1998 GU Patrols (non turbo)

I recall that the early GU's had a gearbox problem.

The engine is still the same as the GQ and reliable as ever. Yep, it is a slow moving oil burner but should be a reliable vehicle

Best to do a search on Google or here on EO

Cheers

Hi Ben - I have a 99 GU that started life as a non turbo, and the previous owner but a Denso turbo on it.

For a short history of the beast, one explanation goes like this -
Nissan needed a diesel for its light trucks and buses in Asia, so they bought a small Perkins diesel and copied it - hence the 4.2. These are still the workhorse in Asia, and regularly clock up over 1m klms. The engine is a classic long throw (long piston travel) which is why it can develop significant torque from very low RPM, but cannot rev very high (piston speed becomes excessive). Its reliability is its strongest point. Its all cast iron construction means it is not a good heat exchanger, and the water galleries cannot be made very large, again suited to a bus/truck (but then again the Ford GTHO Phase III engine was cast iron).

When Nissan wanted a larger diesel to replace the 2.8, they took the motor and drivetrain from the truck/buses and dropped it in. There have been some minor modifications since, such as cams and piston weight, to handle a little higher revving. The engine was designed as a turbo from the beginning, and the GU was released in both turbo and non turbo variants.

The only known problem is that the 5th gear is not suitable for towing heavy loads, as it is meant as an overdrive.(The spline on the main shaft - Nissan have a kit to remedy this). This was strengthened after about 2002.
Also, they do have a vibration/shudder around 85 kl/hr mark.
They come standard with LSD on the back, and progressive rear coil springs.
The engine no longer meets pollution emmission standards, and is being dropped.

So the bottom line is - a proven history as one of the most reliable trucks on the market today. Old technology - push rods rather than OHC, so no timing belts to replace. Mechanical injector pump so can be easily serviced, unlike the newer electronic beasts. We get 12ltrs/100k without the van, and 15-18l/100 k with the van, depending on how hard you push the right foot.

Change the oil and oil filter every 5k, and it will probably outlast you. Use an oil with 3000ppm calcium based detergents as the Japenese diesels are deisgned for this spec - eg Penrite HPR diesel 15, Caltex CXJ, Castrol J-max etc.....Keith

Hi Ben,
The gearbox issue probably goes back to as early mid-'99 (mine was a Dec99 build and it failed), and extended thru to the Series II in 2000. I'm not aware of earlier gearboxes earlier than late 99 failing, and the original GQ gearbox was unbreakable.
On the faulty batch, Nissan inexplicably made some changes; 5th gear spline is too short and chops out, mainly from towing, but mine chopped out without towing. Leaves you with no 5th gear. A new redesigned mainshaft and 5th gear fixes the problem, tho is would be in the vicinity of a couple of grand all up to repair.
Nissan were fixing these outside of warranty, but 8-9 years on would be a big ask from them now; ie, chances are zilch.
Otherwise, the model is pretty bullet-proof, esp the engine and revised gearbox. In non-turbo form, it's pretty gutless, but cruises pretty economically at 100km/h.
The non-turbo diesel also has a lower 1st gear ratio than the turbo version.
And I think it only came in a DX version. The STs came out in mid-1999 with the turbo version of the engine, and the non-turbo engine was phased out in 2000, I recall.
Gerry

The TD42 powers gods clouds. Never look back once you have one.

Gday Ben,
I have a 98 DX GU wagon. It now has over 320,000k's on it.
I did the injectors at 192.000k's probably due again.
The fuel pump died on me at 304,000k's bloody unreliable piece of garbage LOL

I do get frustrated with the lack of power sometimes but I now tend to drop back a gear and lead the procession up any steep hills and don't have to be worried about being stuck behind some slow-moving heap because i am in fact driving the slow-moving heap hahahahahahaahah. I find that if i try too hard to push it uphill i get the famous overheating problem and create a smokescreen James Bond would be proud of.
BUT
Once you get away from the Great Divide, onto the flat lands out west of Sydney you are not nearly as restricted by the lack of turbo. In fact the last time i was out west with the campertrailer and kids in the fully laden car i was very surprised to find myself cruising along at 120km/h and having to back off to 100. I love my Nissan 4.2 and have never had such a reliable car. I have toyed with the idea of turboing it but that door is now closed to me due to the high odometer reading, some places put a limit of around 300.000k's.

Mine used to be a Freight Corp car that operated around Werris Creek, near Tamworth NSW. It had 129,000 k's on it when i bought it back in 2001, so it was out of the manufacturer's warranty even though it was less than 3 years old.

If you look at my rig profile you will see what i added to it other than the cargo barrier and the shu-roo.

I would say depending on the K's, age and service record of the car, go for it. The lack of power has probably saved my life if i compare how i used to punt my XF Falcon around to how i now just cruise around...