4WD maintenance or repair

Submitted: Thursday, Mar 15, 2012 at 11:50
ThreadID: 92519 Views:3838 Replies:5 FollowUps:7
This Thread has been Archived
Dear 4WD owners,

I would like to ask your opinion of the following cars: Nissan patrol 4.5l or 4.8l, Landcruiser 100 series or Landrover Discovery TD5.

1. Which is the easiest to do it yourself (DIY) in terms of the routine maintenance. That means we do not have to go to a mechanic frequently other than big/major repairs?

2. Which is one is the cheapest to run and maintain?

Thank you very much for your time to answer my questions.

Sincerely,
Colonel
Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator

Reply By: Mr Pointyhead - Thursday, Mar 15, 2012 at 11:55

Thursday, Mar 15, 2012 at 11:55
Landcruiser HZJ105.

That is the landcruiser 100 series with the 1HZ engine and solid front axle. The 1HZ engine is very common in all the Landcruiser utes etc so it is easy to get parts etc for it.

AnswerID: 480413

Follow Up By: Colonel T - Thursday, Mar 15, 2012 at 12:05

Thursday, Mar 15, 2012 at 12:05
Dear Mr Pointyhead,

Thank you for your reply.

How are you going to rank them with nissan patrol 4.5l, 4.8l and landrover discovery TD5?

Which one is the cheapest to maintain and repair?

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Colonel
0
FollowupID: 755874

Reply By: Robin Miller - Thursday, Mar 15, 2012 at 12:13

Thursday, Mar 15, 2012 at 12:13
Hi Colonel

So much of cheapest to run depends on depreciation and cost so thats not easy and would probably go to the cheapest car - from your list this would be the 4.5l Patrol.

The petrol Patrols are significantly easier to maintain than either diesel,
even the spark plugs last 100,000km.

If have never taken either of my petrol Patrols back for regular service from the day they left the dealers brand new.

Very few have this confidence in the reliability of there cars.
Robin Miller

Member
My Profile  Send Message

AnswerID: 480414

Follow Up By: Mr Pointyhead - Thursday, Mar 15, 2012 at 12:22

Thursday, Mar 15, 2012 at 12:22
Hi Robin,

I would have thought that the 4.8 Petrol engine would be better as it is a significantly better engine than the older 4.5 ?

That on LPG would be a good option.

As for the HZJ105, major service intervals are 10,000.00 with the optional minor service at 5000. The 1HZ in the HZJ105 has the large sump that takes 9l of oil at each change. The HZJ105 will get around 12l/100 Km in standard trim.

How available are the Patrol parts though out Australia ?



0
FollowupID: 755875

Follow Up By: Colonel T - Thursday, Mar 15, 2012 at 12:23

Thursday, Mar 15, 2012 at 12:23
Mr Robin Miller

Dear Mr Miller,

If I compare the 4.5l and 4.8l, I am wondering which one needs less maintenance or easier to maintain by considering that the 4.8l has newer technology?

I believe the spark plugs last 100,000km. Is this a standard spark plugs, platnum or iriduium sparkplugs?

Thank you for your reply.

Sincerely,

Colonel
0
FollowupID: 755876

Follow Up By: Robin Miller - Thursday, Mar 15, 2012 at 13:05

Thursday, Mar 15, 2012 at 13:05
Hi Pointy

The Patrol 4800 is the better engine by far over the 4500 but I was answering your question about reliability.
The massively more powerful 4800 for example has 2 oxygen sensors , this helps it get better fuel economy but 2 senors is more complex than 1 - etc .

The V8 100 series has 3 sensors and is a little better fuel wize than the 4800 and a little less reliable etc.

The petrol patrols take 7lt of oil , service intervals are 10k , with little to be done and nothing I couldn't do and I'm a long way from being a mechanic.

The Patrol and Cruisers parts are widely available unlike the TD5.

Many Patrol parts have been the same for more than 10 years - even have a set of tyres from my 1991 Patrol that fit my 2011 Patrol and so many everyday things like windscreens are almost to cheap to be true.

Plugs - I choose Platinum $9.95 each not, the more expensive iridium.

I don't believe LPG is a viable option when the price ratio is less than 2:1 which it has now been in melbourne for more than a month (today $1.44 / 0.79 )
(unless the car comes with gas - and if it does seriously check the head no matter what make)

Again I say that the capital expense /depreciation has to be considered in any of these equations.

Old 4500 patrols can be got for sub $10k - but cost more fuel - you have to work thru this.

When I brought my last new petrol Patrol a year ago it really came down to 2 great cars ->

200 series at $86k and Patrol @ $50k - for my application I rated them equal.

But 200 series gets 33% better economy and this translates to a fuel saving of $1500 / year.

The interest alone on the $36k price difference pays for that, and I get to keep that $36k.

Think long term , and the true cost of ownership.



Robin Miller

Member
My Profile  Send Message

0
FollowupID: 755877

Reply By: MEMBER - Darian, SA - Thursday, Mar 15, 2012 at 12:17

Thursday, Mar 15, 2012 at 12:17
Of those mentioned, I only know the LC 100 series (I have an 05 GXL manual, with the 1HD-FTE motor - can't help with comparisons) - I service all filters and oils and a belt or two, plus other minor jobs and consider that all to be straight forward handyman work - brakes, timing belts, bearings etc. I leave to an expert (but those costs are generally low for me, because I don't do a lot of k's). I usually do an oil and filter change on my longer trips too, buying oil wherever I am and needing to only take a small amount of lightweight gear for the job). If you are car-handy and do the basic learning (Lcool is a great forum for LC owners) it is quite achievable....... a couple of big points on the topic for me are 1. I know the service work has actually been done (something that many owners can't say) 2. Personally knowing the 'ins and outs' of your car can be very handy for possible breakdowns in the outback.
AnswerID: 480415

Follow Up By: TerraFirma - Thursday, Mar 15, 2012 at 13:19

Thursday, Mar 15, 2012 at 13:19
Colonel, One question perhaps more important than the ones you are asking, is which vehicle is the most reliable? I would rather have the vehicle that is most reliable than the one that is slightly easier to service but has more issues with it.
0
FollowupID: 755878

Follow Up By: Colonel T - Thursday, Mar 15, 2012 at 13:48

Thursday, Mar 15, 2012 at 13:48
Dear Terra Firma,

In your opinion, which one is the most reliable?

Thank you for your opinion.

Sincerely,

Colonel
0
FollowupID: 755882

Follow Up By: TerraFirma - Thursday, Mar 15, 2012 at 13:53

Thursday, Mar 15, 2012 at 13:53
Colonel, With Robin Miller here I have to be careful, Robin is a Nissan man through and through. All 3 are great vehicles, however I can't comment on the Disco, not my style and if my life depended on it my personal choice would be Toyota, no hesitation. If you are buying second hand then your initial appraisal of the vehicle will be important. As for maintenance Toyota and Nissan would be cheaper to maintan, I don't care what the Disco Fan Club says. This is all my opinion Colonel.
0
FollowupID: 755883

Reply By: Member - Tony V (NSW) - Thursday, Mar 15, 2012 at 14:27

Thursday, Mar 15, 2012 at 14:27
Dear Colonel T,

This is a great fishing trip, you have opened a can of worms for bait.



I doubt that there is one person on this forum that has owned all 4 vehicles listed, so opinions would be restricted to one or 2 of these vehicles.

So obviously, your questions will not be fully responded to in one reply.

To answer question 1, how mechanical are you? What do you consider big/major repairs?

To answer question 2, do you want the purchase price included in the overall "cheapest to run and maintain?

The main question to answer the above is what are you going to do with the vehicle?

Tour, tow, travel bush, daily runner? all these things affect the 2 questions.

I would ask why only 4.5l or 4.8 ltr patrols and not 3ltr or the 4.2 ltr diesel?

The Landcruiser 100, solid axle or IFS? natural aspirated diesel or turbo, straight 6 petrol or V8?

Only the Landrover Discovery TD5? there are other variations in engine for this vehicle...





AnswerID: 480424

Reply By: Axle - Thursday, Mar 15, 2012 at 19:43

Thursday, Mar 15, 2012 at 19:43
Dear Colonel,... Haven't we been here Before???.



Cheers Axle.
AnswerID: 480446

Sponsored Links