Diesel Rig parts/service Availability?

[GaryMc]

There seem to be a lot of good deals on Canadian diesel Toyota's that shouldn't be too hard to import. How hard/easy is it to get parts and service for these rigs in the US?

 

[cruiseroutfit]

The parts for the actual diesel can be a bit harder to source, many times having to come direct from Canada. However that isn't always the case as there are Cruiser shops stocking some of the diesel parts here in the states as well as carry-over components from forklifts (2H), etc.

As far as chassis/drivetrain components... everything is nearly identical, so parts are just as available, if not more available then they are up north.

 

[nickw]

There seem to be a lot of good deals on Canadian diesel Toyota's that shouldn't be too hard to import. How hard/easy is it to get parts and service for these rigs in the US?

Depends on who you talk to, some say it is a pain in the ass while others find it quite easy. I can tell you this though, your local Toyota dealer wont even know where to start if you need parts. When I was at the dealership last I asked about getting some parts and he looked at my like I was from Mars.

It seems most of the guys that do find parts easily have been around the rigs for a while and/or dont mind spending some time searching for parts.

If your used to going down to NAPA or the stealership for oil filters, fuel filters, etc. forget about it. Your going to have to order them (although you can find SOME parts that may not be specifically listed as diesel but they do crossover and work).

I have thought LONG and hard about converting my Tacoma over to Toy diesel. My main reason for doing so is reliability and gas mileage. But the facts are if you have any problems with the motor, what the hell would a guy do? Nobody can work on it, you have to wait ages for parts and forget about getting used anything unless you order it from overseas (or Canada if your lucky).

At the end of the day I dont think a diesel motor is MUCH more reliable than a good 3.4/2.7. I also think the novelty of owning a cool diesel would wear out after your rig is sitting for 2 months waiting an obscure part.

After all that being said, I would be the first to give you a thumbs up if you got one and I would also be very very jealous

Regarding importation, guys spend mucho bucks bringing these things in. Long story short, pain in the butt, lots of $$ to do it right unless you get lucky or know some insiders. Have a look at this link:

http://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=76210

Lots of info, good luck if you decide to do it.

I still dream about shoeing a MB 3.0TD under the hood of my Taco-

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

depends largely on the engine. 3B and 2H have common over the counter part numbers for most consumables (oil filters etc). Fleetguard (Cummins - in every city and most rural areas) also make high quality ocnsumables that interchange over.

Or you buy things in bulk, 6 filters at a time. This is what I did before I started using the fleetguard parts.

I rarely had to order anything in on my 2H. Alternator brushes go bad at about 200K miles ($20 part, order it in) and you might need to replace the fuel pump primer (also common replacement part around 200K). That is about it on them, they are very basic. Everything else would be "major" to replace (major engine issues or main injector pump) and are as relaible as an engine itself, so likelyhood of it going out "suddenly" is slim. I drove mine across the country, to California, and all over Utah and the west and never had any issues and never had to "spend the night" or anything ever. You have to think about it a little but not too much...

Also Specter and several other companies stock all gaskets and other misc parts etc should you need them.. Again never had to have anything overnighted...

Hope it helps...

 

[Robthebrit]

Dieselcruiserhead pretty much hit the nail on the head. I have the same problems with the mogs. Over time you find suppliers or cross over parts and you learn to always have anything consumable on hand.

Can you just go to the dealer and something by part number, do they care what its for? I sometimes do it with mog parts at Mercedes dealer of all places - They would have a heart attack and steam clean the forecourt if I actually drove the truck to them. However, 9 times out of 10 with a part number they just pull it up on the computer and order it - no questions asked. The reason I don't do it more often is because I am not always sure of the part number, if its been replaced by something else etc?

I wouldn't let things like this stand in your way. Once you have driven a strong diesel offroad there is no going back - you'll be broken forever.

Rob

 

[cruiser guy]

I drive my 3B diesel powered '60 series Land Cruiser from Central America to Canada each year. Almost every time I need an oil change at a "Jiffy Lube" place in the states they say "Sorry, we don't have the filter!" My response is "Really!! You mean you don't carry the most common oil filter on the planet?" The truck takes a PH8A or equivalent.

I don't worry too much about parts availability in my travels though I do carry some spares like rad hoses and belts as well as spare injectors, fuel filter and a few other consumables but I'd carry those even if I drove a common engine.

 

[Freezer]

At least in here you can order any Toyota part if you just have the part number.

The beauty of toyota logistic system is that you can get pretty much any toyota part delivered to your toyota dealer really fast.

To me it seems that if you have a locally rare toyota you could get the part diagrams from toyota and order the parts you need for routine maintenance in advance.

 

[cruiser guy]

At least in here you can order any Toyota part if you just have the part number.

In North America it is such that the dealers can only order parts for vehicles that were sold officially in North America. If you have a part number for a part that is NOT on a North American production vehicle they either cannot or will not order it.

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

I've been able to order parts before internationally. At least here in the states there is a network. But sometimes they are not available and they are usually very expensive. We ordered a rare JMD A/C part when we retrofitted my HJ60 with AC and it was not cheap but it worked and took about two weeks... I did have to supply the part numbers though...

 

[cruiseroutfit]

I've ordered alot of non-US parts through the US parts system, though as Andre pointed out it can be $$$ and time consuming. H55F's for example never appeared in the US, but can be ordered, early full-float axle parts, etc. Stuff from Canada might be a bit different than say South American parts? If I recall correctly Canadian Toyota dealerships are serviced through Toyotas wharehouse in California?

 

[ChuckB]

Parts availability is my biggest concern as I contemplate an engine swap for my FJ55. I would absolutely love to have a Toyota diesel. But, as mentioned it can be somewhat time consuming to get parts. My other concern is that I'm not as mechanically inclined as some members of the ExPo. So getting stranded due to mechanical failure could be a real problem for me if parts aren't readily available. I plan on working on my mechanical skills, but waiting more than about 2 days for parts concerns me. I would love to do the Cummings swap but I have no intention of doing SOA.

I might be crazy but this topic keeps me awake at night because I REALLY want a diesel!!

 

[cruiser guy]

I've ordered alot of non-US parts through the US parts system, though as Andre pointed out it can be $$$ and time consuming. H55F's for example never appeared in the US, but can be ordered, early full-float axle parts, etc. Stuff from Canada might be a bit different than say South American parts? If I recall correctly Canadian Toyota dealerships are serviced through Toyotas wharehouse in California?

Kurt, some of the stuff you can order that was not US production WAS Canadian stuff so it's in the system. Take the H55F for instance, no it was never US production but it was Canadian production in the HJ60 (identical tranny to the FJ60) and BJ60. Try ordering a 13B-T exhaust manifold. That was never US/Canadian production and I'd bet you cannot get it.

Canadian stuff does come from the Torrance, CA warehouse as well so it should be available to the US dealers (at least I hope so if I ever need parts when I'm passing through).

Fortunately here in Guatemala they will order ANYTHING available for Toyota worldwide so I'm OK!! I'm toying with the idea of an OEM snorkle for the '60.