1997 Daihatsu Terios from Malta

Summary:

It's really ideal to drive!

Faults:

My car used half a tank of engine oil in 3 weeks. Is it a problem?

General Comments:

Since two years, I really found my Daihatsu Terios very roadworthy, and it works very smoothly, and with no trouble at all since this problem occurred!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 9th February, 2010

9th Feb 2010, 09:14

That much oil use in only 3 weeks indicates either a very big leak or severe internal engine wear.

9th Feb 2010, 21:48

Half a tank of engine oil... um well I'd say yes. I'm assuming you mean it went through a few quarts of oil (I realize your country most likely doesn't use the English system, but I'm from the United States, and I don't know the metric system, sorry.) But yes, using that much oil is a serious problem.

12th Aug 2010, 11:15

Mine was eating 1 liter oil in 4 days, but I checked the engine. There was oil leakage. Oil from the intake! Will you guess it? 6 holes in the intake. 1 is for anti-freeze (engine cooling, intake controlling), 4 are for air intake to cylinders, the last one is nothing but oil comes out from it. I don't know why Daihatsu made that hole. I changed the intake gasket and oil leaked for 1 day. Then it became fine. No leakage, no eating much oil. Now I add 1 liter oil during 1 month. Because it is small engine and high RPM. Also it's an old engine. I adjusted the valves and then the engine noise decreased.

In reply to 12th Aug 2010, 11:15

1st Mar 2017, 07:38

Hi, any chance that you can give me a quick lesson on how to replace the gasket? My Terios 2003 is using just too much oil. Much appreciated. JV

1997 Daihatsu Terios DX 1.3L from Australia and New Zealand

Summary:

Completely reliable plus practical for city use (economical) and exploring the Australian Outback

Faults:

A rattle developed inside the muffler (silencer) during the warranty period. Replaced without question by supplier.

General Comments:

An excellent vehicle. I travelled 12,000kms last year in a period of seven weeks touring all over Western Australia through Kakadu and Darwin in the Northern Territories. We traversed some extremely rough, testing tracks including into the Bungle Bungles in the Kimberley region, a 50kms drive which takes on average about 3hrs and requires the crossing of about 8 water courses. We travelled the Gibb River Road from Derby to Kununurra in the far north of Western Australia and upto the King Edward River. Forded many water-ways, some upto half a metre deep without any problems whatsoever. An amazing 4WD with a price tag some AU$5,000 below other 4WD vehicles.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 4th July, 2005

1997 Daihatsu Terios SX from Australia and New Zealand

Summary:

Do not recommended buying one

Faults:

Car sways and feels very unsteady in high winds or exceeding 100km/hr.

Trouble with loud engine noise exceeding 80km/hr.

Engine noise audible at 60km/hr.

Carpet is very cheap and wears easily.

Front, side and rear bumpers mark at the slightest hit from rockd or bumps.

Air conditioning is very noisy.

Gear change 'grinds' into position.

Battery wore down over a 2 hour period when the car was stopped with only the heating on.

General Comments:

The car has been reliable in general.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 1st December, 2001

26th May 2008, 19:22

The comment about the thing being unstable sounds about right.

One was recently in a bad accident. The driver did a U turn on a rough road, the car hit a pot hole, bounced into the air, then hit a tree. To make it worse, the back then came up and crushed the roof of the car against a tree.

The two small children in the back were killed.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/features/death-road-claims-lives/story-e6freoz6-1111116439718

In reply to 26th May 2008, 19:22

18th Oct 2015, 06:58

Damn - drivers need to be so aware of vehicles limitations...