Sluggish Patrol 4.2 Diesel

Thankyou for the quick response. I'll give a few things a try as there is most definately a BIG difference between the two vehicles. I've already had the valves checked so thats one out the way, and the tyres are correct too. All I'm looking for is a small boost to bring the performance up to the same level as the ute.

truckster, Ozi has been so quiet lately, he must have forgotten to pack his modem when he went away for the festive season. Catch ya..

Ive checked the "in" filter (I think). Its on top of the pump. A mate of mine had a blocked one at one satge. Is there another one I haven't found?

There is a small gauze filter on the fuel line into the pump, take the line off and look down the hose... Not the easiest thing to spot or clean either.

Worth a try, Id forgotten about it too.

Arnd its on the rear of the pump half way down one 17mm nut with 2 lines coming of it be careful not to lose the fibre washers and the filter if its there sits in the pump housing .use a fish hook to pull it out.

Petrol V Diesel, theres something in one of the latest Toyota 4wd monthly mags i think, its in the bog as reading material..

Both have + and - going at different levels.

Any car needs tuning and maintanance... Diesels are better for offroading of some forms, depends on what you want to do. Tow trailers? Rock crawling, Mud, or tour to the Red Center?

Some require more maintanance than others but at longer intervals. eg every 20,000 V every 10,000....

Petrol 4wds suck juice you have to mortgage the house. I go out with mate with a troopy with 36 swampers on it, and another with a GU4500 petrol, and that thing when in low range you can nearly see the fuel guage running for its life..! Thats muddy conditions and Dunlap Grand Trek 2's.

I dont really believe anything mags say anymore, they call the fuel econ of the 4500 toys and 4800 GUs as acceptable! Nice way to keep both manufacturers on side?

Ever read test in a mag that says the item is really crap and steer WELL away from it? Not in recent times thats for sure!

Mick Ive had a great run out of my diesel 4.2 td Patrol 60k.Ido the 5000 k services myself as they are only oil filters and grease and a shop does the 10 k ones.I usually get out for a blast to clean it out fortnightly as they dont like putting around town.The main reason for buying diesel was the lack of electric gissmos on the motor and if I get into trouble mechanical wise I have a better understanding of the older diesels .Consider the amount of diesels in the Territory and not to many die on the side of the road just got to remember they like clean fuel / air /and good oil .I would only buy fuel from where the truckies fill up and only the majors at that .So mick I'm a happy chappy and mine seemed to loosen up a bit more at 50k it pulled $150 when it was 40C with the aircon on flatout on the way back from down south the other day .

I have travelled all over OZ using diesels and towing. I've bought fuel in some pretty dodgy looking places because it was the only place. The only places I have had problems with dodgy diesel has been in Sydney at the "cheap" outlets. When in major cities I buy only from factory outlets. The easy ones to spot are the big Shell places that have "Fly Buys". It has never been a problem in the bush.

Your Prado is no where near the size of a cruiser, it has no where near the carrying capacity and fuel usage will increase significantly in tough conditions ie loaded up with gear, towing a trailer, soft sand or mud. It won't perform as well in these circumstances either, put any two of these together and the cruiser will be waiting for you. Also diesel is generally cheaper in the bush. Add to that the growing trend of outback communities prohibiting the sale of unleaded and the diesel becomes a very attractive proposition.