Member - Blue (VIC) replied:

Almost sounds like you've made your mind up and just want someone else to reassure you spending $20k now is the right move...

As a non pootrol owner I have no opinion here, just reading between your lines.

Member - Hagar (SA) replied:

Oh no I have not. $ 20 000 can buy a lot of time away, I am just poo scared of the thing blowing up at a VERY wrong location. Around home (somewhere in SA) is not so bad, but far away with camper in tow loaded with our things is a completely different story. I really like the car, it has done all we ever wanted, it economical (14km/L towing at 100km/hr) comfy etc. BUT, recovery (?) fight with Nissan (?) and related cost may end up near the same.

Allan

gompy replied:

Don't be scared, I am convinced that 99% of all the 3.0l patrols never blow an engine!! in any case you've got the series III, which should be oke!

live4theweekends replied:

We were just faced with the same sort of thing. Our 92 petrol GQ has 260,000k's on the clock and we are heading from Vic to SA, NT, QLD, NSW, ACT, Vic over a 3-4mth period. The old girl has gone strong so far and was it worth spending $25,000 to upgrade? Plus the extra expenses and time of fitting the fridge and brake controller and UHF etc etc again. We decided if we upgraded we couldnt afford the actual holiday so we had the motor pulled down (needed something looked at anyway) replaced welch plugs, head gasket, all new hoses and fluids, fan, aircon service,new radiator, leads, plugs, carby kit, valve seats(?) (bore and pistons like new!) etc etc about $4500... a lot cheaper than $25,000. No guarantee it wont have a problem but then if you buy another secondhand vehicle you still have no guarantee.
Have a great trip :-)

Motherhen replied:

Hagar - you wound just like my husband! Doesn't want to risk something going wrong in the never never, and feels it risky even with the 2002 model (now over 125,000 kms, some of it towing heavy caravan). Not having the $20,000 grand, we have not as yet traded to something different or put in a V8; the only real options. Murphy usually sits on my shoulder ready to pounce where ever we go. We took the risk and did 19,000 kms last year, including Tasmania, and all went well - Murphy stayed at home. We fitted EGT gauge and boost gauge to make sure we don't stress the motor to blow up point. Will get the MAF sensor changed before we take another big trip with the 3 litre. Most of them don't blow - lots of them still on the road, despite the many first hand tales of series I, and rumours of more recent editions blowing. I don't know the kms we could expect to get from the hi-tech motor - I'm sure nothing like the old fashioned truck motors.

Chucky replied:

for 20 grand you could drop in a 6.5lt v8 diesel. Sell your motor and you will have plenty of change left over.
And you will be able to tow no worries at all.

Go on, you know you want too.

Andrew(WA) replied:

Hagar

Sell it privately. You'll get $30,000 + with full history 1 owner etc.

I'm doing the same thing myself.

Eric Experience replied:

Allan.
The risk of the motor blowing in the wrong place is pretty low, much less than 1%. The motors fail by over heating a piston, the most likely cause is over boost due to a failure of the air flow meter. If I wear in your shoes I would fit a boost gauge and note the normal boost under varying speeds and conditions, then if something odd happens to the boost you can drive carefully until the problem goes away or you can get it fixed. Much cheaper and you get to keep one of the best touring vehicles ever made, no I don't own one but have always been very impressed with them on trips with others. Eric.

Member - Hagar (SA) replied:

How good is this place!!! Thank you all for your advice. I feel it often helps to broaden the base rather than just my love and I talking things over. I do love the flaming thing (the Nissan) and dont really want the 100 series, otherwise might have looked that way initially but tooooooo flaming dear even back then and they are not free of problems either from all accounts. After all, $20 000 is a lot of dosh, better used for other things not to mention the obvious discusting depreciation of the Nissan (near $30 000 in 4.5years). No, I will stay with it and keep everythig crossed, well nearly.

Thanks again

Allan