Toyota Hiace diesel or petrol/lpg

**omega99** · 11-12-09, 10:12 PM

Tossing up whether to get a diesel Hiace LWB or a petrol/lpg

the diesel has a 3lt turbo supposedly 8.6lt/100Km @ $37500
petrol 11.6lts/100Km @ $338500 + LPG conversion $6000

LPG nobody will say but I'd take a guess at probably 18lts/100Km - the LPG is supposed to be "factory developed state-of-the-art sequential vapour injection system with under floor dual LPG tanks"

Then there is the question of auto or manual!!

**mate** · 11-12-09, 10:15 PM

A new Hiace? I hope you are 4ft tall, cos they got NO legroom.

**mtv** · 11-12-09, 10:36 PM

Personally, I'd go with the 3.0l turbo diesel.

I have that engine in my Hilux D4D... fully loaded and towed a furniture trailer, also fully loaded, over 1,000 trip, with a Hiace on LPG doing the same trip with minimal load, and the diesel killed the LPG for economy!

Admittedly, it was an older model, 2.4l converted petrol Hiace, but I was amazed at the power, performance and fuel economy of the 3.0l turbo diesel.... it killed the LPG Hiace in every respect.

As for auto/manual.... IMO if you are mostly driving in city traffic, go with an auto, if not, manual.

**Godzilla** · 11-12-09, 10:39 PM

What about the diesel LPG option?

I dont know much about it but google could help you.

$6000 For a direct injection system sounds right without the Govt subsidy, maybe look into it to make it viable.

Direct injection LPG is much more fuel efficient than the old systems, the power levels are much better also, the difference between the 2 fuels is not noticeable with this new system and mileage is much better, makes the old mixer system look prehistoric.

My choice, especially when it comes to fuel efficiency would be manual, where you have the option to change gears at lower revs to save fuel or hold a gear when pulling loads.

Diesel or LPG depending on your use.
When looking at your price options id be leaning to the diesel option, petrol with LPG will cost you more to buy, Diesel provides good mileage and torque for carrying loads, then again if your not worried about pulling power LPG will be cheaper to run, week to week.

**bunyipbilly** · 11-12-09, 11:07 PM

I had a auto diesel toyota van for 25 years, and it was fantastic. The only problem I had was three starter motors went because of the extra load put on by the diesel engine. Two years ago my van was stolen and I replaced it with a 2000 model duel-fuel manual van. It also has ben terrific and since I put on an Aguar water booster unit, the power and performance has been outstanding. If you are buying a new van, you probably won't need the water booster unit, so I would suggest the duel-fuel automatic. I wouldn't buy any other van, irrespective of price. The Toyota van may be dear but, Oh, what a feeling! No, I don't sell Toyota vehicles, i just own them.

**omega99** · 12-12-09, 02:03 AM

I don't usually have much of a load that I carry around, I've go the 03 Hiace with the LPG on it. Trouble is I mostly run it on LPG so the fuel injectors need to be cleaned every now and then as she runs like a pig on petrol.

I was going to get the extra care wty to take it ou to 6 yrs so I think the D-gas might give me wty issue's if something goes amiss in the motor.

**weirdo** · 12-12-09, 07:34 AM

Go the diesel omega. Longer engine life, better re-sale value and better workhorse.
I doubt the LPG would give you the economy you posted in your first post, it would more than likely be the same usage (if not a little more) as running on petrol.

**Ramjet** · 12-12-09, 08:46 AM

I was shopping for a VW van recently and I enquired about a petrol one and he said they don't stock them. Everyone buying a business van buys a diesel. Better economy over a long period, better resale value. Apparently the market seems to know - go diesel. We lost eye contact when I asked about servicing costs tho...

**Godzilla** · 12-12-09, 09:50 AM

Originally Posted by omega99

I don't usually have much of a load that I carry around, I've go the 03 Hiace with the LPG on it. Trouble is I mostly run it on LPG so the fuel injectors need to be cleaned every now and then as she runs like a pig on petrol.

Sounds like your ECU was adjusting your petrol mixtures while on LPG.

When switching over to petrol it runs rich like a dog because it had been reading the LPG as lean and is running on full rich mode to compensate for the lean codes it had learn.

A ECU reset back to the factory base map is what is usually done.

Your injectors should not need cleaning, especially if you run it on petrol for an hour or so a week.

The ecu would also not go into full rich mode if you ran it on petrol more often, even i cannot be buggered running the car on petrol, it costs far too much

i just disconnect the battery every service to allow the ecu to reset itself.

**omega99** · 12-12-09, 11:12 AM

godzilla "Your injectors should not need cleaning, especially if you run it on petrol for an hour or so a week.' there in lies the problem I hardly ever run it on petrol.
Last time I had service the ultrasonically cleaned the injectors & she ran sweet for a while unitl I didn't use them for extended periods, too stingy I guess!

Looks like the general consensus is to go diesel, I did like the dual tanks on my van - no panic to fill up!

**Godzilla** · 12-12-09, 11:47 AM

If they were cleaned, they should not be sticking again, all the gum and crap is out.

If they disconnected the battery the ecu would reset.

Next time it runs crap on petrol try resetting the ecu by disconnecting the battery for a while, see if it makes a difference, costs you nothing to try.

Make sure you have your radio codes before doing so.

Yes id be erring towards diesel too.

**mango** · 12-12-09, 12:03 PM

i had 2 x hilux diesel with auto trans, shit all over the petrol models, i looked at the twin cab hilux recently and gave it a miss as fuel economy was ( to me ) over the top, stuck with the old benz sprinter which uses 8ltrs to the 100
klms with 2 tonne on it @ 120 kph.

**adam** · 13-12-09, 07:00 AM

i had a hiace petrol/lpg and it was so slow and gutless. i went to a ford transit 2.4 diesel and the power difference was amazing, also - on lpg you'll get maybe 6km/ltr, whereas on diesel you should be up around 10 or 11km/ltr. diesel all the way

**WhiteOx** · 13-12-09, 07:14 AM

Originally Posted by omega99

petrol 11.6lts/100Km @ $338500

For the cost of 1 of these, you could buy 9 diesels.

**admin** · 13-12-09, 09:56 AM

I also thought it was a tad pricey

It might also pay to remember that LPG technology is vastly different these days. To the people with memories of LPG lack of power and excessive thirst , decent LPG systems these days are very much different and LPG is still very reasonably priced in comparison.

I honestly couldnt make a recommendation because it all depends on many factors that most of us dont know about your driving habits and use. Each has its benefits.