Another diesel question
Submitted: Friday, Apr 02, 2004 at 15:14
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Willem
I have been told by various diesel fundi's that a diesel engine does need to run regularly and for long distances if it needs to operate to its maximum efficiency.
So if I buy a 4.2 litre diesel 4by with 300,000 on the clock and the vehicle is 15 years of age then it should be a good thing. No?
Now if I am looking at a vehicle with a similar engine and similar age with only 160,000 on the clock, should I be wary of possible future engine problems? So instead of 20,000km per year this vehicle has only done about 10,000kms per year.
All answers appreciated
Reply By: duncs - Friday, Apr 02, 2004 at 20:50
Friday, Apr 02, 2004 at 20:50
Willem
I sold an 89 patrol with 385k on the clock. Original owner did very little, second owner ran over 1000ks per week just to get to work plus trips some of which worked the car very hard indeed. Think 4wd mag testing gear. I had it for about 8yrs and was somewhat of a compromise betweenthe first two owners. I used it as a city hack, touring this wide brown land and can it really get up there weekends with the boys.
The engine showed few signs of slowing down but other things started to let me down.
Suspension and steering components started to fail in a big way and then a brake calliper fell off. Oh yeah that was fun.
The vehicle you describe sounds like a pretty safe bet but possibly a bit exe.
Good luck
Duncs.
AnswerID:
52985
Follow Up By: Willem - Friday, Apr 02, 2004 at 23:30
Friday, Apr 02, 2004 at 23:30
Thanks Duncs,
If the vehicle is to my liking I will have to get the price down as my budget does not stretch that far.
Cheers
FollowupID:
314788
Reply By: Bilbo - Friday, Apr 02, 2004 at 23:03
Friday, Apr 02, 2004 at 23:03
Willem,
I still own a 1989 Ford Mav trayback ute (as well as 100 series TD Cruiser). I bought the Mav when it had done only 38K kms in 1991. It's now done 220K kms and all of it rough ( I mean ROUGH) bush work as a prospecting vehicle. Being an (ex) diesel mechanic, I changed oil and filter every 5000kms - religiously. It's bullet proof, still pulls like a train, burns no oil, makes a bit of black smoke if you accelerate hard - but the Nissan TD42 motors all seem to do that, in spite of injector changes. I know of many TD42 motors that have done 350,000 kms and still don't burn oil etc and can still pull a brick****house down. Willem, my Mav has had a tough life and I swear by it. It's now been put out to pasture on a mate's farm as a hack vehicle. But I know if I wanted to go from
Kalgoorlie to
Darwin - cross country - then the MAV is the vehicle I know would do it - and back! Only probs I've had are a drivers side disc brake caliper that persistenetly jams and wears the pad and then the disc rotor - twice it's done it and you don't know it's done till it's too late. That and a few bulbs, batteries and a set of alternator brushes is about all. If I was still out prospecting for a living, the Mav would still be my vehicle. I'm glad I never sold it. I worship that vehicle. It never let me down. Toyotas 'Cruisers are comfortable and torquey -but Nissans are just plain TOUGH.
Bilbo
AnswerID:
53011
Follow Up By: Willem - Friday, Apr 02, 2004 at 23:28
Friday, Apr 02, 2004 at 23:28
Bilbo,
Thanks for that wonderful report on the Mav/Nissan. I am very happy with my old bus which isn't very far from doing 500,000km. It is a very tough truck. I am of course looking for a just a little more comfort and diesel reliabilty and as I want to go into remote
places where only diesel is available. I will have to get in to a regime of thorough
servicing and oil changes as I only do the petrol engine every 10,000.
Cheers
FollowupID:
314787
Reply By: cokeaddict - Saturday, Apr 03, 2004 at 10:17
Saturday, Apr 03, 2004 at 10:17
Hi Willem,
Just my shillings worth here, Check it out mate, they are amazing cars for what they do. I wouldnt think twice. Just get the price down, 1989 models are going for around 10,000 these days.
I clocked 600,000 on my first one mate, still going strong when i sold it too. Sorry i did now, i miss the old girl.
Good luck mate, im sure u will know if its right for you.
Cheers Angelo
AnswerID:
53036
Follow Up By: Willem - Saturday, Apr 03, 2004 at 10:47
Saturday, Apr 03, 2004 at 10:47
Thanks Angelo...will check it out next week.
Cheers
FollowupID:
314821
Reply By: Glenn D - Saturday, Apr 03, 2004 at 19:25
Saturday, Apr 03, 2004 at 19:25
Bought a new ( different ) vehicle recently because we are going round
Australia. My 84 pajero didn't make me feel too cofident in my driveway let alone up the cape. I really wanted an 80 series but for a few grand more I got a 3lt Patrol with a lot less km's. I know you said you had a limited budget but the whole drive line ,
suspension , bushes, etc has done the mileage along with the engine, If you know the cars history it makes it an easier question to answer. All things being equal Ireckon go for lower mileage!!
AnswerID:
53092