Toyota

LandCruiser 70 76 Wagon / 78 Troopcarrier inspection checklist

1985-2026 · 17 things to check before you buy, taken from this car's known problems.

All engines

highFront-end 'death wobble'

Look for: The live-axle, recirculating-ball 70 is famous for violent self-sustaining steering shimmy triggered by a bump at speed, usually from worn panhard/steering bushes, swivel/trunnion bearings, wheel bearings, tie-rod ends or a lift fitted without caster correction.

If you find it: Methodically replace worn front-end bushes, bearings, steering damper and tie-rod ends; correct caster after any lift. Inspect thoroughly pre-purchase.

Any (worse with lift or wear) · ~$300-2000

highRust - windscreen frame, roof gutters, door bottoms, chassis

Look for: 70 Series rust around the windscreen surround, roof gutters, door bottoms, tailgate and especially the chassis rails on coastal, beach-driven or hard-worked outback examples - structural rust can write a vehicle off.

If you find it: Detailed underbody and screen-frame inspection pre-purchase; favour dry-climate vehicles; treat and seal early.

Any · Varies (often $1000s)

mediumFront swivel hub / birfield wear and leaks

Look for: The solid front axle's swivel hubs weep oil/grease and the birfield (CV) joints click and wear with km and off-road use, contaminating the hub and accelerating bearing wear.

If you find it: Swivel reseal and repack, replace birfields and wheel bearings as needed - standard live-axle maintenance done as a set.

From 120k+ km · ~$300-1200

mediumNarrow front track / wheel-bearing and steering wear

Look for: The factory front track is narrow and the steering box, idler and front bearings wear with age and accessory weight, giving vague, wandering steering.

If you find it: Adjust/rebuild the steering box, renew bearings, tie-rod ends and damper; many fit a wider-track or GVM/steering upgrade.

From 100k+ km · ~$200-900

4.5L 1VD-FTV turbo-diesel V8

highInjector seal failure / 'black death' carbon leak

Look for: Worn injector copper seals let combustion gases blow past, baking a hard tar-like carbon ('black death') around the injector and into the head; injectors themselves also wear and over-fuel, causing smoke and rough running.

If you find it: Replace injector seals (and injectors as a set if worn) early; fit a quality secondary fuel filter and use clean diesel. Catching it early avoids head damage.

From 120k+ km · ~$2500-6000 (set of 8 + seals)

highOil pickup strainer / oil-filter cap debris starving the pump

Look for: The plastic oil-pickup strainer and the cartridge oil-filter cap spout can break up; debris or a sucked-in filter restricts oil flow and can wipe out bearings. Low oil pressure at idle is an early warning.

If you find it: Use genuine filters, fit the cap correctly, and consider replacing the factory pickup/strainer. Investigate any low idle oil pressure immediately.

Any · ~$3000-12000 if it spins a bearing

mediumDPF clogging on short trips (2016/2017+)

Look for: Updated emissions models added a DPF that won't passively regenerate on short, low-speed urban runs, leading to soot loading, forced regens, oil dilution and back-pressure.

If you find it: Regular highway running to allow regen; address early before it stresses the turbo/EGR. Some owners fit catch-cans to reduce intake oiling.

Any (post-2016) · ~$500-3000

mediumCracked exhaust manifolds / EGR cooler issues

Look for: Hard-worked and tuned engines crack exhaust manifolds and accumulate intake/EGR soot; over-fuelling tunes raise back-pressure and shorten turbo life.

If you find it: Replace manifolds, clean EGR/intake, keep any tune conservative.

From 150k+ km · ~$800-2500

4.2L 1HZ naturally-aspirated diesel six

highCracked cylinder head from overheating

Look for: The aluminium IDI head runs hot and cracks between cylinders/precombustion chambers if the engine overheats even once - a poor radiator, tired fan clutch or hard NA work in heat is the usual trigger.

If you find it: Keep cooling immaculate (radiator, fan clutch, coolant, thermostat). Replace/recondition the head if cracked; upgrade cooling on any turbo conversion.

Any (overheat event) · ~$2500-5000 (head + machining/fit)

4.5L 1FZ-FE petrol six

highHead gasket failure

Look for: The composite head gasket degrades, most commonly on 1992-1995 engines and any with an overheat history - symptoms are white smoke, milky oil, coolant loss and overheating.

If you find it: Head gasket replacement with a quality (often metal) gasket, head check/skim, and a cooling-system overhaul at the same time.

From 150k+ km (earlier on overheated cars) · ~$2000-4000

mediumExhaust manifold / Y-pipe cracking and rust

Look for: Manifolds, Y-pipe and cats corrode and crack with age, causing leaks and a ticking exhaust.

If you find it: Replace manifold/Y-pipe; aftermarket extractors are common.

From 150k+ km · ~$500-1500

Early naturally-aspirated diesel (2H 4.0 / 3B 3.4)

highOverheating / head gasket and cracking

Look for: Like all the IDI Toyota diesels, the 2H/3B heads run hot and will gasket-fail or crack if cooling is neglected or the engine is overheated.

If you find it: Maintain cooling religiously (radiator, fan clutch, coolant); recondition head/gasket if damaged.

Any (overheat) · ~$1500-4000

2 of 6 engines

mediumInjection pump and injector wear / timing drift

Look for: The mechanical pump can drift timing and wear with age, and injectors tire, causing hard starts, black smoke, rattle and lost power.

If you find it: Diesel-specialist pump re-time/rebuild and injector service. Many have had this done - ask for records.

From 250k+ km · ~$1500-3500

2.8L 1GD-FTV turbo-diesel four-cylinder

mediumDPF white smoke / clogging (class-action history)

Look for: The 1GD in HiLux/Prado/Fortuner (Oct 2015-Apr 2020 build) was the subject of an Australian class action over DPF white smoke and incomplete regens; Toyota revised the software and says the 70 application is improved, but short-trip DPF loading remains the engine's key watch-point.

If you find it: Ensure all DPF/ECU software updates are applied; do regular highway runs; service on time.

Any · ~$500-3000

mediumHigh oil consumption / oil dilution

Look for: Early 1GD engines reported high oil consumption and fuel dilution of the oil tied to DPF regen cycles, prompting a software fix; check oil level and condition between services.

If you find it: Apply the latest software, monitor oil level/condition, change oil on or before interval.

Any · ~$0-2000

4.0L 3F petrol six (early)

mediumCarburettor wear / tuning (3F)

Look for: The carburetted 3F suffers from worn/gummed carbs and aged vacuum lines causing hard starting, stalling and flat-spots; the later 3F-E EFI is generally easier to live with.

If you find it: Carb rebuild/clean and replace perished vacuum hoses; specialist tune.

Any (age) · ~$300-1200

mediumFuel thirst and age-related wear

Look for: 17-22 L/100km plus decades of wear - expect tired cooling, electrics, seals and bushes.

If you find it: LPG to manage fuel cost; budget a full consumables refresh.

Any · Varies

5 minor things (low severity)

lowHeavy-load coil/leaf sag and worn bushes

Look for: Touring loads, bull bars and winches sag the standard springs and wear suspension bushes, hurting ride and geometry (which feeds death wobble).

If you find it: Constant-load springs/GVM upgrade to suit accessory and touring weight; renew bushes.

Any · ~$500-2000

lowTired interior, NVH and dated safety

Look for: Even late 70s are noisy, agricultural and (pre-2016) light on active safety; trim, seats and electrics wear, and older models lack curtain airbags/stability control.

If you find it: Accept the character or budget seat/trim refresh and sound-deadening; choose a later updated model for more safety.

Any · Varies

lowEGR / intake carbon build-up

Look for: Like most modern common-rail diesels, soot accumulates in the EGR and intake over time, dulling response.

If you find it: Periodic intake/EGR clean; quality oil and clean diesel.

From 100k+ km · ~$300-900

lowAge-related ancillaries and oil leaks

Look for: These engines are decades old; expect rear main/front seal weeps, perished hoses, tired mounts and a slow oil drip somewhere.

If you find it: Budget a consumables and seal refresh on purchase.

Any (age) · Varies

lowFuel thirst

Look for: Not a fault, but 16-20 L/100km is the reality; many were converted to LPG.

If you find it: Quality LPG conversion or accept the fuel bill; long-range tank for touring.

Any · Running cost

From FlamingCars' Toyota LandCruiser 70 guide. It's a checklist of known problems, not a replacement for a professional pre-purchase inspection. Your ticks are kept in this browser only.