Diesel or Petrol

[Canaust Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Canaust]

Hi

I have a different angle to the diesel or petrol question.

We won't be towing, and don't plan serious 4x4 work so don't need the torque of the diesel.

Last time around Oz (in 2005) we chose diesel because petrol was hard to find in parts of the outback because of the sniffing problems.

Around the time we took off BP introduced Opal.

Is petrol available most of the way around the WA coast?

I am scarred to get a diesel because of the injector problems. Some people are having failures even if they test regularly.

The petrol also seem to be better value for money as I am looking to buy and sell within 5 months.

Other than making sure all belts and hoses are changed every 100,000 kms, anything else to look out for in a high km petrol 120 / 150?

I know that petrol will have higher consumption, which will add about $2,000 to the fuel bill for the trip.

Cheers

Alan

[tassie tiger Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close tassie tiger]

Hi Alan

I have both at the moment. An early 120 1kz-te and the last of the 120's in the petrol.

So I cant comment directly on the D4D model.

The diesel one gets around the 13 lphk combined.
The petrol one gets around the 14.5 lphk combined.

But, on the highway the petrol drops to around the 12lphk's while the diesel stays constant or maybe down to 12.5. The petrol is a FAR nicer beasty to drive and I am happy to pay the extra for a bit more fuel. Funnily enough coming home today I checked out the price for diesel and petrol and worked out the costs per 100k's and they were identical to the cent.

If you are talking about the petrol v the D4D then my thoughts are the petrol kills it simply because you dont have any issues with injectors to concern yourself with. The savings in fuel might look nice, but one lot of crap fuel and there goes any thoughts of profit. Plus, you will save heaps on buying the petrol as so many are blinded by the lphk figures and discount the other issues.

Funny thing is I am a diesel mechanic and love them but lucky for us the petrol in the prado is a fantastic engine.

Just my 2c. Have fun,

[Beach Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beach]

^^^Yeah...what he said.

I bought a 2005 V6 and saved a packet over an equivalent diesel.

All the reasons you mentioned are good ones for choosing a petrol.

At the end of the day its what works for you and what you're happy with.

[Guest Close Guest]

A petrol Prado is cheaper to buy and the savings there can pay for the higher fuel consumption.

[Peter SA Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Peter SA]

I had a petrol car when we first came to Australia after years of diesels. The distances I drive it did my head in, I always seemed to be at the petrol station. Couldn't even drive from Adelaide to Melbourne without having to refuel. With my prado now and a "proper" fuel I can drive from Adelaide to Newcastle without looking at a fuel station. Never any contest between diesel and petrol in my eyes.

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Alan for what you have planned I think a petrol will suit you better.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Petrol availability really isn't going to be an issue for you, so no reason not to get a petrol for that reason.

In your particular circumstance given your very short period of ownership I tend to think your buying and selling price is your biggest consideration. I wouldn't rule either in or out but rather just look for the best buy you can get at the time. In 2005 you obviously had a 1kz diesel so you know what they are like, reliable and plenty of get up and go for a touring holiday without towing, so don't rule them out.

Buying is not such an issue because there are always plenty on the market, in your case selling might be the hard thing if your on the other side of the world.

I would be keeping an eye on the market and seeing how long different models stay advertised, if one model seems to sell quickly then that might be the best bet for you rather than something that may take months to unload. I haven't looked at the market in that way so really couldn't say which would be better.

Cheers Andrew

[Sako85 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Sako85]

I'd also be sticking with the petrol.

Both have their place and for what you want, petrol suits better.

When the wifes x trail is due for an update, it will be another petrol. There is a diesel option, but the price premium is too much to be worthwhile.

My car is used differently so is a 1vd diesel.

[wanted Member Find all posts View Profile Close wanted]

I had a petrol car when we first came to Australia after years of diesels. The distances I drive it did my head in, I always seemed to be at the petrol station. Couldn't even drive from Adelaide to Melbourne without having to refuel. With my prado now and a "proper" fuel I can drive from Adelaide to Newcastle without looking at a fuel station. Never any contest between diesel and petrol in my eyes.

Just like to clarify when you say proper fuel, is that a particular brand? With your experience can you rank the brands in terms of quality of fuel? I am also looking for a diesel but the fuel quality discussion and issue with a single lot of bad fuel cause a lot of concern.
Thanks.

[tassie tiger Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close tassie tiger]

I think Peter was suggesting that 'Diesel' is the proper fuel.

He is right on the money with the fuel economy. Some of the D4D ones are exceptionally frugal. Sadly the running costs bring it back to even stevens.

When are you coming out?

[wanted Member Find all posts View Profile Close wanted]

Sorry for the confusion I meant, proper fuel as in better diesel from a particular brand or a particular specification in diesel fuel if such a thing is available. Like in petrol you have 91, 95, 98....octane available.

[Peter SA Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Peter SA]

Yes I did mean diesel as the proper fuel.

I don't use a specific brand, although when Canberra's Costco opens their fuel station I will probably be using theirs, which I believe is actually Mobil fuel but can't swear to that.

I haven't really noticed any difference in consumption with different brands, so I don't know if it is all just propaganda from the different companies. In Europe I did find that winter alpine diesel produced less miles per tank but that could also have been down to the different driving conditions as well.

[sunchaser Member Find all posts View Profile Close sunchaser]

G'day Peter
Yes there is petrol along the WA North coast, but not all of them have 95 octane or higher. Fill up at the major towns like Broome and Port Hedland as the smaller truckstop servo's inbetween only sell 91 octane petrol.
Cheers Gary

[Canaust Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Canaust]

Hi all

Thanks for the feedback & confirmation that petrol is the way to go.

Currently we are booked to arrive April 12, 2015 and depart Sept 11

I have put together a wish list for the ideal vehicle and will post it closer to the time.

Hopefully somebody on the forum is looking to sell a fully tricked out long distance tourer (or lease it to me for 5 months).

With the 150+litre fuel tank I expect we should be able to refuel only at major centres.

What should I look out for when buying petrol? For example timing belt should be done at [100,000kms]

Thanks again everybody

Alan

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

No timing belt on the 120 V6's. The 120's have a 180 capacity for fuel the 150, 150L capacity. Unless they have been serviced regularly then I wouldn't it. Again if no log books or service books I wouldn't touch it. Plenty out there. I'd personally go for a lower klm 120 then a high klm 150, remembering you want to sell it when you finish so lower klms will help there. There are heaps out there used for school runs, they mightn't have all the gear but if you can buy at a good price then put some fresh suspension on it so you know it's not stuffed before you start. Roof rack second hand from eBay same with rear draws etc. problem if you buy some thing with all the gear and high klms it's probably had a hard life again will be hard sell.... Cheers Steve