The unkillable Toyota is an automotive trope for a reason. Although its reputation for reliability has taken a hit recently, that reputation was largely earned with off-roaders who drove the Dakar, complete with ratchet-strap suspension and pickups that survived through wildfires and a million miles of driving. So it’s not surprising that a Land Cruiser was able to start up after being parked for years and look like it had been driven through the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
Australian YouTuber Channel Steve’s Place Down Under The startup specializes in videos of old cars and trucks that have been left to rot. Someone told the host about a Land Cruiser that was parked indefinitely, and with the owner’s permission, he got to work. You can see what it took to get the Land Cruiser running again in this approximately 16-minute video.
The Land Cruiser in question is a 1990 70 Series model with the gasoline inline-six. It has been a common sight in Australia since its introduction in the mid-1980s. In fact, it is still being sold there today, despite being a nearly 40-year-old design. Maybe because they’re not picky at all.
Even though this is contrary to Rolling Stone, a quick inspection revealed that there was no water in the oil and the cooling system was completely intact. The engine started on the first try, although it failed to get a spark due to corrosion in the distributor. Even cleaning everything and pouring some fuel into the carburetor didn’t help. The next step was to pull, check and clean the plug, followed by another injection of fuel into the carburetor. Due to this the fire flared up for some time and a small fire broke out.
Will it start? 1990 Toyota LandCruiser has been sitting for years
After a few more tries, the engine cleared its throat and was running well, but only when fuel was poured into the carburetor. The fuel pump was on, but pumping old gas from the tank is not a good idea. And the oil pressure seemed adequate, so with a constant fuel supply, the engine could potentially keep running.
However, running is very different from driving. It’s still unclear whether the Land Cruiser can shift into gear, or whether the engine can handle the actual load, let alone the condition of the tires and brakes. But listening to this moss-covered pile is the subject of a reality show finale.
