Make no mistake: while 200 Series Toyota Landcruisers may lack the “indestructible” label that their Hilux cousins are recognised by, their “built like a tank” credentials leaves no question about their pedigree. The 200 Series’ heavy duty simplicity gives it the extraordinary capability to go just about anywhere with minimal effort, and to do it comfortably.
Be that as it may, there are some areas where they could use a bit of extra attention though, especially in the fresh air intake department. The 200 Series’ powerful twin turbocharged diesel V8 is a beast of an engine, but it also has a well-documented history of allowing fine dust to leak into the intake. Fortunately, the solution is as simple as upgrading the Landcruiser’s OE airbox to a more reliable one; and there’s one company in Australia that does airboxes better than anyone else: GTurbo.
GTurbo Has the Solution For 200 Series Landcruiser Airbox Headaches
Let’s be honest: as powerful as the 200 Series’ heavyweight twin turbodiesel is, having a defective airbox as its Achille’s heel can be disastrous. That’s why GTurbo’s high performance VDJ200 airbox is considered a must-have accessory for Landcruiser aftermarket aficionados.
200 Series owners understand that the short- and long-term risks that come with allowing dust and debris to enter the turbo’s intake are too costly to ignore, and they include:
- The risk of abrasion damage to the compressor blades, resulting in a gradual degrading of performance;
- Erratic Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor readings, resulting in poor idling and uneven acceleration; and,
- Unpredictable automatic transmission behaviour, causing the Landcruiser’s ECU to incorrectly time the gearbox’s shift points.
Any of these problems are enough to turn the Landcruiser’s otherwise bedrock-reliable performance upside down. It’s the potential for significant engine wear or catastrophic turbo failure, however, that’s most worrying. It’s a costly, irreversible process that’s easily avoided though, simply by replacing the Landcruiser’s factory airbox with an improved unit from GTurbo.
Signs and Symptoms of 200 Series Airbox Warpage
Ask any 200 Series owner who loves road trips and off-roading what the Landcruiser’s primary airbox weakness is, and they’ll immediately point to blowby. The technical term for persistent blowby is dusting, and the 200 Series’ moulded plastic airbox is known for a nasty array of equally unwanted technical problems, which includes:
- Warping of the airbox lid, leading to a loss of rubber seal integrity and positive airbox pressure;
- Loose clamps, leading to airbox misalignment and additional damage to seals; and,
- A cracked or dry rotted intake boot, allowing unfiltered air to find an even more direct path to the engine.
The fact is, any situation that would allow unfiltered, high particulate air to be drawn into the intake is going to be bad news for the engine. A faulty airbox doesn’t just present a problem with dust and sediment. It also permits high volumes of thin, heat-soaked air from under the bonnet to also get drawn into the engine, further complicating the combustion picture. These are all problems, however, that precision-engineered GTurbo VDJ200 airboxes are designed to eliminate.
Build Features That Go Into the Best Engineered Airbox In the Business
While there’s no shortage of aftermarket airbox manufacturers on the market, there’s one crucial attribute that separates GTurbo boxes from all the others: engineering. An airbox that isn’t capable of maintaining a proper seal isn’t much of an airbox, which is why GTurbo airboxes are engineered specifically to be drop-in replacements that offer the absolute best seal-related properties under the worst possible conditions.
Starting with their lightweight aluminium bodies, GTurbo airboxes leave nothing to chance when it comes to durability or reliability, and they boast a core of build features that include:
- Marine-grade alloy construction. GTurbo’s premium grade airboxes are constructed from 3mm marine-grade 5052 aluminium alloy. It’s the only material that guarantees them the no-flex rigidity they need, while also providing the superior heat conductivity and dissipation required to maximise the Landcruiser’s intake air density.
- Craftsmanship that counts. GTurbo airboxes are crafted from CNC-cut and folded panels, and are TIG-welded for optimal sealing, including along their 8mm inlet and outlet flanges. Their high level of craftsmanship also provides the framework for their unique sealing and filter pressurisation systems, ensuring a perfectly dust-proof seal at every possible junction.
- The best seal in the business. GTurbo’s special double-seal lid, and filter pressurisation systems are the heart of their airboxes. They’re the most essential components in creating an airbox that doesn’t allow unwanted dust, debris or moisture to enter the intake around the lid, while simultaneously maintaining positive pressurisation behind the filter for maximum air filtration and velocity.
GTurbo’s 200 Series airboxes can also be used on 70 Series Landcruisers. Their adjustable mounting legs makes it easy for them to be mounted quickly and precisely onto either of these powerful Toyota 4WDs, which also gives them maximum compatibility with GTurbo’s own line of high performance air filters.
Making GTurbo Air Filters the Last Line of Defence Against Engine Dusting
Although GTurbo airboxes are most notably distinguished for their ability to resist the kind of warping that would typically leads to dusting, the real filtration feat begins with the filter. In spite of Toyota’s less-than perfect airbox design, the OE 200 Series cellulose air filters do reasonably well with capturing particulate matter. They’re no match, however, for GTurbo’s own premium performance air filters.
The rigid frame used in GTurbo’s dry-style filters is designed especially for the severe off-road thrashing that Landcruisers and Hiluxes are built for, and they offer a selection of special features that include:
- Multi-layer, sub-micron filtration, designed to capture the ultra-fine dust particles that ordinary paper filters can’t;
- Heavy duty urethane rubber seals that are designed to eliminate the risk of dust and debris being sucked past the first and into the intake; and,
- An ultra high flow rate that delivers unrestricted airflow to the turbo with no loss of power or throttle response.
These heat and vibration resistant filters also excel at resisting clogging and pull-through. While a combination of dust and water entering through a snorkel might ordinarily become caked onto the filter, there’s no risk of the GTurbo fliters collapsing or being sucked into the intake. It effectively qualifies their high performance filters as the last line of reliable defence against turbo and engine damage.
The Final Word
Only a GTurbo high performance VDJ200 airbox has all the qualities Landcruiser owners have come to expect from these classic, “built like a tank” 4WDs. Across the board, these airboxes are one of the best aftermarket purchases an owner can make, with guaranteed positive results.
At the end of the day, a durable, proper-sealing airbox does more than just protect the turbo while giving the engine a cool breath of air. Reducing undesirable intake air turbulence can also improve fuel consumption throughout the entire RPM range. That makes a new, smartly designed airbox an investment that can ultimately save Landcruiser owners more money than the unit actually costs.
