Dtronic GU 3.0TD vs 4.5 petrol 80 series
Submitted: Sunday, Jun 20, 2004 at 21:34
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Member - Captain (WA)
Went for a Sunday 4x4 drive with my brother-in-law (80 series RV 4.5 petrol) and at one stage had the classic roll-on drag. Both vehicles in 5th gear at 80 km/hr on a clear level dual lane road.
From the start, the 3.0TD GU edged in front of the 4.5P 80 series and by 135 km/hr the GU was still in front by a good vehicle length and slowly increasing before sanity took over. Now I was the first to expect the 4.5 petrol to win and was absolutely shocked (and elated) to "win".
I am not trying to start a "mines bigger than yours" thread, but I was suprised just how good the 3.0TD went. We have had this type of "drag" before when I had the 80 series 1HZ diesel and I could not even read his rear plate after 100 km/hr, the 4.5 was simply that much quicker.
OK, I do have the Dtronic, but I also have 285/75 tyres (7% worse gearing than standard). The 4.5 80 series was stock (still had cheese cutter 7.5R16 tyres) and has been the benchmark for a powerful 4WD.
To add insult to injury, I used far less diesel than petrol. Anyway, just had to share this "win" after driving astmatic diesels for so many years
Cheers
Captain
Captain
Reply By: Baz (NSW) - Sunday, Jun 20, 2004 at 21:38
Sunday, Jun 20, 2004 at 21:38
Lets see ya win when up against the Explorer, betcha i win !!!
Baz.
AnswerID:
64132
Follow Up By: Member - Captain (WA) - Sunday, Jun 20, 2004 at 22:34
Sunday, Jun 20, 2004 at 22:34
Just name the place, now that I have a swollen head from the last win. Anywhere just out of
Perth will be fine - see ya there in an hour!!!
Cheers
Captain
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Baz (NSW) - Monday, Jun 21, 2004 at 09:24
Monday, Jun 21, 2004 at 09:24
An hour !! gunna take the long way are ya lol.
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Reply By: Bonz (Vic) - Sunday, Jun 20, 2004 at 21:51
Sunday, Jun 20, 2004 at 21:51
Ahhh Capt'n its the torque that wins out every time, and the 3.0 GU has 420 little Nm's with a d-tronic on it, thems lots of Nm's. Had the same thing with a trip to Qld from Vic, friends in a 4.5 petrol and they were close but we kept edging ahead in the Patrol. It was good to have them in the rear view mirror compared to other friends who just disappeared out of sight on trips and kept having to stop and wait (this was by their choice not by power, something about driving like someone going to bowls!). Anyhows I made the comment to our friends and Robbie said they were flat out keeping up which surprised me as we werent anywhere neear flat out, but easily in front. Power vs torque? once you're moving torque wins every time.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Captain (WA) - Sunday, Jun 20, 2004 at 22:37
Sunday, Jun 20, 2004 at 22:37
Yeah, you just gotta love that 420Nm of torque. I normally drive between 1,500rpm and 2,500rpm (gear changes points I mean) and more than keep up with the flow of traffic while getting fantastic fuel economy.
It may only have 4 cyclinders and 3 litres, but it certainly has some mumbo.
Cheers
Captain
FollowupID:
325287
Reply By: Muddy 'doe (SA) - Monday, Jun 21, 2004 at 00:47
Monday, Jun 21, 2004 at 00:47
Captain,
I think Bonz is spot on about Torque. I have the 3.0litre TD Prado and while it is a slug off the line it is suprisingly agile on the highway. When it is in the power band between 2000 and 3000 rpm it is fantastic for overtaking. This would be similar to what you describe in your "drag off".
The traffic light
derby is a bit of a disappointment but that is not what I bought it for. Get it out on the open road though and it is a performer. Overtaking B Doubles and Road Trains is not for the faint-hearted and you need plenty of grunt to do it. The turbo-diesel seems to do it with ease as long as you have the revs in the right spot with the turbo kicking in.
There are bigger donks out there that will do it easier but the payoff for the smaller capacity diesels is at the bowser when you can consistently get better than 12 litres per 100km without trying to drive frugally.
Cheers
Steven
AnswerID:
64150
Follow Up By: Wizard1 - Monday, Jun 21, 2004 at 08:16
Monday, Jun 21, 2004 at 08:16
Muddy'doe,
You are right the Prado TD is quite capable but it can always be better. I recently had a Dtronic fitted to my 90 series Prado TD (40,000 Ks) and the change was amazing. Living in the NT you appreciate the ability to pass triple road trains whilst towing the boat and a weekends worth of camping equipment, etc. To accelarate from 80 pkh to 120 kph (no speed limit here) with a boat trailer up
hill in 5th gear. You have to be happy with that. I also wish those damn Disco drivers would stop slowing me down!
Old mate had problems keeping up with his GU 3.0 TD.
I achieve 10L/100km around town. I can't wait to tow my 22 ft caravan and see what it does.
Wizard
Darwin NT
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Davoe - Monday, Jun 21, 2004 at 09:42
Monday, Jun 21, 2004 at 09:42
intresting - but doesnt surprise me, while the 3l td woes are
well documented I am yet to hear anyone say they lack go
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Reply By: Puddin (Sydney) - Monday, Jun 21, 2004 at 15:00
Monday, Jun 21, 2004 at 15:00
I'll have to put mine back in as it was a bit sluggish on the
Berri trip compared to when it was fitted but I thought I'd run the new donk in a little first.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Patroleum - Monday, Jun 21, 2004 at 19:51
Monday, Jun 21, 2004 at 19:51
Captain,
The 4.5 80's certainly are a pig on fuel, but who is in for an engine 1st, gu 3.0td
or 80 4.5 petrol. $10000 is a lot of fuel. We own an 80 4.5 and for the 158kw claimed it certainly does not feel that way. On a recent trip a mate with a Jack 3.5
was with us and probably could have passed us climbing hills. I guess that is what you get for 20l/100km.
Regards
Greg
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Follow Up By: Member - Captain (WA) - Monday, Jun 21, 2004 at 21:13
Monday, Jun 21, 2004 at 21:13
Hi Greg,
Don't know about the engine bit!!! Its only the series 2, NOT the series 3, that has had engine issues. And even then, they were fixed free by Nissan (who do you know who has paid for a new 3.0TD engine?). But must agree, its a bloody inconvieniance for the series 2 owners, but at least they get a nice NEW reliable engine after 80,000 + kms
But who pays for your new airflow meter when your 4.5 backfires? (happend to a mate, after a +$1,000 quote managed to get a 2nd hand one from the wrecker). Now I am not trying to start a relaibilitybleepmatch, but the series 3 GU 3.0TD is starting to get the runs on the board after the woeful series 2 introduction.
I have always found the 4.5 80 series engine to be a gutsy, if thirsty, motor and was taken aback to actually beat it. Even though I am a "supporter" of the series 3 GU 3.0TD, I did not think a 4 cyclinder 3 litre diesel would ever get the drop on a 4.5 6cyl petrol, regardless of the circumstances. Just goes to show what technology can do.
Cheers
Captain
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325391
Reply By: crayman - Monday, Jun 21, 2004 at 23:46
Monday, Jun 21, 2004 at 23:46
Im about to buy a new patrol to replace my old 4.2tb GQ 250ks hard mine life no probs, undeceided between 4.2tdi or 3l with detronic i know the relibility of the 4.2 and the 3l claim to have sorted out motor probs but i would like to see how they are after 300,000 k`s of hard work (4.2s in mining situations regularly do 400,000 kss with no engine probs) anyone know of a high milage 3 serries
Maurie
AnswerID:
64310