An expert view of Nissan 3litre MAF problem

I think you could only relate that to a specific issue Rangie.

I have 3 mates with Navara's all of which had engine problems
and all fixed under warranty but these were mostly turbo related
problems so perhaps MAF problem is related to cracked pistons only.

Use Unifilters on my Patrol , but then it has the less sensitive petrol engine.

Interesting debate Philip. Even the guys on the Patrol4x4 forum are still debating this one.

See this thread on the Patrol4x4 forum

IIRC genuine ZD30 air filters DO NOT USE oiled paper. The K&N Oiled Filter is said to allow more air past the filter. Hence the claim that the standard Nissan paper filter is more efficient.

Efficient at what?

I suppose it comes down to what you are trying to achieve. If you are on a race track, you want the engine to breath. If you are in a dusty environment you would want the filter to actually 'filter' out all fine particles of dust, etc.

Personaly I feel the air filter has absolutey nothing to do with the oil getting on the MAF. IMHO it is caused by the crankcase ventilation. Take this scenario: a hot working engine, comes to a stop and is immediately switched off. There is no longer any air being sucked/forced from the air filter into the engine. The oily fumes expelled back into the air intake pipe are then allowed to 'drift' towards the MAF. One reason why I fitted a ProVent200 filter to my ZD30.

Malcolm

Every time I brought an Air Filter for the Series 3 GU 4.2Ti they supplied me with the oil paper filled type, but all my mate's get the dry paper type supplied for their 3L Motors

Thats funny because the Unifilter guy's whole life is filters.

You would think he if anyone would be aware of standard filter specs he would be.

He was also talking about Subarus in the same vein.
Regards Philip A

I pulled out my maf out at 80k and it was spotless, and i mean spotless, not even an ultrathin film and that was at 80 000 ks?
So i cant understand it.
Wayne

I know of 6 Navara's with ZD30 engine's just in this area that have blown up.

Dammit! I just spent half an hour responding to this thread only to have this website kick me out and I lost it all!

Here goes!

I have been going on about this very subject on this very forum since early 2004.

The air filter supplied by Nissan for the 3.0 Patrol IS NOT OILED, it is cilicone coated! (red in colour)

Does the cilicone come off and affect the MAFS? who knows?

I had a 2001 3.0 Patrol and I had many problems with MAFS.

After we purchased the car in 2003 I fitted an ARB battery tray for an aux battery system. Later that year while on holiday up north we had problems (shuting down, lights on the dash) and it was discovered that the air filter was full of dust. It was also discovered that the wrong air filter had been fitted by the dealer we bought the car from.

If you or your mechanic buy parts from Repco, and you ask for an air filter for a 3.0 Patrol, you will be given the wrong one! I emailed Repco, they did not respond. The filter you will be given is for the Navara, a dry paper element (grey in colour).

I also discovered that the seal on the air duct to the airfilter was broken and it turns out to be from jostling the airbox around while fitting the dual battery tray. I have checked a few other 3.0 patrols with aux battery systems and they have the same fault, as does my 2008 Patrol. I know, because once again I fitted the battery tray, and I watched the seal break as I lowered in the battery tray.

...................................

Oil in the MAFS........very likely.

When we were coming home from up north, after dust in filters, flashing lights on the dash, engine running at very low power, one of the hoses popped off the intercoolor. I pulled over, refitted the hose and noticed that the intercooler had signs of oil, as did the hose. (I since found out that when the MAFS is kaput the turbo can over boost, which explains the hose popping off.)

After I had a snorkel fitted I noticed that when the engine is at idle and I put my hand up to the snorkel I could feel the air pulsing - in-out-in-out-in-out-in-out very rapidly - I spoke to a diesel mech about it and I was told this is normal. So yes, oil mist getting back through the air duct is very possible.

Um, ZD30 Patrol has a MAF, ZD30 Navara has a MAP.