Question for LC100 manual shift guys

[Daskoff]

Ok here is the situation. I used to live in Chicago and owned an LC 80 and now I am in Moscow for about 3 years and looking for a ride. I looked at Nissan Patrols and Mitsubishi Pajeros but Toyo sells the LC 100 with the 4.2 Turbo Diesel with manual tranny for about $50K.

My question is that since the traffic in Moscow is unbelievably bad, I would probably never shift out of 1st gear. Also, it gets pretty cold here so I am a little concerned with getting a diesel. Lastly, an auto tranny is only available for the next level trim which is $75K (gas model also only available in this trim level). A little too steep for me. BTW, there are no models for test drive, you order the truck and wait at least 5 months to get. So questions:

- How smooth is the Toyo tranny in the LC100 with the diesel and how much pain is it in heavy traffic? Impressions?

- How does the diesel work in very cold climate?

- Any other considerations?


Side note. I checked out a Jeep GC with the V6 DC diesel and when they first started it I doubted it was a diesel because it was so quite. I was very impressed especially because it was cold out. I was not impressed with the $65k price tag.

 

[Jim_Chow]

Do they put an additive in the diesel there so it doesn't gel up? Check the 100scool yahoo group. Some of those guys have 105 manuals. IIRC, the manuals are known for a clutch issue, like vibration when engine is cold or something like that. Don't know if it's just the 105's or also the 100 TD's.

 

[-uhuru-]

Hi.

I have a 105 with an R151F tranny. IMO it shifts fine. Traffic here in Panama is pretty bad too. I am not sure if the 100 series comes with this same tranny or if it uses the H151F.

I have an H150F mounted on an 80 with a 1HD-T engine. If you compare both trannies the R151F is way smoother. The H150F (which is almost the same as the H151F, just different gear ratios) is a tougher tranny though.

As far as the cold weahter performance goes I can't help you since it rarely drops below 75F in my neck of the woods.

 

[Daskoff]

Do they put an additive in the diesel there so it doesn't gel up? Check the 100scool yahoo group. Some of those guys have 105 manuals. IIRC, the manuals are known for a clutch issue, like vibration when engine is cold or something like that. Don't know if it's just the 105's or also the 100 TD's.

I'm sure they put something in because of the severe cold. I have be cautioned about buying a diesel here because of the low quality of fuel. However, I still see auite a few cars/trucks with diesel driving around now. Of course I get two stories on this issue. The dealers all say their cars have no issues starting in the cold, and then a couple of people cautioned me against. I don't know if the people have misconceptions or talking from experience.

 

[Daskoff]

Hi.

I have a 105 with an R151F tranny. IMO it shifts fine. Traffic here in Panama is pretty bad too. I am not sure if the 100 series comes with this same tranny or if it uses the H151F.

I have an H150F mounted on an 80 with a 1HD-T engine. If you compare both trannies the R151F is way smoother. The H150F (which is almost the same as the H151F, just different gear ratios) is a tougher tranny though.

As far as the cold weahter performance goes I can't help you since it rarely drops below 75F in my neck of the woods.

This would be a new 2006 or 07 model. How would I know which tranny is used? I don't know if the dealer would even know and I don't speak Russian (yet).

Спасибо (means Thanks!)

 

[SamoL]

I have a manual diesel LC100. It shifts fine, but slowly - like a bus with a manual tranny . The diesel engine has so much torque, that I use the fifth gear most of the time - execpt for taking off (the engine pulls from 1000 rpm on). The car starts well in cold, so that is no problem and the fuel filter is heated. But using a bad diesel in extreme cold could be a problem - like for other cars.
I live in Slovenia so we don't have that low temperatures like in Russia. This winter we never had that extreme cold - I guess the lowest "cold start" of my LC was at -5 oC this winter.
My friend that lived in Sweden for a while told me, that they use electrical heaters for the engine cooling sistem, so that the cars would even start! Do you need something like that in Russia?

Regards
Samo

 

[Daskoff]

I have a manual diesel LC100. It shifts fine, but slowly - like a bus with a manual tranny . The diesel engine has so much torque, that I use the fifth gear most of the time - execpt for taking off (the engine pulls from 1000 rpm on). The car starts well in cold, so that is no problem and the fuel filter is heated. But using a bad diesel in extreme cold could be a problem - like for other cars.
I live in Slovenia so we don't have that low temperatures like in Russia. This winter we never had that extreme cold - I guess the lowest "cold start" of my LC was at -5 oC this winter.
My friend that lived in Sweden for a while told me, that they use electrical heaters for the engine cooling sistem, so that the cars would even start! Do you need something like that in Russia?

Regards
Samo

So do you start out of 2nd? I didn't know about heated fuel filter. I will have to ask about it. -5C?? ha, this is considered warm here. As far as the electric heati plug, I have no place to plug it in. I will have to park on the street. Iguess when it is very cold I will have to take the Metro. No worries. Any other things I should consider?

Adrian

 

[-uhuru-]

The tranny type should be posted on the "ID plate" under the bonnet. For LHD vehicles it is on the driver's side.

 

[SamoL]

So do you start out of 2nd? I didn't know about heated fuel filter. I will have to ask about it. -5C?? ha, this is considered warm here. As far as the electric heati plug, I have no place to plug it in. I will have to park on the street. Iguess when it is very cold I will have to take the Metro. No worries. Any other things I should consider?

No, I start out in 1st. You shouldn't be in a hurry when you are in a LC . But when I drive through the automatic toll collection on a highway at 55 km/h, I just leave it in a 5th gear (for comparison: my Alfa needs to be shifted from 6th gear back to 3rd and then back up to 6th). And even for mild inclinations you can start out with just releasing the clutch. It's very easy to drive.
Regarding diesel and low temperatures: in Slovenia these days in winter time all petrol stations have diesel fuel, that is suitable for -15 or even -20 oC. But 20 years ago things were different. You had to add special diesel additives to prevent crystal creation or use the old method: add some gasoline into your tank
This days even in cities in Africa you can buy "regular" diesel or Eurodiesel suitable for modern common rail diesel engines. As HDJ100 doesn't have a common rail engine, I've never used Eurodiesel there and the engine never complained.
Some people even use vegetable oil to power diesels. And normally aspirated 4.2 liter diesel (found in a LC105) can be used with only a fuel pre-heater or even without mods. I don't know anyone that would use vegetable oil this way on a turbo diesel HDJ100, but some people use dual tank systems - with no problems.
I don't use vegetable fuel, as it is not easy to buy it in large quantities around here and as I use this car for long distance traveling and I just don't want to take any chances. And I'm sure you won't use it too, as diesel is cheaper in Russia than vegetable oil

One thing is for sure: 4.2 liter turbo diesel is a very simple and reliable engine and if other cars are able to drive on the diesel available locally, so will yours.

Regards
Samo

 

[Daskoff]

No, I start out in 1st. You shouldn't be in a hurry when you are in a LC . But when I drive through the automatic toll collection on a highway at 55 km/h, I just leave it in a 5th gear (for comparison: my Alfa needs to be shifted from 6th gear back to 3rd and then back up to 6th). And even for mild inclinations you can start out with just releasing the clutch. It's very easy to drive.
Regarding diesel and low temperatures: in Slovenia these days in winter time all petrol stations have diesel fuel, that is suitable for -15 or even -20 oC. But 20 years ago things were different. You had to add special diesel additives to prevent crystal creation or use the old method: add some gasoline into your tank
This days even in cities in Africa you can buy "regular" diesel or Eurodiesel suitable for modern common rail diesel engines. As HDJ100 doesn't have a common rail engine, I've never used Eurodiesel there and the engine never complained.
Some people even use vegetable oil to power diesels. And normally aspirated 4.2 liter diesel (found in a LC105) can be used with only a fuel pre-heater or even without mods. I don't know anyone that would use vegetable oil this way on a turbo diesel HDJ100, but some people use dual tank systems - with no problems.
I don't use vegetable fuel, as it is not easy to buy it in large quantities around here and as I use this car for long distance traveling and I just don't want to take any chances. And I'm sure you won't use it too, as diesel is cheaper in Russia than vegetable oil

One thing is for sure: 4.2 liter turbo diesel is a very simple and reliable engine and if other cars are able to drive on the diesel available locally, so will yours.

Regards
Samo

I would sure like to test drive one but since there is a waiting list for them that might not be possible. Today it is -22 C out. Just about the right temp here in Moscow.

The other concern is that the drive time from home to work is about 15-20 min. I know that in gasoline cars, this short stop and go distance can build up carbon on the valves. Any detrimental issues with diesels driveing short distance and stop & go?

thanks.

 

[roscoFJ73]

I would sure like to test drive one but since there is a waiting list for them that might not be possible. Today it is -22 C out. Just about the right temp here in Moscow.

The other concern is that the drive time from home to work is about 15-20 min. I know that in gasoline cars, this short stop and go distance can build up carbon on the valves. Any detrimental issues with diesels driveing short distance and stop & go?

thanks.

The same,but in reality most of the privately owned vehicles in the world are subjected to this kind of driving.

 

[brownbear]

The other concern is that the drive time from home to work is about 15-20 min. I know that in gasoline cars, this short stop and go distance can build up carbon on the valves. Any detrimental issues with diesels driveing short distance and stop & go?

thanks.

In my opinion, that is fine. It uses more fuel not getting up to temp, and can create condensation in the crankcase. But if every few days, (once a week?) you give it a decent drive it. Get it up to full temp and burn off all the moisture and carbon. Give it a good blast on the highway.

 

[Daskoff]

In my opinion, that is fine. It uses more fuel not getting up to temp, and can create condensation in the crankcase. But if every few days, (once a week?) you give it a decent drive it. Get it up to full temp and burn off all the moisture and carbon. Give it a good blast on the highway.

Good point! I should buy a dacha about 2-3 hours drive from Moscow to go to on weekends. Then I can make sure I will have no problems with condensation. But then I have to plant a garden and then build a banya...etc. etc. etc.

Or find a girlfriend that has one. Yeah baby!