Overheating Nissan Patrol
Submitted: Monday, Nov 30, 2009 at 08:51
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furph
Have read about the 4.2 Nissan diesel overheating issues, here is perhaps a first hand clue.
Was having a few beers last night with a friend who has a factory turbo trayback (bought new,2000) which has had an intermittant overheating problem. He is an earthmoving contractor and the problem is mainly when towing heavy loads (fuel trailer etc.).
Last week the problem became quite extreme so took it back to a local diesel
shop where it had been for checks several times and about 3yrs. ago had a new (gen. Nissan) radiator installed.
The mechanic suggested they remove the plastic top
tank off the radiator (decision to replace again having been made so if ruined no loss) to see if full of sludge.
It seems that internally was very clean, but a surprise was that the al. tubes were nearly all compressed flat (could not rod through) completely restricting the coolant flow.
How this has come about is for the moment a mystery, but it does explain the overheating issue.
I wondered if the radiator cap was not allowing coolant from the overflow bottle back into the radiator as the engine cooled, the coolant contracted and atmospheric pressure flattening the tubes.
Perhaps some food for thought?
furph
Reply By: Member - MUZBRY(Vic) - Monday, Nov 30, 2009 at 09:10
Monday, Nov 30, 2009 at 09:10
Gday Furph
Were all the tubes blocked at the same hight?
I would have thought that the top hose would collapse before the radiator.
AnswerID:
393202
Follow Up By: furph - Monday, Nov 30, 2009 at 15:04
Monday, Nov 30, 2009 at 15:04
Will se the owner on Wed., will ask the question then.
furph
FollowupID:
661297
Reply By: Member - Duncs - Monday, Nov 30, 2009 at 10:56
Monday, Nov 30, 2009 at 10:56
I wonder about this overheating thing.
It is real
mine does it, but it has never really caused a major problem. I still managed 1600km in a day on a day that got
well over 40C. So as you can see it is not dramatic. But it is a constant worry always there in the back of my mind.
I have thought about what might cause it; over fuelling, not enough coolant, would a bigger bottom
tank help. But then I put that against all the attempted solutions I have heard about here and elsewhere.
I thought you were going to say they replaced the plastic top and bottom tanks and that solved the problem. You didn't ......pity that would have made me and a lot of other people very happy.
I keep coming back to this, most of the informed opinion I have heard indicates that the TD42 is at maximum capacity Remember this, the 4.2 Nissan started life over 25 years ago as a light truck engine. It was tweaked for a bit more horsepower when it went into the GQ naturally aspirated. The GQ was about 2.2 tonne tare. When the GU was released Nissan knew it needed more go to compete with the yotas so they installed a factory turbo. They also increased the mass of the vehicle by about half a tonne over the GQ. The poor old 4.2 is working pretty hard. It needs more help than just a turbo.
I hope Nissan are taking notice of these criticisms of what has been a remarkably reliable power plant.
Build us a replacement Mr Nissan make it modern make it powerful and economical but most of all make it reliable. The TD42 should be the reliability benchmark for all future Nissan diesels.
As for the overheating in the GU, I manage it by keeping the car
well serviced and maintained. Clean filters, oil, air and fuel and clean injectors are essential to and go a long way towards keeping the engine cool.
Duncs
AnswerID:
393220
Follow Up By: furph - Monday, Nov 30, 2009 at 15:07
Monday, Nov 30, 2009 at 15:07
Duncs.
because it was found that the tubes were so flat it was left as is. When I see the owner on Wed. I will ask if the old rad. is available for a photo.
furph
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Trevor R (QLD) - Monday, Nov 30, 2009 at 16:56
Monday, Nov 30, 2009 at 16:56
Could not agree more Duncs. Even with all the o/heating my Green one has seen it has still managed 380000km and that is running big HP for the old girl too. It had it's first trip to the top of the temp gauge with only 1600km on the speedo.....I thought that would be the end of that motor but how wrong I was. The newer silver one I bought from my uncle recently never o'heated for him but sure enough in my hands it does. Just depends on loads and working conditions as to how severe the temp rise is on each 4.2 if you ask me. They will almost certainly all experience it if pushed along in hot weather.
Last time I looked into it, there was an ADRAD 4 core copper/brass radiator available which increased coolant capacity to about 20lts and helped one fella I talked to immensely but that was as far as I went with it.
Cheers, Trevor.
FollowupID:
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Reply By: JR - Monday, Nov 30, 2009 at 20:26
Monday, Nov 30, 2009 at 20:26
I thought the consensus was theres a flow problem in the block itself, and unless radiator etc is working very
well it heats up
Newer models with tall and narrow radiator have much less problems
Deairing
tank on left hand guard helps too.
JR
AnswerID:
393290
Follow Up By:- Monday, Nov 30, 2009 at 23:26
Monday, Nov 30, 2009 at 23:26
Yes JR, I think you have hit the nail on the head. Radiator capacity is crucial in dispersing heat, as is a
well ventilated engine bay. Having had experience working farm machinery and drilling rigs where large horse power diesel engines work at high revs for hours on end at low speeds or in a fixed position, what you notice is the large radiators and multi bladed fans. Problems are bound to arise when light 4x4 trucks get worked like tractors but don't have the engine heat dispersing capacity. The original Toyota tray backs had breathing gills on the sides of the bonnets to help with heat dispersal. Happy Days. Pauper.
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