whats the problem with the gu 3 l turbo diesel

Not me. Pick up my 3rd 3.0L Patrol on Monday. Had previous ones for 2 years, 100000 kays a piece and no dramas whatsoever, and been through some pretty rough stuff too.

I have a 3 year old 4.8 Auto Patrol and very happy with it (apart from economy, but my decision to have petrol) We have done Cape York, Simpson french Line, Ann Beadell H'way and have had no hassles or anything break or go wrong. Would buy again.

Bruzza,
I own a fleet of 4wds, last thursday a 3lt TD (61,000 k) Patrol blew up a turbo and spat it through the motor just to make a bigger mess (still under warranty thank god) .The Thursday before a 100 series Cruiser did a big end. The short and long is both cars can have problems, though in general we spend twice as much keeping the Nissans on the road and after last thursday we have decided that we will no longer be purchasing Nissans. Of the 15 4wds we own my personal 100 series TD is still the pick of the crop.

regards big john

Hi Bruzza

The first GU 3.0TD's have a bad habit of blowing holes in pistons 3&4 due to poor oil feed/circulation design. The series 3 (approx Aug 2001 on - clear rear taillights) 3.0TD's have this problem ironed out and are arguably as reliable as any late model high tech diesel on the market. There are a lot of knockers of the 3.0TD due to their early problems, mainly by non-owners, but virtually all OWNERS of 3.0TD's reckon they are great.

As for the age old arguement between Toyota/Nissan about which is better, after having both, IMHO the toyota is marginally better finished while the Nissan has the stronger drivetrain and slightly lower purchase cost. But while the arguing will rage on forever, the bottom line is both are a tough, reliable vehicle.

As for Toyotas being favoured by mining companies, this has as much to do with the fleet discounts on offer. In my experience, Nissan offer a fleet discount to anyone with an ABN while Toyota have a sliding scale of discount based on volume, with big vloumes getting some significant discounts. Just what I have found, YMMV.

Cheers

Captain

As one who has had both an engine and turbo blow up (well documented on this site)I still believe the Nissan is a great truck.
Mine an early 2000 had all the problems that have given the 3.0 litre its bad name,but you cannot ignore the fantastic power and torque that this engine provides,terrific economy,towing ability, and driveability.
Why would Nissan persist with this engine except for the above features?
They new that once the problems were solved it would be the most suitable for this new age of cleaner fuels and high tech diesels.
Although you could criticise Nissan for the way it avoided a recall,no one that I know who had an engine failure in the early models was not provided with a new engine,even well out of warranty.
It was quite clear with the sump increase and other attempts to cure the problem Nissan was at a bit of a loss as to how to address the failures,I believe at least 3 different pistons were fitted before the oil starvation to the upper cylinders was found to be the fault.
Personally I would not buy an early model unless the engine had been replaced,otherwise pick anything after the end of 2002.
For the people driving the earlier models and claiming 70,80,000 with no problems,keep up the extended warranty and write to Nissan stating you have the problem affected model, and wish to register your concern on their records.
Most failures it would appear are after 100,000 kms (mine 118,000).
In summary,I tow an 18ft van, and regulary tour the outback in the club scene,the Nissan has a great record for build strength and reliability and with the rise in fuel costs is most worthy of your consideration,just pick the year carefully.
Regards and good luck.

familiar story. Early model syndrome. Landrover had it with their early Discos. Lazy journalism and urban myths perpetuate.

Just get the 4.2TD then you don't have to worry.

Bruzza
I've got a 2000 3LTD with 197+K (of which 50% is in the bush) on the clock and apart from injector pump sensor problems have had no dramas. I've also workd in the mining game in WA for 15+yrs and have have seen some really crappy Yotas (utes and PC's) new and used.
What I find interesting is that the 3LTD engine is the same as used by Renault (Europe) in their trucks with no problems, but then diesel fuel in Europe is of a higher quality than the stuff we are sold. Renault are also the major shareholder in Nissan
Mike

If your comparing TD engines, I think the Toyota's engine is a far better engine than Nissans 3 litre. Forget about them blowing up, just look at the power and torque figures, your looking at 151Kw and 434Nm comapared to 116Kw and 354Nm, although that may have increased slightly in newer models. I've got a Pajero diesel and it has more power than the Nissan and the Nissan is heavier. I wouldn't put the Nissan 3.0 diesel at the top of any lists for power. Only problem with the Toyota is the massive price they charge for the TD.

Hi All,
Just to add some more information a very good friend of mine has a 3.0 Auto 2004 model. 20000 kms bottom end let go. New motor under warranty. 630 kms latter the new motor let go again. major failure.
5 weeks in the shop first motor
3 weeks in the shop and still to date no car.
Let me tell you all it will be the last 3.0 Nissan he owns.
As for me I have several landcruisers all with no problems.
Regards, Paul

Spoke to two Nissan owners with 3 ltT/D's while away that had engine failures at about 100000kms.I gotta say that I think these rigs look great but knowing what we do about these engines there's no way I'd go on a remote desert trip in one of these.Blowing up around town is one thing but out in the desert hundreds of kms from anywhere,no thanks.

Bruzza,

I reckon your better off going to a couple of different 4wd mechanics (independent) and asking there oppinions on each vehicle, even go to a driveline specialist and ask about the gear boxes and diffs etc,as you'll mainly get people on this forum waving the flag about there own vehicle. I reckon you'll find that with the "big" diesels there's bugger all difference in the reliabilaty stakes between the Tojo and the Nissan, both petrol motors have good reputations,any driveline specialist will tell you that the Tojo diffs axles etc keep him in business, there was a model in the GU Nissan that had a dodgie 5th gear spline (maybe 2000-2002) but there drive line is generally regarded as bullet proof and the 3.0 litre has hundreds of documented cases of premature failure, but people still sware by there own 3.0l's

But as Davoe from (watchamacallit) says the 75 series tojo utes are great for pushing over trees and stuff, and running around in tight mining tunnels and bouncing of rock walls etc, so if your into all that maybe the Tojo ute is the answer...........:-)

Browny

Hi all,

I have had three tojo's and one nissan. The last tojo, (80 series) was a real lemon, front diff, rear diff X 2, transfer case, several A/C compressors, gearbox, I made the change and am quite happy. If only somene would bring out a new tojo with the old 2H engine without IFS I would be happier. The new cruiser with IFS is a dog. I spent the dollars and own a patrol 3 litre (2003) and a caravan. If I had purchased a new tojo with the same specs I would have only had the car. I really think they have priced themselves out of the game.
The huge price has the result of now having rav4's, prado's, and klugers for those people with normal bank accounts. Keeps the sales figures up anyway.

My best tojo was a HJ75 ute, great car, wouldn't get to 120Kph down a mine shaft but very reliable.

There are large discounts for large companies, I know as I have had experience with it, and they are big discounts for big orders.

In the 3 litre stay away from 2000 to 2002 and buy later but petrol go for it. Good units, indestructable drive lines or buy a 4.2 diesel. The later 3 litres are supposed to be better but very pricey for repairs, as dear as Toyotas some would say, if they needed repairing.