2004 Patrol 3.0ltr TD Engines
Submitted: Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 12:07
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Member - TonyG (Qld)
Hi All,
Just wondering if i can get some advise from those who might know.
I contacted a company today that installs the aftermarket chips for the Patrol. These are the tunit type. This company is a upmarket turbo company, rather than a 4x4 accessories type company.
Link to the web site is below
www.dpchip.com
Anyway, he scared the hell out of me by saying the following:
- 3.0 ltr engines are badly designed, and the vacuum turbo and intercooler do not work correctly on them.
- prior to fitting any type of aftermarket chip, I should first get the turbo working properly, by fixing the vacuum, should get the intercooler to work properly, and a couple of other items which I can not remeber.
- He said these problems are what causes the engines to overheat, break the turbo and crack heads, and blow pistons.
- He said if I got the above items fixed (at approx $2,000) I would get a better performing engine and may not need the chip. But a chip only installed without these other things being done was a bit of a waste, as it will not stop future engine failures.
Could I get some advise, as he made it sound like I have purchased a lemon, and it is only a matter of time before things blow up.
Everybody on this
forum raves about either dtronic or other chips, so I thought they would be a good purchase.
P.S. He did say that the navara engines do not have this problem, because they do not have the same bits bolted onto them.
Thanks in advance
TonyG
Reply By: Member - TonyG (Qld) - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 12:09
Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 12:09
Sorry, I should clarify
The installer company I was talking to was an approved installer of the system, not the manufacturer
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Reply By: Leroy - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 12:24
Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 12:24
sounds like a load of poop!! How can the intercooler not work properly??? Maybe not as efficient as a front mounted but then they have thier cons. Why did he say it didn't work properly?
The turbo is a variable vane type controlled by the ECU and not vacumm.
What does he do to fix the problems??
Acording to Nissan the Navara is exactly the same except there is no intercooler.
Leroy
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Follow Up By: Member - TonyG (Qld) - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 12:27
Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 12:27
Hi Leroy,
Sorry mate, but I am not skilled enough to understand his answers properly, and kept talking about air flows and stuff.
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Follow Up By: Leroy - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 12:32
Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 12:32
obvioulsy he could see you didn't understand what he was saying by baffling you with BS and is hoping you will bring your vehicle in for $2k of nothing. He'd probably
park your truck out the back for the day and then drive if back in when you came to collect it and you'd drive off thinking 'this feels a little better' aka the placebo effect.
Do a search on the
forum for dtronic. You'll go and buy one after you read the replies.
LLeroy
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Follow Up By: Member - TonyG (Qld) - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 12:37
Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 12:37
Hi Leroy,
I have read heaps about the dtronic, they seem like a great unit.
The dtronic and the dpchip are approx the same price, and I guess seem to do pretty much the same thing.
I have since spoken to another approved installer of the dpchip, and he say's that comments made by other installer is a load of bleep.
Apparently the advantage of the dpchip is that it is installed, and put on the dyno to adjust the chip to get the best result for the individual vehicle. Cost approx $150 to dyno and adjust the chip over purchase price
This sounded like a good idea to me
TonyG
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Follow Up By: muzzgit (WA) - Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 00:25
Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 00:25
Navara turbo is not variable.
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Reply By: flappa - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 12:35
Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 12:35
I just noticed you are unable to post the suppliers name on the
forum.
Funny that
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Follow Up By: Member - TonyG (Qld) - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 12:40
Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 12:40
Hi Flappa,
Sorry but I do not understand what you mean.
the chip manufacturer is dpchip
It was one of their approved installers that told me this, but his company is more of a performance turbo company than a 4x4 type or diesel type company.
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Follow Up By: flappa - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 12:49
Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 12:49
Sorry for being criptic.
One of the suppliers of this new chip is also a supplier of the old Tunit that was in competition with DTronic etc.
They are no longer the Supplier of Tunit.
Thing is , you cant mention this name on the
Forum (for a few reasons) , but , a large number of people would know what I mean.
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Follow Up By: DARREN - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 13:07
Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 13:07
More clues please flappa
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Follow Up By: Leroy - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 13:25
Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 13:25
Berrima ?
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Follow Up By: flappa - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 13:25
Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 13:25
No thanks.
Click on the link above , then click on their "links" .
See who is there.
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Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 15:07
Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 15:07
LMAO click on the CONTACT US link should say enough!!!!
what did they change the name of their old chip?
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Follow Up By: Leroy - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 15:26
Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 15:26
Click on the 'OUR BACKGROUND' and it tells you who they are.
Leroy
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Follow Up By: warthog - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 15:39
Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 15:39
What is the problem with "that" co. I haven't used them and don't need to as am happy with my patrol's tune, just wondering?
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Follow Up By: flappa - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 15:48
Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 15:48
Just to clarify , there is nothing particularily WRONG , with that Co, in fact , most reports say they do pretty good work , so , thats not really in question.
What IS the issue is HOW they defend themselves from critisism . . . Rather then answer , they bring in the Lawyers.
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Follow Up By: warthog - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 22:27
Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 22:27
Thanks, the use of lawyers would not tend to improve ones popularity I guess.
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Reply By: Brett_B - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 12:59
Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 12:59
I read alot of posts on this
forum about the 3.0Lt TD Patrol engines expiring, blown pistons, damaged turbo's, although I dont think all 3.0Lt are affected.
I have a mate who has one of the early ones he tells me its a ticking time bomb ?
I even read that If your in the know and know what your talking about Nissan will fix this damage under warranty ?
So there could be something in what this installer is telling you :-(
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Follow Up By: Member - TonyG (Qld) - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 13:04
Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 13:04
Hi Brett,
I read a lot about the early ones also, and this made me buy a new one last year, rather than 2nd hand.
I understood that the problems with the engines were sorted as of late 2002.
Problem is, I am not skillful enough with mechanic related issues to be able to know if I am being setup or not.
I have just read this
forum to get advise, and I concluded that any 3.0TD engine after late 2003 was ok.
This is why I am asking for the advise, cause I want to get better torque out of the engine. Other than that, I am really happy with the vehicle
Thanks
TonyG
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Reply By: Voxson (Adelaide) - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 13:57
Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 13:57
wow... what a long way around....
just go and buy a dtronic and ten minutes later you have approx 420nm torque and 133kw power....
they cant make it any easier...
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Follow Up By: Coyote - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 14:07
Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 14:07
Hey Voxson.. me again.. so do you have a Dtronic on your new patrol?? If so are you saying it was worth it?? I've got the 4.2 and am hungry for better economy/performance.. thats not to say I'm absoloutley happy with it at present, but I figured if I could do better???
Whats the better mod.. 3" exhaust or Dtronic??
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Follow Up By: Leroy - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 14:53
Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 14:53
Coyote, You can't get dtronics for the old donkey low tech 4.2's. So your only choice now is a new exhaust and a tune. Or if you got big bucks a turbo upgrade and intercooler. But if you're absolutely happy you shouldn't need to worry about these mods ;-)
Leroy
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Follow Up By: Voxson (Adelaide) - Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 07:34
Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 07:34
Ditto there,,,, Coyote...
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Reply By: Member - Captain (WA) - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 14:54
Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 14:54
Hi Tony,
I have a 2003 GU 3.0TD and put a Dtronic on it at 5,000kms. Have now clocked up 49,000 kms and swear by it. Simply plug it in (takes 1 x 10mm bolt to hold connector in) and seconds later you have a noticeable power increase.
I find the main benefit is the boost at low rpm, already had enough
top end power IMHO. Bottom end power certainly comes in very handy for towing my van and when offroad.
I used to remove it before I had a service, but after the Nissan dealer told me about them, "decide to buy one on his advise!!!"
Cheers
Captain
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - TonyG (Qld) - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 17:29
Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 17:29
Hi Captain,
Looks like the dtronic will be the way to go
Many Thanks to all for there advice
TonyG
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Reply By: Patm - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 18:21
Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 18:21
hey mate
I have a 2004 oct ser iv 3.0 l td and had a 2001 3.0 l td before that which i traded in on the latter model but i got 127K km out of it with no probs but yes i was concerned it would blow one day so moved it on
the latter 3.0 l td dont blow holes in no 3 and 4 cylinders anymore so dont worry about it - its been fixed as of oct 2002
occassionally a turbo lets go in the patrols but then so do as many in the 4.2 l toys
just go and get a dtronic fitted mate and forget the rest = hell of a difference
and no i dont have any allegience to dtronic or safari and i live in b bane and am a
civ eng so not all that mechanical either
but do wait until the patrol has done around 10K kms before you fit it to let the engine settle in
see you pat
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Reply By: DEANO WA - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 18:49
Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 18:49
recently put on the new PBOX chip. definate difference power wise but same economy. GO FOR IT
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Reply By: muzzgit (WA) - Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 00:44
Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 00:44
There was a link to a web site on a thread here 6 months ago that stated "some electronic chips only increase fuel delivery and do not work with the ECU to re-configure maping with regard to arflow/turbo boost etc;"
in other words, yes they give you a bit more power, but are bad for your motor.
The article went on to say "chips that are fully integrated with the ECU and use factory maping settings with regard to turbo boost & fuel delivery are much less likely to cause long term damage and are made with the intention of complementing the vehicles ECU, rather than simply overriding it"
(these are my words based on my memory of reading the article which I was directed to by a link from this
forum)
one popular chip fits the first, and one the second. BE CAREFUL !!!!!
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Follow Up By: Patm - Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 12:06
Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 12:06
hey muzz
my understanding is that the dtronic fits in the second part of your comment above re being a
"chip that is fully intergrated with the ECU etc --- and less likely to cause long term damage etc "
or i am i mis informed on this
and personnally i do take my DT off before i give it to a nissan dealer to service - cause i mate who once worked for the nissan dealer said its the best approach to take - in case of any future engine warranty claim
my thanks and see you pat
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Reply By: NedKelly - Sunday, Oct 30, 2005 at 01:20
Sunday, Oct 30, 2005 at 01:20
I bought the dtronic as I had seen some reviews of how It improved torque and throttle response, on friday I installed mine. No diference felt, same super-mega-huge turbo lag, Same loss of power when hot, no power diference in high speed or boost. Check engine light comes on after 150kph (Dont know if its an excess of boost since I removed the cat's).
Not worth the 1500$ausd.
My vehicle is a Zd30 patrol auto. Gu2 , Know of a uncle Gu3 that has this problem, my dealer doesnt has a clue on how to fix it...
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Follow Up By: smithy2 - Sunday, Oct 30, 2005 at 01:25
Sunday, Oct 30, 2005 at 01:25
The other thing to consider is that Safari have a woeful QC program. I had to go through five Dtronic units (through ARB) before I got one that actually worked. ARB had a 'small' pile of Dtronic units at the time that were basically on the scrap heap because of non-performance.
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