nissan 4.8

search the Patrol 4 x 4 website, it is a gold mine.

http://patrol4x4.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=10

Although astill a current owner of a 4.5 L Patrol, I bought a 4.8 L patrol two weeks ago & have learnt heaps from that websire forum.

Cheers

From what I have read, they are more thirsty than a V8 Lancruiser. I don't know about the gas side of things.

I beleive they are a very good donk but if your looking for reasonable economy, I don't think the Patrol 4.8 is the choice.

If they are inexpensive in the market, I'd say the petrol consumption would have a lot to do with it.

Hi David

Had mine since 2002 now and we try hard but can't find anything better so far.

The net performance is to good and its the only big wagon left you can by new with live axle coils and wide stable track.

Reliablity is a strong point and so is effective economy , but not fuel economy,
to get the benefits you have to accept about 1/3rd less fuel economy.

Over 200,000km in which every drop has been looged thru mine it has averaged just under 17lt/100km but it is a manual and is not normally driven hard.

A total life cycle ananlysis shows them to be less expensive than the 4.2 diesels and slightly dearer than 3lt up to 150.000km and cheaper than 3lt over 200,000 as they often require engine re-builds by then.

In late 2005 they changed by dropping the sub-tank and manual options and reduced the power a little from 185 to 180 kw.

Gas is an interesting question - it has never quite added up for me, but the engine takes gas well.
I need 1000km range and this hasan't proved possible on gas.

Only from this year liquid gas injection has become available , it is expensive ($6-7k) and it offers no power loss and better efficentcy , but still so far I am not aware of tanks larger than 65lt being available due to the in tank pump requirement of this system.
Mixer gas and normal injection systems can have much bigger tanks,

I am still hoping for Nissan to keep the GU alive with one more engine release but as it stands today the 4800 remains the best option I can see for a tough long distance and capable tourer that you have a chance of fixing yourself.
It is technicaly simpler and has less issues and parts are much less expensive than most of todays high -tech diesels, says he who just brought a new fuel pump for a spare at $125 retail compared to the thousands most diesel items cost.

In a word, magnificent.

An auto with the old style "mixer" LPG will use about 21L/100km around town with a fairly heavy right foot. Towing a 16 foot van at 110 kmh (and it will hold 110 up hill and down dale) expect around 31.

On LPG they are quite simply the best and most economical tow tug available.

Engine goes forever, 5 speed auto is a beauty and there's nothing more competent off road.

Only downside is you need to stop every 200 odd k's for LPG when towing but hey, "break the drive and stay alive" and all that piffle.

Disclaimer: LPG may be expensive and/or have limited availability in remote areas.

Jim Best.