Buying 3l td surf is it worth it?

[cskh22]

Hey there , i am curently looking to buy a 1994 toyota surf turbo diesel 3l and have been looking up common problems on them and have found they are prone to the heads cracking

Now im looking to buy one with under 150 thousand ks and will be automatic and in full stock form , what is the risk of the head cracking , does it happen after its had abit of a hard time off road or is it a common thing for them to happen i noticed it happens when they heat up? i really like the surfs but this problem has spooked me abit.

any help would be greatly appreciated

Cheers

[tweake]

its something you want to fix. prevention is the best cure.
most of the head cracking is overheating, but the gauge doesn't read hot until its to late.

heaps of fixes posted that will keep you busy reading for ages.

[85bj71]

bit of a gamble really? iv been put off for the same reason but have seen them well used over 200'000km upto and even over 300'000km and still on the factory head, if you upgrade the cooling system and give it a big bore exhaust so it breathes alot better i think you'd be pretty safe, I personally wouldnt tow anything heavy with one

[cskh22]

Cheers for the replys , I am going to do some ringing around and maybe call Toyota about it , as I was really hoping it was some thing that happened after the surf had got a hard time , as i dont think I will be doing any serious off roading or towing in it. Just general road driving/going along muriwai on the odd occasion. I have seen there's plenty of things i can do to minimize the problem but still that costs and isnt is %100 fix, would you guys have any other suggestions for a diesel 4wd for around 11-12 k? that isnt prone to problems like this?

cheers

[Jay]

80 series

[cskh22]

80 series

landcruiser? the only ones in my price range have super high ks , i wish i could afford a mint one

[Jay]

80 series

landcruiser? the only ones in my price range have super high ks , i wish i could afford a mint one

Mate of mine picked up a pretty mint one, 298kms for $7500 a couple of weeks ago... they are out there, just need to keep an eye out...

They may seem expensive for the km's in comparison to say a hilux, but there's a reason for that in my opinion - if well looked after, they just go and go and go....

[cskh22]

oh cool i will keep an eye out although it maybe abit big and being at uni maybe abit thirsty , im keen to look into the surfs problem abit more as i see so many around i didn't think they would be so common with this problem

[BlakeNZ]

dude, with 11 or 12 grand, you can buy a nice KZN185 surf(1996 onwards) with the intercooled motor. They have a bonnet vent , so are easy to tell apart from the non turbo version. The intercooled versions do 400-500,000km without cracking heads, provided they have been well serviced.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-ca ... 898896.htm Alternatively, the same money will buy a 90 series Prado 1KZ, which all have the same intercooled diesel.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-ca ... 758123.htm
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-ca ... 578013.htm
Alternatively, spend around $7-8 on a real tidy Nissan Mistral with the strong 2.7Turbo diesel. Put a trans cooler on it,make sure the fluids are all good and you'll be away laughing.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =669806490
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =670230646

[cskh22]

thanks heaps for that , if i was to put a intercooler on a surf the 1994 ones that too would minimize the head cracking problem wouldn't it?

the ones im looking to buy are ones with under 150 thousand ks and am going to get it aa checked before hand , is there any tell tale signs that would indicate the engines a time bomb or not?

the prados are ok and the mistrals ugh i cant stand the look of them!

[Ant]

Nissan safari. 4.2diesel. Same as the LC but usually a couple grand less, any diesel will need a good service history. I got mine for 6800 with 220k on the clock after looking for every kind of toyota on TM and love it

[tweake]

thanks heaps for that , if i was to put a intercooler on a surf the 1994 ones that too would minimize the head cracking problem wouldn't it?

intercooler, big exhaust, dump pipe, remote transcooler, good radiator fluids thermostat and most importantly a good temp gauge. thats about the bulk of it.

one of the biggest reasons they blow the head is because they get overheated due to radiator/coolant problems.

[BlakeNZ]

i think a '93 /'94 Surf is overpriced at 11 or 12 grand, unless heavily accessorized.
I'm also of the opinion that service history(and type of use) of a 20 year old 4WD vehicle is more important than being "low Km".
I agree the Mistral is not pretty, so perhaps look at the mid-late nineties Terrano(same 2.7TD running gear).
How many km per year will you do? ie do you definitely need a diesel?

[cskh22]

yea it seems pricey they do have 130 thousand ks on them though and fully standard which is what i am after at the moment. and a service history is a good thing to ask for i will keep that in mind

i will probably do about 25,000 ks a year which is alot i think , im currently driving a 2.2l honda accord and getting 150ks from 20 dollars gas so im loving the fuel economy so i think a diesel is the best option.the terranos i have looked at and am also considering

[BlakeNZ]

Yes,you are on the threshold of doing enough kms annually to warrant a diesel.
Just a point to note, a motor that has had a bigger exhaust fitted(from the turbo, back) is less likely to crack its head than the "completely stock" ones you desire. (simply because it has been running cooler due to exhaust gases escaping more quickly).

[bob_or_jim]

There is no way I'd touch a KZN130 for 12g, you can pick up a KZN185 for 8g and if you really want to change the head do it or save the money for when/if it happens. You will still have 2 grand left and have a nicer truck to boot. Every car has its issues its just that everytime a head cracks you will see it on here. You will never see "my 1kz is going really well" or "my truck is so reliable......HELP" anyway ya know what I mean.

Long story short, get a later surf (better cooling system and exhaust from factory) and save some money for a rainy day or spend 12gish and get a tidy one.

M2C

[timmay556]

Nissan safari. 4.2diesel. Same as the LC but usually a couple grand less, any diesel will need a good service history. I got mine for 6800 with 220k on the clock after looking for every kind of toyota on TM and love it

as long as you get one with a turbo, the standard 4.2lt is gutless as #### towing anything over 800kg. I own one and cant stand towing my 1.5tn boat with it. How ever my 1kzte Prado smokes the boat up and down hill (standard) I how ever dont tow long distances as I live 3-4km from the ramp.