GU 3L running quite warm under load, and hot conditions.

Never seen the temp gauge move on mine no matter the temp or what I've been towing. Performance does not seen too good either, I'd get it checked out, could be a fueling problem.

OT

Have the same thing with my 4.2 TDI - especially when your have lower revs and its working really hard

I think it may be quiet normal as a few other people in this forum have also mentioned this in the past ... and i believe one of the main contributors to the engine fault in the older 3 Litre motors that had thinner piston crowns and the increased heat would basically melt the piston and blow a hole in the top of the piston ....

what was there cure? increase oil level in an attempt to get more oil splashing around under the piston to act as a cooler ?

Boc

I recently had the same problem as well but with my Hilux, hasd new water pump put in and radiator checked out, was looking at putting a bigger radiator in put the guy told me what i really didnt need to know, remove thy spotlights for increased airflow into that area as they were nearly completejy blocking of that section, but now the friggin weather has gone from 35 plus down to 25 - 30 degress, so now i have too wait a bit longer too see if that was the problem, that may or may not be a problem but it might be worth a look at

Mate in my opinion only, 2.5t plus everything else is just to much for a 3.0L engine. When you say it maxs out on the flat,at 80-90ks is that having your foot flat to the floor?, if so no engine will run cool for very long when the throttle is wide open and its strugglihg to build revs.

Cheers Axle.

80-90kmh max is not foot flat to the floor, we drive quite conservatively/ sensibly - 80-90kmh is so that it doesn't overheat too much. But it just die's on the hills and the needle on the temp guage rises. A little head wind doesn't help the issue either, Thin pistons not an issue after rebuild on engine 30k ago. I feel that gu 3L not that capable of towing 2.5 tonne in heat with a kitted out touring vehicle with recovery gear, tools - and the usual things that come on holidays.

We always tow in 4th gear -we have a manual g-box. On a moderate climb we drop to 3rd holding about 65-70kmh. On a steep climb over any of the great divide we are in 2nd gear holding 2nd gear - 3rd if we are lucky. -this is generally with the aircond on, if it is off we can hold the revs a bit longer. but otherwise it just dies in the ass. We just cruise all day and try never to slog the motor. We know the issues of the 3 L well after going through the motions of a rebuild. But its setup well - so an engine transplant (Chev) would make it the ultimate tourer for us.

Sorry about the typo -correct - 2nd gear holding 40kmh.

mate i have had 2 x 3.0 td patrols a 2001 and now a 2004 - the sort of performance you are getting i only had once in the 2001 unit when i got a belly full of crap diesel in maryborough from a shell garage - we tow a fully loaded KK mariner witha tinny on top at 1500 KGS loaded plus 750 kgs in the patrol and can sit comfortable on 110 kms/ hr if i want to on the flat
and the dtronic does make a 5 up to 10 % lift in performance right thru the power range
you need to take it to a diesel specilist as i would suggest it has a problem
best of luck greg

yakodi,
just curios if you have changed tyre size at all?
thanks
96

Yakodi,
I have a dtronic, vehicle weighs in at just under 3 tonne with half fuel nothing in the fridge, no water and just me in the vehicle, before I get any smart remarks I'm under 100 kilos. I pull a fully laden Kimberly kamper, again as others mentioned no problem, have had the speed up considerably further than 90 klms when overtaking b doubles etc. Something amiss my friend I think, do people following behind have their lights on when your givin it a bit o stick?
There's a very interesting comprehensive document on the Patrol owners forum that talks about funny things happening when you disconnect the EGR valve around boost pressure and what the computer tells the engine to do when you use to much boot. I still have the EGR valve in service, I got a bit "girly" when it came to taking the chance blanking things off with the history of these engines. Especially after reading this document.
Take the vehicle to an agent and get them to stick their computer gizmo on it, only cost you about $600 bargain at half the price........ Lol Oh I'm running standard size wheels / tyres as well.

Yakodi
I had my GU-3 'rebuilt' about 2 years ago and it was off the road for about 3 months. When I got it back all was fine until I hooked the van up and headed off towards Bright. It got hot so I turned around and went home. I dealer suggested that I get the radiator flushed out as they only did it with a garden hose! So I take it to a radiator specialist and he was doubtful that this was the problem but he found that the radiator was 2 thirds blocked! He reckoned it would have been due to it sitting around with no fluids in it and then re-filling it. The restiction was not noticeable when the vehicle was driven with no load. Anyhow since that the thing goes "normal" if a patrol can ever do that!
Like others said, the 3-0 is working hard towing loads. Going down the V8 diesel road was considered but the cost was too great and the vehicle is not worth it. It's always about compromises and hindsight!

Yakodi

This sort of performance with these motors is not normal, they generally cope very well with the heat, I spent 12 months in the inland Pilbara with mine, 45C plus at 120km/h no problems. Had the same problem a while back, turned out to tbe a blocked head-tank on the radiator, few hundred dollars at a cooling specialist and it was all fixed.

Regards

Snowy

Tyre size 265, 75, 16 BFG MT.