Toyotas Engineering

Well, I am a bit shattered here.
This thread was about how good Toyotas engineering was.

Now, the diesels (which were always suspect) are a proven failure.

And ....... this guy tested the diesel Landcruiser against the Patrol V8 petrol in a tow test.
The petrol was more fuel efficient.

This is before you consider the Toyota is much dearer to buy and much dearer to maintain.


[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD001FCCG5c[/media]

I don't know the emissions kit required where you're at; but in the States, new diesels are choked and regulated to tremendous inefficiency. They need DEF added and pumped into the exhaust; they have to have various mesh screens in the exhaust; and fuel control is regulated to prevent soot discharges.

We've had emissions laws on gasoline engines for 55 years; and they've been computerized for nearly thirty. Up until the current round, which literally stretches reality (ordered ten years ago) manufacturers had pretty-much gotten the science and the technology down. Gasoline engines were/are more efficient than they ever have been. Imagine getting 35 mpg with a 3500-pound car - a Toyota Camry. Back before computer-controlled fuel injection...a VW Beetle would get about 22 miles a gallon. Toyotas of the time, very small and lightweight, a little better; American small cars a little worse. A car the weight of the Camry would get about 14 miles a gallon.

Diesels had no emissions requirements until relatively recently; and they have to start from scratch. And cleanup seems considerably harder, since so much of the emissions is particulate discharges.

I'ld imagine the emissions controls are pretty similar.

Diesels are FAR more complex and 'highly strung' than petrols now.
The pressures the fuel lines run at are a dangerous level, almost any diesel contamination can cost the owner $20K.
Diesels have to be serviced twice as often and it costs more per service !!
Diesel injectors are due to be renewed about every 100,000 kms, best part of $1000 each.

As you noted, my 14 year old camry is run by a 4 cylinder petrol, on a 5 speed auto. Internally it is probably larger than my old ford falcons.
The camry uses little fuel (would be close to 28 mpg), is quiet, smooth, comfortable, had low servicing bills, parts are cheap.
On a long trip on the freeway, sitting on 100 kmh on the cruise control it is amazingly good on fuel.
It has 290,000 kms on it. Runs perfectly well. I lavish servicing on it.
I'ld easily get in it tomorrow for a trip right around Aussie.
Autos due for new fluid, I often do that myself.

So you have a Camry.

That, the long life of the Camry, is one of the open secrets of auto ownership. Here, they're sometimes called "road roaches" - they're ugly; nothing endears them; but you can't kill them.

Back when I was working...a co-worker had THREE. Parked around his trailer-house. Every time he found a deal on one, he'd buy it.

I didn't understand, until a couple of years ago, when I got a battered Camry for $1000. Turned out to be worth every penny and then some. Had 260,000 miles, and the only issue was some oil leakage. Not burning; leaking.

Add oil with every stop for gas, and that is taken care of.

Casey Jones wrote:So you have a Camry.

That, the long life of the Camry, is one of the open secrets of auto ownership.  Here, they're sometimes called "road roaches" - they're ugly; nothing endears them; but you can't kill them.

Back when I was working...a co-worker had THREE.  Parked around his trailer-house.  Every time he found a deal on one, he'd buy it.

I didn't understand, until a couple of years ago, when I got a battered Camry for $1000.  Turned out to be worth every penny and then some.  Had 260,000 miles, and the only issue was some oil leakage.  Not burning; leaking.

Add oil with every stop for gas, and that is taken care of.

Wow - 260,000 miles = 420,000 kms.

my 290,000 kms is 'only' 180,000 miles

When i fold down the rear seat can carry timber 2M long on there. Over 6'
Few SUVs can carry that.

Sprintcyclist wrote:
Wow - 260,000 miles = 420,000 kms.

my 290,000 kms is 'only' 180,000 miles

When i fold down the rear seat can carry timber 2M long on there. Over 6'
Few SUVs can carry that.

Typical Toyota engine life here, is about 250,000 miles. Of course, the car will be scrapped if a major non-engine mechanical issue comes up, and it will cost more to fix than the value of the rig. But, the used-car online ads are full of Toyotas with over 200,000 miles, still going strong.

It wasn't always that way, of course. It seems about 1990 or so, Toyota discovered the secret of seemingly-eternal engine life.

How the new ones, some of them made by Mazda (the new Yaris is Mazda designed-and-assembled)...how they hold up, remains to be seen. But the older ones of today have incredible lifespans.

so shrimp is a short stack. why does this not surprise me. oh randy dandy!!!! 2 whole meters long of wood!!!!! but dont give up boy. ive seen an entire shitty north of boston commit a very slow suicide. fwiw, if your structure doesnt have 8 foot tall interior walls, its total crap. might as well be living in a cave.

A mate at work told me an unexpected thing.

The 200 series toyota Landcruiser diesel.
At 15,000 kms it goes into 'limp home mode' automatically.
All the lights on the dash flash like a christmas tree.
It demands to have the fuel filter replaced and the computer told a new filter is there before it reverts to normal mode.

have you ever heard of anything like that?