Hi Everyone,
Before you stop reading, this is not another rant about the ZD30 engine is, but hopefully a genuine attempt to sort some things out so please continue reading.
Ok, I think it is about time we got to the bottom of this Nissan ZD30 problem as it is just dragging on and on. And I do not know about you, but the longer it drags on the more doubt I have about the newer models. Let us not forget that we are talking about a potentially very serious problem which could have drastic consequences if it happens in the wrong place. From a personal point of view I am taking my 2005 Patrol to North Africa with my
young family and I do not want to be sitting in a time bomb.
But the point of my post is to sort this out once and for all.
I do not want to hear rants about how much better Toyota is or any other make, this post is aimed at current or past owners of a Nissan Patrol 3.0 Td. If the new models are failing then Nissan has a major problem on its hands as they are putting this engine in all sorts of cars all over the world. If there is still a problem then I think it would be better to tackle it with hard facts and not rants about some bloke who lives in the next town knows someone whose patrol has blown up.
I also do not want a debate about what Nissan should have done this or that.
Lets look at the facts:
1)Nissan has acknowledged that there was a problem with the 2000/01 ZD30 engines.
Proof: They were replacing engines under circumstances that would normally not be covered under warranty. For example poorly maintained, over
miles and out of warranty period.
2)Nissan are not extending this gesture to 2003 models and newer as they must genuinely believe the problem is fixed.
Now onto the scientific part, we now need to compile a database of model year etc and if at the end of this we do find that a trend is emerging in the newer model then we will have a good evidence to raise this issue with Nissan.
I propose to start this by asking the following questions:
If you can answer any of them then please post a reply and every couple of months we can update this database and if there is still a problem this will become apparent in no time.
Please remember, before you answer, NO second-hand reports this must have happened to you personally and the engine was officially diagnosed as having the piston problem. I also think it is important to keep a record of all the patrols which are still going as
well to give us a idea of the expected mileage these engine can achieve.
1)What mileage has your 2000 3.0 Td done?
2)Any strange things happening at the moment to your engine? (Does not matter how trivial as if its happening to enough people it could be a clue)
3)What mileage had your 2000 3.0 Td done when it blew up?
4)If your 3.0 blew up what was the build date?
5)Did anything stand out as unusual before the engine blew up, it might seem trivial but if enough people noticed something a pattern might emerge.
6)What country?(This could be important in tracing the root of the problem)
1b) What mileage has your 2001 3.0 Td done?
2b) Any strange things happening at the moment to your engine? (Does not matter
how trivial as if its happening to enough people it could be a clue)
3b) What mileage had your 2001 3.0 Td done when it blew up?
4b) If your 3.0 blew up what was the build date?
5b) Did anything stand out as unusual before the engine blew up, it might seem
trivial but if enough people noticed something a pattern might emerge.
6b) What country?(This could be important in tracing the root of the problem)
REMEMBER FIRST HAND CONFIRMED CASES!
etc etc etc right up to 2006 model
I think you get the picture lets build up a factual account of this engine as we all have a lot of money invested in these machines, so sorry for sounding slightly abrupt but it really is time to get a clear picture about this engine and not random rants.
I will compile all the results as they come in and will update this every 3 months, I will also post it regularly to keep the results coming in (any objections to this?).
But for this to work we need 100% Facts, so please no rants and hopefully at the end of this we will have a clearer picture, so it is important that the people with a 3.0 that is OK reply as
well.
Hopefully this should shed some light and we get something worthwhile out of this. But unfortunately it is usually only when people have a problem with their car they post on these forums, so it is important for people with a 3.0, which is running fine to take part.
I am also going to post this on
http://www.patrol4x4.com/forum/f10-gu-gr-nissan-patrol.html
So please do not reply twice.
Lets just see what comes out of this I know there are a lot of you out there, please take the time to answer any of the questions it is the only way this will work.