4WD maintenance or repair

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

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 ?

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

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.

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.

Dear Terra Firma,

In your opinion, which one is the most reliable?

Thank you for your opinion.

Sincerely,

Colonel

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.