Petrol GQ Patrol...I need some help please!

Submitted: Wednesday, May 25, 2005 at 08:05

ThreadID: 23278 Views:5565 Replies:8 FollowUps:10

This Thread has been Archived

Member - Chris M (QLD)

Morning all,

As a short term filler, I've decided to purchase a petrol patrol to service my needs for the next year or so. I saw that unleaded was 93.8 today and diesel was $1.08. About 14 cents or so difference per litre. Over a tank of juice (95L) that equates to about $13. I've worked out that this is about how much extra I will use with a pertrol verses a TD42. As a bonus, servicing is not so often, and there is extra neddies to tow the camper and trailer.

I've seen many petrols GQ's over the last week with a few toys for around 6 or 7 grand. They had on average around 220 thou on the clock. How many is too many on the carby fed TB42's? I know that servicing history and user will affect but are the TB42's as tough as the diesels? And is the gearbox etc the same. Should I aim at picking up an EFI model?

Cheers for your help guys and gals!

Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator Share

Reply By: flappa - Wednesday, May 25, 2005 at 09:31

Wednesday, May 25, 2005 at 09:31

The Petrol 4.2's are as tough as. You wont break a motor or gearbox in one.

220 is nothing for these motors. In fact , I believe that the motor is almost identical to the diesel , and uses the same gearbox.

I would be looking at a EFI version though. They are thirsty beasts , make no mistake , but , the efi ,IS slightly better.

AnswerID: 112739

Follow Up By: Member - Chris M (QLD) - Wednesday, May 25, 2005 at 11:45

Wednesday, May 25, 2005 at 11:45

Gday flappa,

Thanks mate, thats great news, I'm a diesel man at heart, have owned one or another now for 12 years and Nissans for 8 of them. They are a great vehicle. Won't be going on a trip in one thats for sure, just good for towing the camper to my favourite camping/fishing spot.

Cheers,

Chris.

FollowupID: 368932

Reply By: NissanNut - Wednesday, May 25, 2005 at 09:53

Wednesday, May 25, 2005 at 09:53

Probably depends what your using it for, town driving get EFI for sure but for bush work pionts are alot easier to replace or repair if you run into problems.
A mate has the points TB42 with 345k kms on the clock, runs dual fuel, hardly blows any smoke when you tromp the right foot and he reckons its the best 4x he has ever had......

AnswerID: 112744

Follow Up By: Member - Chris M (QLD) - Wednesday, May 25, 2005 at 11:46

Wednesday, May 25, 2005 at 11:46

Gday Nissan Nut,

Thanks mate, just makes me feel better and better. Like to have a bit of power handy so with 345 and still running strong, I feel that's pretty damn good. If I buy one with 220 or so I have 100,000 plus k's left in the drivetrain, and motor. Great!

Thanks mate.

FollowupID: 368933

Reply By: NissanNut - Wednesday, May 25, 2005 at 09:55

Wednesday, May 25, 2005 at 09:55

AnswerID: 112745

Reply By: Truckster (Vic) - Wednesday, May 25, 2005 at 10:18

Wednesday, May 25, 2005 at 10:18

TB42s HATE LPG... GQs on LPG crumble.. expect $1000 at least for that. or $1200 for genuine head. 20/100 upto 30/100 (hard wheelin mates) aint cheap.

AnswerID: 112756

Follow Up By: flappa - Wednesday, May 25, 2005 at 10:37

Wednesday, May 25, 2005 at 10:37

I have heard that often T , but , there are a heck of a lot around ?

IS it as common as I hear ?

FollowupID: 368921

Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Wednesday, May 25, 2005 at 11:30

Wednesday, May 25, 2005 at 11:30

I can give you a ph of a mate who has had FOUR go in ~12 mths..

...admittedly he bought the car second hand, it was bodged up we think, he rebuilt it, headgasket died, head warped.

Got another motor, put it in, that head died in 4-5 mths, and he put extractors on the other week, thoght he would do the tappets, ripped off the rocker cover, water in there.. ripped head off #3 this time.
hes talkin of a chev 350 implant this time.

"apparently" once you fix them PROPERLY, they are ok, but not something you want to have die in middle of CSR or similar. There was actually a rebuild/modified head for TB on ebay the other week (might be on there now), $900

... as you say theres thousands of em out there cant be all bad... but is it a risk you would take if you were tripping away

FollowupID: 368929

Follow Up By: Member - Chris M (QLD) - Wednesday, May 25, 2005 at 11:48

Wednesday, May 25, 2005 at 11:48

T and flappa,

Thanks for the advice. Will run it soley on fuel, will buy one that hasn't been converted. Did my maths and worked out no better off with diesel at moment for fuel costs. It's only a fill in vehicle to get me away still, no big trips for 2 years or so till I can buy another TD6.

If either of you see one, give me a hoy!

Cheers,

Chris.

FollowupID: 368934

Follow Up By: flappa - Wednesday, May 25, 2005 at 11:48

Wednesday, May 25, 2005 at 11:48

Thats cool tah.

A mate was looking at a GQ on Gas , because there ARE heaps around.

I told him the same thing , they have been know to destroy heads etc , but , They cant ALL be bad because there are plenty around.

He's gone looking for a Petrol Playdoe instead.

FollowupID: 368935

Reply By: Member - Davoe (Widgiemooltha) - Wednesday, May 25, 2005 at 14:37

Wednesday, May 25, 2005 at 14:37

I am no mathmatician but just quickly i worked out using conservative figures that it would cost you at least a hundred dollars more per 5k to run a petrol which is more than enough to pay for oil and filter. I have head of people being amazed at the amount of fuel they use and that was people that didnt pay for it either. Still no dought they are a good strong engine with good get up and go for towing

AnswerID: 112813

Follow Up By: Member - Chris M (QLD) - Thursday, May 26, 2005 at 07:47

Thursday, May 26, 2005 at 07:47

Gday Davoe,

I'm not only including fuel and servicing, I'm including the cost of turbo etc etc to make it go as well as a petrol. Then you have the higher purchase cost.

I'll have a look at my figures again...you may be the mathmatician and me the dunce!

Cheers mate,

Chris.

FollowupID: 369108

Reply By: KOR - Wednesday, May 25, 2005 at 16:32

Wednesday, May 25, 2005 at 16:32

We have a GQ 4.2. Had it on duel fuel until just before we took it to Cape York last year. Always ran real bad on the gas. Had a LOT of trouble converting it back to fuel only(installed a long ranger tank). This was a bad choice of mechanics on our behalf.

Trip to Cape York was fantastic. Apart from all the mechanical trouble of them installing the plumbing wrong into the tanks, etc etc etc the car still went. What I mean is that yes we had trouble with the car but it never really let us down in a way that we couldn't work around it. We didn't have a computer mucking us about and we could do our own points etc on the way. We got back and boy did the company that did the conversion get in trouble... not happy jan...
The car's got about 290k on the clock and still goes well AND looks good. We did have to replace the auto transmission at about 180k as the cluster gear had let go. Other than that we have not had any trouble.

AnswerID: 112819

Follow Up By: gqpat - Wednesday, May 25, 2005 at 20:12

Wednesday, May 25, 2005 at 20:12

My GQ has notched up 400,000 k and still going strong over 200,00 on gas the head has been repaired once at about 280,000 and if its welded up correctly and all freeze plugs removed and welded also will last almost forever just dont over heat like any other car and you will be fine Intake and Exhaust inserts should be replaced anyone who has drama with cyl heads either isnt getting them repaired correctly or not adjusting tappets resulting in burnt valves or cooking them?????

FollowupID: 369027

Follow Up By: Member - Chris M (QLD) - Thursday, May 26, 2005 at 07:50

Thursday, May 26, 2005 at 07:50

Kor and GQpat,

Gday guys. Thanks for that. I'm really concentrating on looking for straight fuel now, as I've received much feedback on trouble running gas. As it's short term, I may be out of pocket 400 or 500 bucks extra for fuel, but I think it's worth it. Like I've said previously, it's only going to be the run around bus on the weekends as I have the van for during the week. Why spend my money on fuel! ;-)

Cheers.

FollowupID: 369109

Reply By: Uppy - Member - Wednesday, May 25, 2005 at 20:42

Wednesday, May 25, 2005 at 20:42

Hi Chris,Ive had a gq efi for years now,before that I had a diesel gq which I did have a bit of a problem with.As regards to the efi,Ive had to replace the fuel pump ,apart from that ,its run great for 4 years now,Ive just ticked over 200,000 kms Also weve done alot of trips in land over east with out any problems and if you need to carry gerry cans big deal.I use my gq every day.One thing I did install a c/control ,which helps the petrol consumption,and I do not run on gas.and tow a camper trailer from time to time.Please let me how if I can help you with any more information
regards uppy

...the school bus,still gets us there

Member
My Profile Send Message

AnswerID: 112885

Follow Up By: Member - Chris M (QLD) - Thursday, May 26, 2005 at 07:51

Thursday, May 26, 2005 at 07:51

Gday mate,

Will do. I'll mem mess you now!

Cheers

Chris.

FollowupID: 369110

Reply By: mavie - Saturday, May 28, 2005 at 22:21

Saturday, May 28, 2005 at 22:21

Hello All,

I have a TB42 (carb) with about 360 on the clock, and has been on LPG since 1989, yes 1989, and had the head replaced at about 240 thou! It did the 240 on the factory head, without any flash lube etc, but now has a gas head on it. I have changed the oil at 5 thou intervals and it hasn't used a drop ever and doesn't blow smoke at all!
Who knows maybe just a freak motor or good maintenance pays?
I have both a long range LPG tank and a long range fuel tank and get about 1000k's running on both tanks on trips.
Find a good LPG mechanic and your set for life.
Regards
Allan.

AnswerID: 113405