Nissan Patrol...glad I wasn't paying for the fuel

Absolutely correct True Blue. I though something was amiss on the first day when I used all of the main tank to do 323km. Then I did 266 Km the second day and used by the gauge 3/4 of the main tank. I didn't record how much fuel went in that day. Then the 401Km was spread over day three and four and I was running on the empty mark when I stopped 23Km short of my destination and put the extra $20.00 worth in.

Do these hire car companies have the engines downrated so that you don't wreck them? Beats me, but like I said, glad I wasn't paying for the fuel.

There would be no special downrating for a hire vehicle. Obviously grossly off-tune.
Sadly, Nissan will never have to fix the problem, as it would mean being off the road for the hire car company, which they can't afford to do. Knowing Nissan service, it would be off the road for a while as they try to find the problem.
So it will just continue being hired until disposal date, disillusioning all who hire it...

On second thoughts, perhaps car hire companies fit a "Reverse-Dtronic" module, a device that downgrades the performance ;-)
Gerry

I work for a major hire co, and no we do not detune them but their is huge diffs in performances between cars of the same make, in get up and go and also handling.
Toyotas vary less than other makes.
And yes you have to keep them on the road to cover depeciation.
We only have one 3lt patrol and have had no mayor issues, biggest problem we have is customers puting ulp in diesels, sure cleans them out though.
Cheers Pete

Hi Pete,
I know it doesn't happen these days, but years ago, in another life, I used to work for a Federal Govt utility, and the Govt-issue vehicles were a special manufacture from Ford and Holden. Low-compression heads so they could run on low-octane fuel, abysmal performance and economy, no heaters let alone aircon, paintwork one coat thick, and drum brakes, even tho the public versions had discs.
Eventually the govt realised that the cost they saved was not worth it on resale, so they went to off-the-floor purchases.
Gerry

Most hiore companies fit a Cinort-D to the 3.0l Patrol to ensure engine longevity, it detunes the engine to equivalent LandRover outputs.

bonz Please enlighten me to what a cinort D is? I doubt if ours has one fitted as it was purchased off a country dealer as a one off. But it is still a dog. But we get spoilt driving 200kilowatt Aurions , Xr6s etc.
The new d4ds Hiluxs are the best 4by I have driven so far as far as power goes, got to be real carefull in the wet, now that is something for a diesel
Cheers Pete

Sir Madfisher, a Cinort-D is D-Tronic written backwards mate :)

I have a D-Tronic on my Patrol and it pulls like a train, was in another 3.0l last week, no D-Tronic and it pulled hard too, get your turbo checked and replaced, keep complaining about low power (if it in warranty still) and you'll be impressed. Also found out about something else that throttles them but have to recheck!

ha, ha , hook line and sinker.
Mate we only keep them 18 months and this one is due to be traded as soon as it comes back from a long term rental. Power is very subjective when I was tiling and only drove my 4runner I though wifes 3lt paj was a power house. If I had driven a 3lt patrol then I would have been impressed. Ours is an auto And I dont like the lag till it gets going. One of the reasons I brought a 3.5 Jack was I got spoilt but the Jack is very impressive, not many 4bys you can grab 3rd at 8oks to pass a truck and it will then throw you back in the seat till 12oks
Cheers pete

Grab third at 80 kph and throws you back till 120 kph, Does it do a sub 10 second 1/4 mile as well.

Steve.

158kws at 5400rpm, only1920kgs , redline 6200rpm, torque from 1000rpm.
When I was looking to buy drove heapsof 4wds including six jacks, nothing went like this one. When I was taking it for a test drive I slowly putted out the previous owners driveway, when I got to the dirt road I straighten it up and then stomped on the gas in 2nd and nearly lost it, full power slide lol.
You have been driving diesels too long steve lol
Cheers Pete

So that would be a no then ROTFLMAO.

Steve

Madfisher
"Toyotas vary less than the others"
after driving countless new/near new 1hz i can assure you that just aint true. Some will easily top 140 ar hoild 3rd up the ramp while others do about 115 tops and struggle in 2nd
Always been my best advice when test driving a vehicle - hold it flat and see if it will go as fast as it should- many dont

The vehicle had 5657 Km on the clock and the hire company guy said it was new. He was worried that we might put the first scratch in it. I didn't look at the rego sticker, but either way, it's new.

From what you guys say, maybe there is something wrong with it. Perhaps that would explain why it seemed comparatively sluggish after it shifted ot of second gear. It might be pouring raw fuel out of the exhaust?

I'm not sure what your point is about the ride. I said, like you, that it isn't great. That's all. The handling was ok except for those occasions where the front end got out of shape. My last three vehicles have had IFS. They've all gone where I've needed them to and they didn't scare the bejesus of me. The Patrol got quite a bounce happening and, for me, it was disconcerting. It might be normal for all I know.

Anyway, it was a hire car. We gave it back on Friday and on Monday I get a dual cab "lux" to try out. We'll see how that goes.

Russ n Sue
The Disco would spoil you, ride wise.

The written word doesn't always relay the though clearly Russ, nothing sinister in the comments I made mate. I just got the felling the ride was an issue to you, but as you say IRS does give a smoother ride.

Like you, I am on retierment training and a test of what i've learnt so far comes next week in the form of a trip to Cape York for 6 weeks.

Keep up the study for your goal (retierment)
Colin.

Colin, Are you serious the new Patrols don't have a sub tank? I know it's bleep y but at least you have the option of putting in a replacement tank of 70l for a bit more range.

Leroy

My statement re fuel tank was only 1/2 correct.

The Petrol model has no sub, but the Diesel still does.

Sorry about that.

Hi Leroy,
yeh, check the distance error caused by those tyres. You may be pleasantly surprised after the correction.
Gerry

Hahaha Fatman , you might have hit the nail on the head , my son has one , and it doesnt use that much fuel

Hi Stephen,
like you I am pleasantly surprised at the Jacks consumption, despite dire warnings tro the contrary.
Towed the boat (4.2 discovery) over to Dunns swamp with the wifes kayak sitting on top of the boat last weekend through Sofala. 260ks used 36lts over very hilly terrain. I get 13.84l or just under 20mpg. The 4 cylinder 4runner would have used more than this. Plus the jack was 40ks quicker climbing back up out of Sofala towards Wattle flat. Gotta love that power. Its also better than the 3lt paj, best it can do is about 14.5
Cheers Pete

Huh???

You maketh a lot of assumptions Muzzgit.

1) I never "flog" cars. It is not in my best interest to get stuck in the middle of nowhere.
2) I have no particular axe to grind when it comes to Patrols. Pajeros are a different matter. I could go to town on them.
3) I'm happy for you that you like a 30 litre sub tank. I still think it is a total waste of time.
4) My Land Rover has nothing to do with anything. I recognised its shortcomings and installed a long range tank, but so far as the lousy fuel economy goes, I wasn't comparing the Patrol to anything. Obviously, from the posts here, that Patrol is sick. I didn't recognise that because I have never owned one to compare it with.

Methinks your skin is a tad thin. I'm happy for you that you've got a good one. I must have been unlucky with the hire one. Get over it.

Cheers

Russ

do you have a Cinort-D on your Jeep? Oh no its a tinut hahahaha

Sir Bonz-a-lot

That is a very good question and I thank the right honorable member for Terang for asking it.

Indeed I do have Tinut on the JEEP which improves Kw to Torgue ratios exponentially. The 'J' curve of both bends out of sight (speaking metaphorically)

It also smooths out all things mechanical which enhances the 180deg tracking of the 'rolling stock', whilst minimising fuel induction at the same time.

The jury is still out as to whether the Cinort-D or the Tinut is the superior product.

I have experienced you Cinort-D in action and can vouch for same.