Hilux diesel life expectancy

Not sure about her model, but properly maintained larger diesel engines routinely pass the 500k mark without a rebuild.
However, you are also correct. At around 250k the pump, radiator, starter, cooling system, clutch etc etc etc can start to become expensive, even if the engine's OK.

With these ex hire vehicles, it is often not the number of km, but the way they have been done.
You know the saying, drive it as if it's hired.
Up on the GRR and lots of other similar roads, you can tell the hire vehicles from miles away by the dust cloud / speed.

They can still be good buys though, if from a company that does not shirk on maintenance. A matter of getting one at the right price to cover the risk I think. You might do better contacting the companies directly. If you could buy direct, you'd be cutting out the considerable profit made by the middle man (if there is one on the curent vehicle)

Although a different class of vehicle, in my previous life, I managed a 'transport' business that had about 50 Troopies as a part of the fleet. They carried heavy loads all the time. All had over 1 million km on the clock when I left the business. Some had been rebuilt, but not all.

If the price is right you can allow for the cost of overhauling the alternator & starter, replace the water pump and all belts and hoses. Repack the wheel bearings, flush the brake lines and probably replace some pads. Replace all filters and fluids and with luck your good for another 200,000 k's

The biggest problem facing smaller diesels is cylinder head issues.

Most are fitted with alloy heads and i've yet to hear of one that has not had issues within 300- 400 thousand ks. thats when the trouble begins, if the thing has over heated due to a gasket problem or whatever, the life of the engine can be reduced dramatically. Eg, spent last weekend helping my neighbour fit a second hand 2.8 l motor to his 91 mod hilux, it has 250,000ks indicated. It was head probs that destroyed the original engine.

Cheers Axle.

Will I work for a major hire co, and would not buy an ex hire vehicle unless I knew its history. We do try and maintain the vehicles we own but some still slip through the net eg tarago that was 19000ks overdue for a service. Went out on long term hire, and when it was next back in the yard I checked it and had a heart attack. Still going fine mind you but would you buy it?
The funny thing is the dealer where we get them serviced reckons our cars go harder than average, is that because they are flogged lol.
Cheers Pete

Hi,
I'd be very sceptical of any 5 yr old hire vehicle that had only 220k
on the clock and would be trying to ascertain from seeing vehicles in the hire fleet, at what mileage they dispose of them. This is only the equiv of 1000kms per week and since most people are doing 400/500 just getting to work..........
If it's actually done more, then what the other guys are saying is even more relevant. Have the injectors been replaced etc

Id would want to be extremely cheap to even consider it. It is a 5 year old vehicle with 11years of km pluss being ex hire. Peronally i would value it at around 11k Max but I would bet he is asking around 20k
You have no chance of getting this thing from a dealer for the correct price

Pay now or pay later.... a general rule of thumb with vehicles

Sure a motor might last a while, but what about the rest of the drivetrain..... do you want a reliable vehicle & why do the rental companies sell them at that age????

Over 200000km you can expect to have issues with any vehicle