Toyota Prado Engine Problems

LISTEN to your mechanic. If there's no sign of a problem, I wouldn't change them. But if your trips are going to take you way off the beaten track, consider changing the plugs as part of a service before you leave.

The Prado V6 has a chain so there's no requirement to change it regularly as there would be if it had a belt. That's why there is no mention of it in the manual. I wouldn't be too concerned about the radiator hoses, but perhaps inspect them for cracking, splitting or perishing and replace them if you find anything that's concerning.

No, it's not a coincidence, the faulty injector is likely to have been the cause of the rattle all along. If you still have the records of your previous reports to the dealers about it you could possibly mount a case with Toyota for compensation.

VICTORIAN Autogas Supplies has a dual-fuel sequential injection system for the Prado. The company replaces the rear petrol tank with an LPG tank, then replaces the tank guard so it looks original. Interior space is not affected, but overall petrol capacity is reduced. It costs about $3200 plus GST.

It doesn't seem normal and you did the correct thing in going back to the installer, but not finding any satisfaction there you should take the car to the system supplier, the Australian LPG Warehouse, and have them assess it for you and hopefully fix it to your satisfaction. The phone number is 1300 574 669.

Without knowing more about the roads you were on, the speeds you were traveling at and the load you were hauling it's hard to say what you would get. But the Prado is a big lump of a thing, pushing a lot of air, and I bet it was working hard. It's probably within the ballpark in the conditions.

The explosion is a result of the air/LPG mixture in the intake manifold igniting, most likely set off by a stray spark. Change the plugs and plug leads again, they are usually the cause of this problem.

OLDER systems generally use up to 30 per cent more LPG than petrol, whereas a new injection system uses a little less LPG, more like 20 per cent, so there would probably be a saving. A new injection system typically costs $4000-$4500. Is a switch justified?

Few car companies actually recommend you fit LPG systems to their cars because they don’t have control over the installation and equipment used. You need to be aware that your new car warranty will be affected if you fit the system, and that Toyota will not cover anything that has been modified in the course of fitting the system. For coverage of those items you need to talk to your installer. But the Prado can be converted successfully and many have been done. The Impco system is a quality one from a long established and well-respected company in the LPG business.

Toyota, and every other carmaker for that matter, won't ever recommend converting its cars to LPG because the modification is done out of its control and to specs it has no knowledge or control over. It has nothing to do with whether the car is suitable to run on LPG. The Prado can be successfully converted to run on LPG. Consult a respected installer and ask for their advice, and check with other Prado owners who have used the same installer to convert their cars.