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Toyota Hilux: 1KD-FTV common rail injector cracking and fuel dilution

1KD-FTV common rail injector cracking and fuel dilution is a very common engine fault on the Toyota Hilux on the 2005–2007 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $2,000 to $5,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 59 documented faults on the Toyota Hilux.

Vehicle
Toyota Hilux
Engine
1KD-FTV
Years
2005–2007
Fuel
diesel
System
Engine

This page covers the Toyota Hilux as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Toyota Hilux faults59 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

A single common-rail diesel fuel injector photographed against a plain background.Example of the part — not this vehicle

A common-rail diesel injector. Contamination damages the nozzle at the tip.

Panoha · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

What goes wrong

The 1KD-FTV 3.0L D-4D diesel fitted to AN10-series Hilux uses Denso common-rail injectors that develop hairline cracks in the injector body over time. This allows diesel fuel to leak into the engine oil, thinning it and raising the oil level on the dipstick. The fault causes increased engine wear and fire risk. It is well-documented across the 1KD-FTV platform including Land Cruiser Prado and HiAce. A NZTA safety recall and Toyota Australia recall were issued for this defect.

What you would notice

  • Oil level rising above maximum on dipstick without adding oil
  • Diesel smell from engine oil on dipstick
  • Rough idle or cylinder misfire from failed injector
  • Black smoke under acceleration
  • Oil pressure warning light on high-mileage examples

How to check it

Where to look. Engine bay — common rail fuel injectors mounted in the cylinder head, top of the 1KD-FTV

  1. Pull the dipstick and smell the oil — diesel contamination is detectable by fuel smell and a thin, watery feel.

  2. Compare the oil level against the last service record.

  3. Ask if the vehicle is subject to the Toyota injector recall and has been repaired.

  4. This fault can destroy the engine if left unaddressed.

Parts involved: Fuel rail, Fuel injector.

What it costs to put right

$2,000 to $5,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

  • “Have the fuel injectors been inspected or replaced under Toyota recall?”
  • “Has the oil ever been found to be above the maximum mark?”
  • “What does the oil smell and look like on the dipstick right now?”

Now check the Toyota Hilux you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Toyota Hilux buyer questions

Is 1kd-ftv common rail injector cracking and fuel dilution serious on a Toyota Hilux?

We rate it critical and very common on the Toyota Hilux. The 1KD-FTV 3.0L D-4D diesel fitted to AN10-series Hilux uses Denso common-rail injectors that develop hairline cracks in the injector body over time. This allows diesel fuel to leak into the engine oil, thinning it and raising the oil level on the dipstick. The fault causes increased engine wear and fire risk. It is well-documented across the 1KD-FTV platform including Land Cruiser Prado and HiAce. A NZTA safety recall and Toyota Australia recall were issued for this defect.

How much does it cost to fix on a Toyota Hilux?

$2,000 to $5,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Toyota Hilux years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2005–2007 Toyota Hilux. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Pull the dipstick and smell the oil — diesel contamination is detectable by fuel smell and a thin, watery feel. Compare the oil level against the last service record. Ask if the vehicle is subject to the Toyota injector recall and has been repaired. This fault can destroy the engine if left unaddressed. Look here: Engine bay — common rail fuel injectors mounted in the cylinder head, top of the 1KD-FTV