Do I do it - 2.8l hilux turbo

drop a 3.8 v6 in it and put it on gas and sell your motor

Erwin,

I know of a couple of guys that turboed their hilux's late in life and had nothing but trouble. Plus, you have to look at the cost of having a turbo installed ie. 3-5k all said and done and the commercial viability, your trucks probably worth around 12k and your going to spend almost half the value, especially on a motor that may need some tlc in 100,000k's or so...

Cheers

Chris.

Erwin, as long as you have serviced it regularly 5000km +/- 1km Very important with the 2.8's,they have a problem with #4 big end not getting enough oil if it gets sludgy . I added mine at approx 130000km and had been servicing every 10000km not knowing any better, the result broken crank 6moths later (another 5G's SWMBO wasn't happy or me). I now change oil and filter every 4999km or earlier. almost like haveing an extra gear on the hills. And the cost was just over 3G's with new injectors and bigger exhaust.
Athol.

Thanks for the replies so far. Its a trick decision to make. The vehicle has been regularly serviced at or below 5000kms. I also "waste" the money for a new filter ever service. For the price of a filter I just think its good insurance.

A new 3lt turbo costs 38-39,000. Then there's the extras - canopy, bull bar, tow bar, snorkel, long range tank etc. Brings the cost uo to around 44,000.

Then there's my vehicle. 14 yars old, 205,000kms on clock, regulary serviced and no known problems. I'm that corfortable with it that I would just put fuel in it today and drive from one side of the country to the other. The vehicle has no rust and will probally run for another 200,000kms.

You are probally right in that its value is only $12,000. (of course it is more valueable to me). However if you take the $12,000 off the $44,000 its still $28,000 compared to 3-$4,000.00.

I'm wary about buying someone else's problems hence my comparasion against a new vehicle. I know what I've got with my vehicle whereas a 2nd hand one you may not. What I don't know is the problems I may face if I go down the track of putting a turbo in. And as you say it may cost me more someone along the line.

Hi Erwin,

I also have a 92 model dualcab 2.8 hilux. I've had it since new, now with 190,000kms on it. I've recently purchase a camper trailer and the 2.8 has a very hard time with the hills. The next step is to have a denco turbo fitted later this year. I had the engined compression tested 2 weeks back and all cylinders are a manufacturers spec's (the test cost $120). So I'm thinking the engine should handle a turbo ok.

My mechanic thinks the Denco turbo is more reliable then some other brands. Cost is about $3K plus fitting and dyno.

I also looked at getting a new 3.0TD hilux. The best price I got was $30K changeover, including bull bars, canopy etc but with interest rates going up etc the wife & I decided we could either stick with the 2.8 as is (very slow), or turbo it.

The only problem I have found, is some people have said that with the turbo, if the fuel flow is set to high, then you could have excess hot fuel sitting on top of the pistons which could cause cracking. I'm yet to confirm this with others who would know better then I. After all the above, we still will fit a turbo, I'll probably change the oil a bit more often, and the filter. Also change to a higher quality oil and a lighter grade of oil.

Best of luck with what you decide to do - cheers mate. - Anthony

Have you taken a new Hilux out for a spin l think you might be surprised l hed a 86 turbo diesel it handled better because of the aftermarket suspension and went just as good with all the extras .The motor will prob handle it as long as you expect other things are at a age they start wearing out like injectors pumps clutch gear box etc so which ever road you take its going to cost you.

I think the key is how much have you spent on vehicle specific extras? I have an '86 model and have spent quite a lot over the years on equipment which is specific to my vehicle, ie can't be changed over - even to a later model Hilux. It gets way too expensive to buy a new vehicle and start adding on extras - starting from scratch all over again.
I wanted to get a turbo (mine is 2.4 diesel) but was told that blow past the pistons was a bit excessive and hence risky to turbo at that stage. I did all the cost calculations and decided it was still cheaper to do up my current vehicle rather than start anew.
I have invested in an exchange motor and will turbo it soon while the motor is fresh

hi Erwin,

I own a 89 model 4runner and like everyone who owns a 2.8diesel was sick of holding up traffic every time it saw a hill, so in 2001 when we came back from the Kimberly I put a DTS turbo on the old girl, she had 405,oooklms on her.
The differance is amazing,I also added a larger exhaust, increased timing and fiddled with the injector pump.
Before turbo I got around 10.5klms per litre, now I get around 10.2klms per litre.
Since adding turbo the old girls been to Birdsville,Lake Ayre, Arkaroola and last August, Cape York via the OLT towing Aussie Swag CT, this August the Gulf and Darwin.
The truck at the moment has 504,oooklms on her, I fitted the turbo myself and cost, from memory, $2.5k and the best money I have ever spent.
My advice is do it and then you will wonder why you didnt do it years ago.

Jim-Bob.