Toyota Hilux: keeping a working pickup on the road

The Hilux works hard: heavy loads, construction sites, farm roads and long distances. Most use diesel engines (the 2.5 and 3.0 litre KD engines on older models, the 2.4 and 2.8 litre GD engines from 2016). Treat a working Hilux as severe service and use the shorter intervals in the manual.

Engine

• Oil and filter every 5,000 km for loaded, dusty or site work.
• Air filter: check every service; dust is the enemy of diesel engines.
• Fuel filter every 20,000 km and drain the water separator when the light comes on.
• Older KD engines have a timing belt with a fixed replacement interval. Don't skip it.

Chassis and drivetrain

• Grease the propeller shaft joints at each service.
• Differential oil (and transfer case on 4x4s) every 40,000 km, sooner after deep water or heavy towing.
• Leaf springs and U-bolts: check for cracked leaves, broken centre bolts and loose U-bolts, especially when you carry heavy loads.
• Brakes: check pads, shoes and drums every 10,000 km; a loaded pickup works its brakes hard.

Loading

Stay within the payload on the plate in the door frame and spread the load evenly. Overloading cracks springs, wears out wheel bearings and makes braking dangerous.

Fleets: record each Hilux and its services in CarLog to see your true cost per vehicle.