard, Cherokee, Discovery, Proceed Marvie, Pajero, Patrol, Terrano, Escudo, Vitara, Surf, Prado...

Will post results.

[cbfb]

Another question - not having owned a diesel before, I'm not too sure about the servicing. I'm aware they require more frequent servicing, but are we just talking oil changes or is there more to it? How often are we talking?

Cheers

[Banditbandit]

Another question - not having owned a diesel before, I'm not too sure about the servicing. I'm aware they require more frequent servicing, but are we just talking oil changes or is there more to it? How often are we talking?

Cheers

We service ours regularly - every 6,000ks - oil and filters change. That's the important part as diesels run better on clean oil. They also seem to make the oil dirtier, thicker and blacker quicker than petrol engines.

Clean injectors is important - new ones should not be as bad as older ones ... I drop injector cleaner into the tank on occassions. And sometimes get them properly cleaned with the service ...

That's about it ...

[cbfb]

We service ours regularly - every 6,000ks - oil and filters change. That's the important part as diesels run better on clean oil. They also seem to make the oil dirtier, thicker and blacker quicker than petrol engines.

Clean injectors is important - new ones should not be as bad as older ones ... I drop injector cleaner into the tank on occassions. And sometimes get them properly cleaned with the service ...

That's about it ...

That would soon rack up. I have mine done every 12000km or 6 months generally (petrol). Although oil changes I can do myself if I can be bothered.

Anyone got any thoughts on LPG trucks? There's a quite tidy one for sale near me.

[DEATH_INC.]

Another question - not having owned a diesel before, I'm not too sure about the servicing. I'm aware they require more frequent servicing, but are we just talking oil changes or is there more to it? How often are we talking?

Cheers

I service mine when I remember ('90 terrano td27t) I've owned it for 12-13 years and it's done well over 200k's (not sure exactly, the mileage counter broke ) and been well thrashed, I can remember everything that's gone wrong with it (most of them being my fault ) and count them on my fingers..... You really can't go past these for the money now.

[Shadowjack]

I have a 1600, manual, 16-valve, 5 door Escudo/Vitara.
Open road (at or near the speed limit, and with some light 4WDing) = 35-ish MPG
Around town = 30-32 MPG.
Oil change/filter = every 10,000 kms (5 litre oil pack will give some left over for top-ups, if required).
Outside of tyres and front brake pads, spark-plugs and a fuel filter, I've had to replace a muffler, and front control-arm bushes, and....that's it.
With the exception of river work, I've taken it anywhere I took my 60-series Landcruiser (I'm not an extreme 4WD'er).
The Vitara has survived the teaching of my two children how to drive, and some of their excursions camping and ski-ing. How tough is that!?
I have not used it for any lengthy towing purposes, although my son did attach a tandem furniture trailer when he was shifting flats once.
I like it.

[Motu]

The older diesels required 5,000km oil changes with an HDEO,and filters at 10,000km,the filters were more expensive dual element type.Modern common rail engines have 15,000km oil changes using a passenger car oil and smaller single element filters...although Mitsi are still using dual element as they still use the old blocks.

[Flip]

That would soon rack up. I have mine done every 12000km or 6 months generally (petrol). Although oil changes I can do myself if I can be bothered.

Anyone got any thoughts on LPG trucks? There's a quite tidy one for sale near me.

I have a LPG V8 Landrover. LPG is only $1.30 at the moment. Every 10 years the tank needs a vessel cert- inspection thats about the only problem. You loose about 10% power on LPG unless it is a special high compression LPG motor. LPG also burns very cleanly and LPG motors last for ages. I change the oil and filter every 10k and thats all I do.

[neels]

Just trying to find some info on petrol/diesel economy, got a few models but does anyone know what the following will do? Petrol and/or diesel is good.

When I was looking at buying my terrano, I found somewhere (no idea where now)the rough numbers of 20mpg on petrol and 28mpg on diesel, which from the diesel end seems about right. So based on that I figured on 10,000k's a year, at the time 30c difference between petrol and diesel and 2.5c/k RUC it was worth doing. With the diesel/petrol difference now around 60c and RUC 4.6c/k it still works out OK.

Another question - not having owned a diesel before, I'm not too sure about the servicing. I'm aware they require more frequent servicing, but are we just talking oil changes or is there more to it? How often are we talking?
Cheers

I do oil every 5k's, oil and filter every 10k's, otherwise pretty much don't touch it. Probably should get the auto serviced one of these days, I'm pretty sure the recommended interval is a bit less than 90k's

[cbfb]

I service mine when I remember ('90 terrano td27t) I've owned it for 12-13 years and it's done well over 200k's (not sure exactly, the mileage counter broke ) and been well thrashed, I can remember everything that's gone wrong with it (most of them being my fault ) and count them on my fingers..... You really can't go past these for the money now.

It's just finding one in manual that's tidy and not hugely expensive. Been looking around and there's not a lot locally. I do like them though, it would be my first choice I think.

I have a 1600, manual, 16-valve, 5 door Escudo/Vitara.
Open road (at or near the speed limit, and with some light 4WDing) = 35-ish MPG
Around town = 30-32 MPG.
Oil change/filter = every 10,000 kms (5 litre oil pack will give some left over for top-ups, if required).
Outside of tyres and front brake pads, spark-plugs and a fuel filter, I've had to replace a muffler, and front control-arm bushes, and....that's it.
With the exception of river work, I've taken it anywhere I took my 60-series Landcruiser (I'm not an extreme 4WD'er).
The Vitara has survived the teaching of my two children how to drive, and some of their excursions camping and ski-ing. How tough is that!?
I have not used it for any lengthy towing purposes, although my son did attach a tandem furniture trailer when he was shifting flats once.
I like it.

Thanks, I like the look of the Vitara and there's a fair few around and cheap too. Just seen a 2001 one with low kms, very tidy, under 5k.

The older diesels required 5,000km oil changes with an HDEO,and filters at 10,000km,the filters were more expensive dual element type.Modern common rail engines have 15,000km oil changes using a passenger car oil and smaller single element filters...although Mitsi are still using dual element as they still use the old blocks.

Thanks, what is an HDEO sorry and is it expensive? Cheers

I have a LPG V8 Landrover. LPG is only $1.30 at the moment. Every 10 years the tank needs a vessel cert- inspection thats about the only problem. You loose about 10% power on LPG unless it is a special high compression LPG motor. LPG also burns very cleanly and LPG motors last for ages. I change the oil and filter every 10k and thats all I do.

How do you find the availability of LPG? Not paid any attention to whether it's available in garages out in the sticks.

When I was looking at buying my terrano, I found somewhere (no idea where now)the rough numbers of 20mpg on petrol and 28mpg on diesel, which from the diesel end seems about right. So based on that I figured on 10,000k's a year, at the time 30c difference between petrol and diesel and 2.5c/k RUC it was worth doing. With the diesel/petrol difference now around 60c and RUC 4.6c/k it still works out OK.

I do oil every 5k's, oil and filter every 10k's, otherwise pretty much don't touch it. Probably should get the auto serviced one of these days, I'm pretty sure the recommended interval is a bit less than 90k's

I suppose if it's just oil and filter it's not too expensive. I get a full service on my petrol car every 12k/6months currently and that's 140 bucks.