Thanks for the comment, man! To be honest, there were a few key reasons why I went with petrol over diesel, especially when it comes to Overlanding. 1. Budget & Availability Initially, I was actually looking for a diesel Hilux, specifically the 3.0 D4D, since it’s a solid and proven engine. But finding one with low mileage at an affordable price was almost impossible. The market for second-hand diesel Hiluxes in good condition is crazy-prices are high, and most of them have been worked hard. Since I was working on a budget while still wanting a reliable vehicle that would allow me to get out and explore, I had to be realistic. I managed to get my petrol Hilux for R250K with only 180,000 km on the clock, which was an absolute no-brainer. For the same price, I would have been looking at a diesel with way higher mileage or one that needed serious work. 2. Lower Maintenance Costs Diesel engines are built for durability, but they come with higher servicing and repair costs. Diesel components like injectors, turbos, and high-pressure fuel pumps are expensive to replace, and when they fail, it’s not cheap. Petrol engines are generally simpler and cheaper to maintain over time. 3. Cheaper Insurance Another big factor was insurance. My petrol Hilux costs about half of what a diesel would in insurance premiums. In South Africa, the diesel Hilux is one of the most stolen vehicles, which drives up insurance costs significantly. That was a major deciding factor in keeping my overall costs low. 4. Reliability in Remote Areas When Overlanding, fuel quality is a major concern. Diesel engines are very sensitive to dirty or contaminated fuel, which can cause major damage to the injectors and fuel system. Petrol engines are much more forgiving, so I don’t have to stress as much when refueling in remote areas. Also, in extremely cold temperatures, diesel can gel or wax, leading to starting issues. Petrol engines don’t have this problem, making them a more reliable choice in all conditions. 5. Longer Service Intervals For Overlanding, service intervals matter. My petrol Hilux only needs a service every 15,000 km, whereas a diesel would typically require servicing every 5,000 to 7,000 km. When covering long distances, fewer services mean less downtime and lower running costs. 6. Fuel Consumption vs. Real-World Usage People always argue that petrol engines are heavier on fuel, and while that may be true in normal driving, it’s a different story when Overlanding. • Load up a diesel Hilux with bumpers, a roof rack, a rooftop tent, bigger tires, and recovery gear, and suddenly the fuel efficiency isn’t as great as people claim. • Towing? A fully loaded diesel will burn just as much fuel as a petrol in real-world conditions. At that point, the fuel savings aren’t enough to justify the higher initial cost and maintenance expenses of a diesel. 7. Easier to Work On When you’re out in the middle of nowhere, a simpler engine is a huge advantage. I grew up around petrol engines, so I know how to fix, maintain, and troubleshoot them. Modern diesels, on the other hand, come with complicated electronics, high-pressure fuel systems, turbos, and emissions systems (like the DPF, which can clog up and cause problems). 8. No Turbo Worries Most modern diesels are turbocharged, and while that means great torque, it also adds another potential failure point-especially when pushing the vehicle hard in Overlanding conditions. If a turbo fails in the middle of nowhere, you’re in trouble. My naturally aspirated 4.0L V6 doesn’t have that issue-less to go wrong, more reliability. 9. Power & Driving Experience Let’s be honest-the 4.0L V6 power is something else! It makes Overlanding so much more enjoyable, with instant throttle response, plenty of power on tap, and a great sound to go with it. 10. Cold Starts & High-Altitude Performance • Petrol engines start easier in cold weather, while diesels often require glow plugs and extended cranking. • At high altitudes, petrol engines maintain their power better, whereas diesels can struggle due to the thinner air affecting the turbo’s efficiency. Final Thoughts At the end of the day, it came down to cost, reliability, and ease of maintenance. I would have gone for a diesel 3.0 D4D if I could find a low-mileage, well-priced one, but that just wasn’t realistic. Instead, I got a low-mileage petrol Hilux for a great price, with lower insurance, lower maintenance costs, and the peace of mind of having a simpler, more reliable engine-plus the bonus of that 4.0L V6 power!
Thanks for the reply. What an in depth answer! To be honest, I wanted to cross reference your answer as I had purchased a 2011 hilux v6 2 years ago for all the same reasons that you had mentioned and I was not sorry at all. This one is a keeper. Just check on the oil service interval, I’m quite certain it is every 10000km. Otherwise, these engines are bullet proof as long as you keep clean oil in her. If you can manage to drive with a light foot you can get decent fuel economy when considering what’s under the bonnet. The power to weight is what makes it such a beast in the dunes or off the start line. I’m looking forward to your next videos. Cheers, Paul
nice
Thanks for watching! We appreciate it
Looking good cuzzi looking forward to see the following upgrades.
A fishing trip should be in the making
God bless and keep on moving forward
Thanks so much cuz really appreciated much love that fishing trip is on its way !
Why did you decide to go petrol hilux if I may ask?
Thanks for the comment, man! To be honest, there were a few key reasons why I went with petrol over diesel, especially when it comes to Overlanding.
1. Budget & Availability
Initially, I was actually looking for a diesel Hilux, specifically the 3.0 D4D, since it’s a solid and proven engine. But finding one with low mileage at an affordable price was almost impossible. The market for second-hand diesel Hiluxes in good condition is crazy-prices are high, and most of them have been worked hard.
Since I was working on a budget while still wanting a reliable vehicle that would allow me to get out and explore, I had to be realistic. I managed to get my petrol Hilux for R250K with only 180,000 km on the clock, which was an absolute no-brainer. For the same price, I would have been looking at a diesel with way higher mileage or one that needed serious work.
2. Lower Maintenance Costs
Diesel engines are built for durability, but they come with higher servicing and repair costs. Diesel components like injectors, turbos, and high-pressure fuel pumps are expensive to replace, and when they fail, it’s not cheap. Petrol engines are generally simpler and cheaper to maintain over time.
3. Cheaper Insurance
Another big factor was insurance. My petrol Hilux costs about half of what a diesel would in insurance premiums. In South Africa, the diesel Hilux is one of the most stolen vehicles, which drives up insurance costs significantly. That was a major deciding factor in keeping my overall costs low.
4. Reliability in Remote Areas
When Overlanding, fuel quality is a major concern. Diesel engines are very sensitive to dirty or contaminated fuel, which can cause major damage to the injectors and fuel system. Petrol engines are much more forgiving, so I don’t have to stress as much when refueling in remote areas.
Also, in extremely cold temperatures, diesel can gel or wax, leading to starting issues. Petrol engines don’t have this problem, making them a more reliable choice in all conditions.
5. Longer Service Intervals
For Overlanding, service intervals matter. My petrol Hilux only needs a service every 15,000 km, whereas a diesel would typically require servicing every 5,000 to 7,000 km. When covering long distances, fewer services mean less downtime and lower running costs.
6. Fuel Consumption vs. Real-World Usage
People always argue that petrol engines are heavier on fuel, and while that may be true in normal driving, it’s a different story when Overlanding.
• Load up a diesel Hilux with bumpers, a roof rack, a rooftop tent, bigger tires, and recovery gear, and suddenly the fuel efficiency isn’t as great as people claim.
• Towing? A fully loaded diesel will burn just as much fuel as a petrol in real-world conditions.
At that point, the fuel savings aren’t enough to justify the higher initial cost and maintenance expenses of a diesel.
7. Easier to Work On
When you’re out in the middle of nowhere, a simpler engine is a huge advantage. I grew up around petrol engines, so I know how to fix, maintain, and troubleshoot them. Modern diesels, on the other hand, come with complicated electronics, high-pressure fuel systems, turbos, and emissions systems (like the DPF, which can clog up and cause problems).
8. No Turbo Worries
Most modern diesels are turbocharged, and while that means great torque, it also adds another potential failure point-especially when pushing the vehicle hard in Overlanding conditions. If a turbo fails in the middle of nowhere, you’re in trouble. My naturally aspirated 4.0L V6 doesn’t have that issue-less to go wrong, more reliability.
9. Power & Driving Experience
Let’s be honest-the 4.0L V6 power is something else! It makes Overlanding so much more enjoyable, with instant throttle response, plenty of power on tap, and a great sound to go with it.
10. Cold Starts & High-Altitude Performance
• Petrol engines start easier in cold weather, while diesels often require glow plugs and extended cranking.
• At high altitudes, petrol engines maintain their power better, whereas diesels can struggle due to the thinner air affecting the turbo’s efficiency.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, it came down to cost, reliability, and ease of maintenance. I would have gone for a diesel 3.0 D4D if I could find a low-mileage, well-priced one, but that just wasn’t realistic. Instead, I got a low-mileage petrol Hilux for a great price, with lower insurance, lower maintenance costs, and the peace of mind of having a simpler, more reliable engine-plus the bonus of that 4.0L V6 power!
Thanks for the reply. What an in depth answer! To be honest, I wanted to cross reference your answer as I had purchased a 2011 hilux v6 2 years ago for all the same reasons that you had mentioned and I was not sorry at all. This one is a keeper. Just check on the oil service interval, I’m quite certain it is every 10000km. Otherwise, these engines are bullet proof as long as you keep clean oil in her. If you can manage to drive with a light foot you can get decent fuel economy when considering what’s under the bonnet. The power to weight is what makes it such a beast in the dunes or off the start line. I’m looking forward to your next videos. Cheers, Paul
@@Paul-zr3wh Thats great bro yeah they a beasts !! Thanks for the response man really appreciate it