Choice of Patrol

In the world of underground mining you rarely see nissan.

Because they dont have as good a fleet discount and they wont discount parts on fleet unlike Tojos I'm led to believe.

Hl,

Even the latest 4.2 does not yet have the electronic pump the 98 2.8 GU had.
The 4.2 only has an electronic timing control and electronic EGR control both of wich if they fail will not stop the car.
It does not have elctronic throttle, elec governor or any of that.

Having said that, they are the least things that fail, the question was around longevity due to stressing....
The 3.0L engine is city oriented with many vulnerable points from the exposed idler pulley, to the one serpentine belt to air flow sensors, and dozens of other bits.
You only have to look at the workshop manual and look at the exploded picture of engine components and tolerances to workout that the engine to choose for bush work is the 4.2.
ie: real life examples:
You are in the CSR, In the 4.2 the a/c pulley bearing fails, you just cut the belt and go on...
In the 3.0L you are stuck because the serpentine belt does not allow to drive with one less pulley....

Most components in the 4.2 engine and rebuildable and have tolerances to allow it to be machined, fixed...
The 3.0l engine on the other hand does not allow anything to be machined (not even the head according to the manual) so a blown head gasket in the bush (say birdsville) in a 4.2 is an afternoon work in the 3.0L who knows... just look at the workshop manual and see how many o'rings and special gaskets you need for the job!!

So what your saying is budget on spending thousands of $ on a recovery...

... or spend the money on quality and know you will finish your trip/holiday, and know you dont have to sit somewhere in 40 degree heat for 3 days while a tow truck comes to you...

Good logic..

G'day Banjo and all others,
Yes mate, I'm here; just been doing a bit of work for a change!!!
Those who've been on here for a while know only too well my feelings on this issue. I do try not to be too one-eyed......hell I've even said on here that Toyotas are okay as a 4x4, jus over-priced (IMHO) and getting too soft in the latest models (as are the Nissans as well).
I chose my 4.2 over the 3L after having owned a 4.2 GQ with a Safari turbo and did almost 300,000klm in it. When I was looking to upgrade to a GU, the only one I could test drive was a 3L auto (2000 model). Boy, did it get up and boogey!!!! I had to be careful I didn't spin the wheels on the test drive......so used to having to stick the Bluney into the right pedal and get a half-baked response (by comparison).
Anyway, I looked under the bonnet of the 3L, saw that there was bugga-all room for my normal set of accessories etc; saw all the electronic gizmos; saw that horrible waste of space under the radiator's cowling and most of all I shuddered at the thought of all that weight being managed by a 4 cylinder donk. I know, I know....I paranoid for no good reason, the troubles of the early 3L seem to have been cured and it goes really well. So why do I still prefer the 4.2????
Okay, I'm no mechanic (I'm a pen-pusher/keyboard puncher). But I do have a modicum of knowledge of how the ol' girl functions. I can change belts, hoses, radiators, fuel filters, oil & air filters etc. I can pull the injectors out if need be. I've had the whole air intake from the inner guard to the turbo off at different times (and have never seen one single solitary electric wire going to any part of it (IE: no electronic gizmos to get covered in dust or fine oil particulates which then tell some hidden computer chip that the world as it is known to be is going to come to an end!!!).
I know mine has less power than a 3L with a chip (probably even without a chip). I do not drive a 4x4 cos I want to get from A to B in the fastest possible time, via the least hospitible track. When we go on club trips I usually volunteer to be tail end charlie so that I don't feel that I'm holding somebody else up.
BUT........I would back my ol' 4.2 against anybody else's vehicle in our club when it comes to it's reliablity and ability to get to our chosen destination.
Sure, I have modified mine heavily with slightly raised suspension, 3" exhaust, larger radiator, front Air Locker etc......just like a lot of other blokes have done.
Now as far as fuel economy is concerned, my experience may be worth considering. We went to Cape York late last year. My mate who has a 3L auto Patrol used virtually identical amount of fuel at each fill-up stop we did. We both had camper trailers about the same weight (my Ultimate and his Trak Shak), but mine has a larger frontal area given my roof rack etc.
Hope this helps,
Roachie

That says it all...
If you venture out with an old bomb, it will likely bomb out!
The point about the serpentine belt is a good one though, never thought about it that way. I had an alternator belt pop off on my last GU2.8 and because it has two, no worries (well, I was waiting for the 2nd one to go all the way home). Also had my mechanic tell me he has seen one belt go on them and take all the others with it. That belt had actually only done 10,000k!

Cheers

I think your dead right there Captain. Of course I guess it depends on how long you plan to keep it for. But I agree. All this crap about drive by wire being a problem yada yada, I've seen vehicles with broken throtle cables before, unless you've got a spare it's still not going to help you in the middle of the CSR. ;-)

Then there are us Plebs who can't afford new 4bies, we just spend our saturday mornings crawling under the old clunker making sure that everything we can possibly think of is attended to, we're always listening for the latest funny noise when driving to the shops so that we can catch something minor before it turns into somthing major in the worst possible location.

Hell I agree, the 4.2 is reliable.
But it's not economical fuel wise or purchase price wise.
It is lacking in power compared to all of it's competitors.

If money was no object, I'd buy a 4.2 and do it up so it ran like it should have to start with. If not, I'd go the 3.0L cross my fingers and be happy. Most of the problems that have been experienced with the later 3.0L patrols are not going to stop you, just slow you down a little till you get home, and that's only IF you have a problem.

totally agree Darren, as per my earlier reply ,if you do need more ponies you can always chip a 3.0td to give 20%approx more power!!

Good response Kim...........
You can't get a fairer opinion than from somebody who owns both types. You've said what I tried to say.......but you did it more clearly and in fewer words....well done mate
Cheers
Roachie

Druers,
Have you been eating to much Maccas or something?
The only reason there are so many 3.0lt vehicles in the yards is because they sell 10 /3.0ltrs to 1/ 4.2ltr.
As I work at a Nissan dealer I can supply you with real figures in black and white. As for your experience in driving both vehicles, what were your observations. Does the 3.0ltr out perform the 4.2ltr or vise versa? Or did you just buy the 4.2 because its been around for so long.
IMHO it is the older guys who stick with the 4.2 because they dont like to accept new and advanced technology. I to have driven both and I think the 4.2 might as well have a camel out the front with reins coming through the windscreen. It would go alot better then.

Phils,
At last, someone who works for Nissan!
I tend to agree with you on most points. And as someone else said in this topic, Japanese electronics seem to be most reliable. I own a 4.2TD-T, and have driven 3.0L autos, and they really perform compared with the 4.2.
Now, tell us, have Nissan fixed the problems with the 3.0L?
I'd really need to know that before trading my 4.2 for a 3.0L.
Gerry

Aandy,
The Patrols come with auto locking hubs (but I took mine off and put in manual hubs; AVM)
Roachie

Aandy

Fitting of manual hubs also allows the use of low range in 2 wheel drive. Handy for backing up my steep drive way and general backing of trailer/van.

Paul

Aandy,
You say the 4.2 will out perform the 3.0 when the going gets tough, then you answer your own question, "After all it (the 4.2) has lower figures in both power and torque so the 3.0 will out perform it at ALL times" !!!!
The bloke in the caravan park chooses to travel only 300ks a day like most "older" travellers do. The 3.0 will drive (and tow) for as long as the 4.2 regardless of the conditions.
If the 4.2 is so good like some of the punters suggest on this forum why is Nissan deleteing this engine from their fleet in the near future??
The end result is you need the facts and figures not bias reports from people who base their knowledge on forums and the like.
Nissan have ironed out the teething problems they had with the early 3.0 just like they probably did when they bought out the 4.2. Unfortunately I cant clarify this because I was just a baby.

Facts and figures don't mean a god damn thing when the smaller higher reving engine wears out before the bigger less stresed motor.
I've got no hang ups with the 3.0 and like everyone else here, I am giving my reason as to why I bought my Patrol.
I knew all about the "on paper" kW and Nm advantage of the 3.0, but the bigger lazy 4.2 motor won me. To pull 2.5T minimum the 4.2 might not do it better but it certainly does it easier and I bought it for the long haul.
Cheers
Shawn

I Replys to Phils comments. The reason Nissan are deleting the 4.2 from their fleet in the near future is because they will not pass the new emission standards. They will be replacing the 4.2 with a bigger deisel motor. If the 4.2 is such a "lemon" as you'd have us believe, why is it still around after all these years....RELIABILITY, which unfortunately the 3.0 cannot be attributed to. You stated in an earlier posting that you worked for a Nissan dealer...I would assume then that you would have already known why Nissan is taking the 4.2 off the shelf by 2007, instead of asking us on the forum ??? As for Nissan ironing out the problems with the 3.0, only time will tell. In the meantime I'm happy with my 4.2.
I know a lot of people who aren't happy with their 3.0. Anyway why don't you tell us all what you really drive?? OR is driving a 4.2 Nissan just a fantasy to you - like working at a Nissan dealer !!