Hi Scotty, I've been watching and referencing your channel for better than a decade. Big fan, and thanks for all of the wisdom you've imparted on me.
I recently watched your review of the new 2024 Lexus GX. I was surprised that your biggest gripes were 3rd row legroom, poor fuel economy, and sluggish acceleration. The surprise was that you glossed over the V6 twin-turbo.
You have previously stated that turbos shorten the overall life of the engine, a theory that I agree with and understand as a fact of physics.
Because the Lexus GX is regarded as one of the most reliable, longest-lasting large SUVs on the planet, I was hoping you would go into more detail on that particular shift.
Personally, I love the new body style, but I have major reservations on Lexus's transition to the V6 twin-turbo, so much so that this is the reason I wouldn't buy one.
Obviously, the car hasn't been out long at all, so I know it's not easy to say with any degree of certainty how much you think this transition will reduce the reliability of the GX, but for me I'll probably be looking at the old style which I do not like nearly as much aesthetically.
What are your thoughts? Do you care to go into a deeper dive?
Twin-turbo V6s look good on paper, if you don't drive like a maniac, but as soon as that turbo kicks in, it's cramming more air into that cylinder than a naturally aspirated engine, and more fuel is being injected to compensate, massively lowering MPG. Most people don't drive conservatively, especially with a turbo. They like the fun it has. My wife's Mustang is an EcoBoost, and I tend to put it through its paces the once-in-blue-moon time I drive it.
Combine that with GDI fuel injection, where 200 PSI at idle is the norm (it was 60 PSI with ordinary fuel injection) and new piston rings that I can squeeze with my bare hands is a recipe for engines prematurely wearing out if you drive like a maniac constantly. Gas is a solvent, and it bypasses weak piston rings at high RPMs, getting into the crankcase, that then creates more work for the PCV valve.
Old engines like my Pontiac that have a carburetor are more durable than new engines. A more viscous oil is required because the piston rings are very stiff. Gas isn't easy to blow by the pistons, thus it's not producing a lot of work for the PCV valve.
Weak piston rings for MPG, combined with turbochargers and GDI, are a recipe of premature engine wear if you're always hard on the throttle.
This is a great point, and I wholeheartedly agree! To me it seems that the twin-turbo V6 will have to work hard just to keep up, even if you are driving relatively conservatively. With a family inside, it's easily over 6k lbs. Seems underpowered to me without relying on the twin-turbo too heavily.
That's exactly right. The concept of planned obsolescence is quite strong these days, unfortunately.
It’s tough because most NEW cars are moving toward turbos or hybrids. Even Toyota/Lexus.
If you want a GX/Land Cruiser, the choices are the Lexus V6 Turbo or the Toyota Hybrid Max. It most likely won’t last as long as an naturally aspirated.
With that said, if I were to buy a turbo or hybrid car, Toyota would be one of my top choices versus other brands.
Scotty does most of his deep discussion of the new V6 twin turbos on the Tundra reviews and the GX has the same engine. In addition to what I'm reading above (and I take this right from Scotty's YT review on the new Tundra engines) is that the horsepower curve is way different than a naturally aspirated V8 and that horsepower comes at higher RPM, later in the acceleration curve and towing and such is much harder on such a configuration than the V8.
Bottom line....gov't eventually wants to do away with cars, so mothballing good, dependable stuff is the order of the day to do the world gov't's bidding.