30 replies to this topic

[Warwick]

G'day all,

 

My busted-arse Triton ute wasn't going to pass rego this year without a $1000 spent on it, so it's time to upgrade.

I'm looking on-line at a VZ One Tonner with 128k on it. Standard model with 17" ss rims.

 

Anything specific to look out for? It's auto and appears to be in good nick with service history.

 

Cheers,

 

Warwick

[S pack]

Radius rod/Z bar/Caster Rod (whatever you want to call them) bushes at the front sub frame and through the Lower Control arm.

oil leaks from camshaft position sensors in timing covers and engine & transmission oil leaks in general. (V6)

The O ring seals to the coolant tubes at the front of the engine under the plenum. (V6)

Edited by S pack, 30 November 2016 - 11:10 AM.

[Redslur]

Make sure the engine doesn't use excessive oil. The V6 model has been know to disintegrate the cats and the fibres get sucked into the engine and damage it beyond repair.

[Statler]

Check for a service history. The Alloytec needs regular oil changes. 

 

The cam chain should have been replaced at 100K.

[S pack]

Make sure the engine doesn't use excessive oil. The V6 model has been know to disintegrate the cats and the fibres get sucked into the engine and damage it beyond repair.

How do fibres from something in the exhaust system get sucked into the engine? Got me worried now. My RH cat was stuffed at 103,000km. Engine still running as good as always at 113,600km.

Prob won't be able to tell if it suffers from excessive oil consumption until he has owned it for a few months.

[S pack]

Check for a service history. The Alloytec needs regular oil changes. 

 

The cam chain should have been replaced at 100K.

I read the stretched timing chains affected the early VE Alloytecs. Didn't find any mention of the VZ engines having this problem?

[yel327]

Buy one with as LS1. Bit dearer but nicer to drive.

[Statler]

I read the stretched timing chains affected the early VE Alloytecs. Didn't find any mention of the VZ engines having this problem?

The VZ suffers from it also. 

[Warwick]

Check for a service history. The Alloytec needs regular oil changes. 

 

The cam chain should have been replaced at 100K.

Is that every 100k? Or only replacing the original chain?

Buy one with as LS1. Bit dearer but nicer to drive.

I wish.

 

It'll be well outside of my meager budget and will be doing 200-300km a week so the finance department will protest too loudly.

Make sure the engine doesn't use excessive oil. The V6 model has been know to disintegrate the cats and the fibres get sucked into the engine and damage it beyond repair.

How can you tell other than driving it for a month?

[Statler]

Is that every 100k? Or only replacing the original chain?

lol. Every 100K. 

 

Mine is due again. Just hit 200K. :(

[Warwick]

I

lol. Every 100K. 
 
Mine is due again. Just hit 200K. :(

What's it cost to replace?
I was wondering whether the quality of the original chain was the problem and a replacement fixed the problem.

Changing a chain every 100k ??? FFS it's not a belt. Is it the length of the thing that's the problem?

[S pack]

My mechanic told me it is a 1.5k job to replace the chains but I'm sure it could be done cheaper.

His experience supported what I had read about the stretched timing chains being an early VE problem.  He said he rarely sees the timing chain problem with the VZ. Premature cooling system thermostat failure was common in early VZ Alloytecs.

In any case he told me not to worry about it as if there is a problem with the chains stretching the ECU will throw up an engine warning and the fault code will indicate there is a problem with the camshaft timing. Worst case apparently is the ECU will go into limp home mode.

 

Probably the quality of the chains is the problem.  Made in China???????????

Edited by S pack, 30 November 2016 - 10:05 PM.

[rodomo]

Buy a VY

[kiwi-lilj]

Buy a falcon.

[Statler]

Posted Yesterday, 10:00 PM

My mechanic told me it is a 1.5k job to replace the chains but I'm sure it could be done cheaper.

His experience supported what I had read about the stretched timing chains being an early VE problem.  He said he rarely sees the timing chain problem with the VZ

I guess all those guys on the Commodore forums with stretched chains in their Z's must be wrong huh? 

 

As a VZ owner i tend to notice these things. 

[LJ RB30]

The engines around 06-07 (don't remember exact months) had narrower chains fitted & they stretch. It's on the just commodore site.
I looked into it before I bought my VZ a few years ago

Edited by LJ RB30, 01 December 2016 - 10:27 AM.

[yel327]

Buy a falcon.

 

I'd agree. If for whatever reason you want a 6cyl over a V8 buy a Ford. If you want a V8 buy an LS1 engined VY or VZ. 
 

[Warwick]

And I'm looking at Falcons as well. Perhaps an RTV. The VZ idea only came up because I saw this one and it looks good, has low km and is the right price. I've also been looking at Jap as well. I want a 2WD single extended cab with a tray.

 

The difficulty is in finding something that has done under 200k for a reasonable price. Most of the utes in the mid 00s are up at around 300k + and the sellers still think they're worth $7-$8k.

[yel327]

Right now you can buy a new 2.4L manual single cab Triton with tray for about $17k drive away. 5 years warranty. Bit dearer than $8k but you'll still be driving it without spending a cent or laying a spanner on it in 5 years time, and get at least $10k back for it.

[yel327]

There are some BA Utes on car sales with 100-150k km on them for less than 8k. The problem with Utes when buying used is they hold their value well compared to sedans.

[Statler]

My son has a VZ ute (not tray back) for sale for 7K

Has 125K & it mint.

[Warwick]

There are some BA Utes on car sales with 100-150k km on them for less than 8k. The problem with Utes when buying used is they hold their value well compared to sedans.

Exactly. But there's plenty with 350-400km (I've even seen 500km) and the sellers are asking $6k+.

 

There's something you realise with people selling utes. Time and time again they start the ad with "Perfect for tradie!" - as though a it would never have occurred to a tradie that a ute is something they would use for work.

My son has a VZ ute (not tray back) for sale for 7K

Has 125K & it mint.

Tempting, but I'm really after a tray.

[S pack]

I guess all those guys on the Commodore forums with stretched chains in their Z's must be wrong huh? 

 

As a VZ owner i tend to notice these things. 

I am also a VZ owner hence my interest in any issues that are problematic to the model.

When I searched last year for info on stretched timing chains in the alloytec engines the results I found almost all pertained to the VE Alloytec and most of those results were on the Just Commodores Forum.

[Warwick]

Right now you can buy a new 2.4L manual single cab Triton with tray for about $17k drive away. 5 years warranty. Bit dearer than $8k but you'll still be driving it without spending a cent or laying a spanner on it in 5 years time, and get at least $10k back for it.

Sounds great but extended cab is a necessity. For work I often transport framed pictures and canvas artwork. Throwing it in the tray won't make the customers too happy when I pickup and deliver.

 

 .

[yel327]

VZ ute isn't extended cab nor is Falcon