A recently announced recall by Toyota involving the V6 Twinturbo Petrol engines that also run our beloved workhorse Land Cruiser 300 has been a concern for the CAV industry lately.

Luckily, only machines installed in the 2022-2023 Toyota Tundra and Lexus LX models are affected. According to Toyota's homepage:

„There is a possibility that certain machining debris may not have been cleared from the engine when it was produced. In the involved vehicles, this can lead to potential engine knocking, engine rough running, engine no start and/or a loss of motive power. A loss of motive power while driving at higher speeds can increase the risk of a crash.

For all involved vehicles, Toyota and Lexus dealers will replace the engine with a new one at no cost to customers. „

The V35A-FTS V6 isn't as new as you may think. It already spent a few hours on the road sitting in Lexus LS500 models collecting almost trouble-free miles for their owners.

So are the Land Cruiser 300s fine?

Yes and No.

Yes, because Toyota is known for getting it right. Despite many devastating technical issues, starting from airbags, over rusty frames or faulty gas pedals, unlike other manufacturers, Toyota finds a solution and cures it. Deciding to replace a full engine, to keep up customer satisfaction and vehicle reliability high, deserves big kudos. 

Also yes, because the V35A-FTS is technically the same engine, but the LC300 is built in a different factory. Based on the current information, the engine debris results not in bad engine design, it rather is the cause of internal production processes which are connected to a single plant.

No, because not all customers of modern, emission-optimized vehicles have the luxury of clean fuel, close-by dealerships, steady spare part supply or clean city roads. Modern engines rely even more on professional maintenance procedures and components.

So how to cope with this technology?

1. Never neglect the recommended service intervals given by Toyota. For armoured vehicles, add the "Additional Maintenance Items for Special Operating Conditions".
2. If the drivetrain was modified by the up-armourer, ensure to include any additional maintenance needs covering these modifications, e.g. engine parameter remapping.
3. Only use genuine Toyota spare parts. Make sure they are delivered from a reliable source as many low-quality copies are out there.
4. We cannot highlight it enough, only use the recommended oil quality and density given by Toyota. Do not trust statements like: "…we have always used this oil and there has never been a problem with it…" If your service partner is not able to supply the exact oil type, stock it yourself and provide all parts necessary for service to the shop. Make sure your parts have been installed after getting the vehicle back from the shop.
5. Only use reliable fuel sources. A single tank of bad fuel could already damage injectors and pumps beyond repair.
6. Check your fuel and engine air filters regularly. The LC200 already had some bad history with dust entering the engine air box, causing wear that even caused total engine rebuilds. On the LC300 there is still not much long-term experience, but it is worth keeping an eye on.

Talk to us if you need support in adjusting your fleet maintenance to your operational needs. Only a few tweaks may already save you thousands on repair costs and avoid long downtimes. We won't get rid of modern engine technology so we have to learn how to use it in our best interest.

ACP Deutschland

Manuel B. Ramming

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