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Toyota
Hilux
LN165 / LN167 / LN170·
1997-2005
ute
Price (AUD)
$10-25k
Body styles
Single Cab, Extra Cab, Dual Cab
Drivetrain
RWD, 4WD part-time
Origin
Japan
Built in
Japan / Thailand
Overview
5L / 5L-E NA diesel era. The 5L was mechanical injection, the 5L-E added electronics from around 1999. IFS replaced the LN106's solid front axle on 4WD models — better on-road, less off-road articulation. Petrol 3RZ-FE 2.7L also offered but the diesel is the desirable variant. Last of the truly simple Hilux generations before common-rail.
Engines & variants
3.0L 5L / 5L-E (NA diesel)
Engine
L-series IDI diesel
Config
I4
Displacement
3.0L
Power
72kW
Torque
197Nm
Drivetrain
RWD / Part-time 4WD
0–100
~17s
Economy
~9-10 L/100km combined
Tow (braked)
2500kg
Tow (unbraked)
750kg
Transmission
5MT, 4AT
Timing chain / belt / gear
Belt-driven, 100,000km / 5-year
Pros
- Mechanical injection (5L) or simple electronic (5L-E)
- Improvement over LN106 - better cabin
- Independent front suspension (less stout but more comfortable)
- Easy parts supply, still serviced everywhere
- Strong resale and used demand
Cons
- Still slow - 72kW pushing a heavier ute
- IFS = less off-road articulation than LN106
- NA diesel - no torque for hills with a load
- 5L-E ECU faults reported
Known problems
medium
5L head gasket failure
Head gaskets can fail on high-km units, especially if run hot or with neglected coolant changes.
Fix: Head off, gasket and bolt replacement. Check head for warping.
medium
Injector pump wear
Rotary injection pump wears with age - hard starts, smoky idle, power loss.
Fix: Pump rebuild by diesel specialist. Many shops in regional NSW still do this work.
medium
Rust on chassis and cab mounts
Less prone than LN106 but still happens.
Fix: Inspect underside carefully. Treat dry examples preventively.