Buying a 99 4.5L petrol, any good

[Jamesandlizk]

Hi guys,
The mrs recently wrote our 2.8 99 turbo diesel off when she hit a dear.
Wondering if a 99 4.5L has any diseases I should know about?
Any comment either way would help, don't wanna buy a lemon with 5 kids need something reliable. The car in question has only got 199k on the clock, so for its age it seems to have done fairly little Km's.
Any thoughts?
Cheers

[threedogs]

Mate get onto Bob he swears by his ride, not a bad word about it.
Look at the Ks travelled on the speedo if they look straight its Kosher, if it looks wavey
ask questions

[Jamesandlizk]

Thanks mate have done.
Any ideas if $4k is a good salvage price to buy the rig back and if stuff from my 2.8 will fit the 4.5?

[Alitis007]

I got my 4.5 with 300k on it and its a dream to drive, i've been told that on some that run lpg they burn valves out but that could be a tuning fault. They are a thirsty beast but have good pulling power over 3,500rpm.

Most bolt on should be transferable from the 2.8 to the 4.5 considering the only differences would be running gear. 4k sounds about right for salvage plus you could sell the motor and gear box and get your money back plus have the rest of your accessories aswell.

[Jamesandlizk]

How many kms would you get out of a tank on petrol?
My 2.8 got about 800km for around $160-$170 to fill.

[rottodiver]

Don't buy it if you want good economy but do buy it if you want total reliability, bullet proof and go anywhere power... I am.on my second one of the exact model accept my first was manual and this is auto.... First one written off and wanted the exact patrol again.... Great bit of gear...

Scotty

[Jamesandlizk]

That's what I'm after mate, something that just doesn't give me headaches all the time.
Just asking the questions about fuel so I have an idea what I'm up for. How many kms do u get from a tank around town?

[rottodiver]

With the auto and 305 cooper stts lifted 2 inch roof rack dual tyre carriers Arb bullbar with winch long range tanks (220 litres usable) and other stuff but you get the idea... 19 litre every 100 highway 23 litre every 100 around town( have got 21) 25 litre every 100 on highway towing off road camper
Scotty

[Alitis007]

How many kms would you get out of a tank on petrol?
My 2.8 got about 800km for around $160-$170 to fill.

Totally stock, on 265's, auto, running 98ron ( i don't have lpg) from a tank say about 105 to 115liters i get 600 to 700 km depends on my driving style $175 - 190 every 6 days.

[nissannewby]

Thanks mate have done.
Any ideas if $4k is a good salvage price to buy the rig back and if stuff from my 2.8 will fit the 4.5?

You could get 2k easy just for the front and rear diff assembly's.

[NP99]

Buy buy buy :)

[ktmarty]

Bulletproof but thirsty. Basically same as Rottodiver but mine's dead stock, no accessories. 20L around town, 17L highway, 25L+ towing depending on weight. No torque below 2000rpm, happier at 3 grand, hummin at 4000 and drinking juice at a ferocious rate.

[04OFF]

Exactly as others have said mate, greedy on fuel, but a reliable workhorse, i love mine too !

No grenades here (lol)

[4by]

Yep, go for it. Reliable motoring. I'd go manual on gas to get best economy and power. Do a good tune up and it'll go great. Easy and simple to work on the engine.
Drink a bit of petrol (go lpg) and aren't the best on power but basic old school reliable dinosaur engine.

[Alitis007]

I was talking to a bloke the other day with a 4.5 and he swears by injected LPG, more power and more economy then petrol he rekons...

[Jamesandlizk]

So what am I looking at for the LPG conversion $$?
Was told if I get it I should re do the head. Is this true? Are there any other mods that would be needed.
Bought it and pick I up Tuesday. $9300 and its done 199,600km. So I'm pretty happy.

[rottodiver]

199600..... Huh.... Only just run in!!! Good work
Scotty

[Jamesandlizk]

Thanks mate, I'm pretty chuffed!
Anyone know a good LPG Installer, I live in Bilpin, (the blue mountains). And any ideas on cost?

[NP99]

Mate, recon the head when you have to, just not now! A valve lube kit will set you back about $70 and keep the valves and seats happy! Cost for conversion??? Not sure if the govt rebate is still going, but check that out too. Mine cost $4800 less $1200 rebate, so $3600 and that was for VSI system, considered by many the best system, even better than the newer system recently out. Best idea, ring around, make sure it's a common system that most installers are installing....some are crap and you need to go back to them only for service and repair.

[Jamesandlizk]

Thanks for the advice mate.
How do I go about lubing the valves? Something simple?

[Alitis007]

Valve saver kit is a drip system that gets plumed into a vacuum line and drawn i to the motor while its running, it comes with instructions so its pretty easy! Just remember 4 drips per minute.

[NP99]

Thanks for the advice mate.
How do I go about lubing the valves? Something simple?

PM me your email and ill set you up with step by step, it's also posted around here somewhere!

[Jamesandlizk]

Done mate. Thanks heaps appreciated.
Had a chat to a LPG installer and they will do it with a second hand tank for $2800. Should I steer clear of 2nd hand tanks and go for the brand spanker?

[Alitis007]

As long as its in date you should be fine mate. Is that a vapor system or injected?

[4by]

Here's some more info on valve saver system: http://www.flashlube.com/eu/products/valve-saver-kit.html

All LPG tanks have a 10 year period then it will need to be retested. (I paid $300 for tank testing depending where you go) Second hand tank will still work if tested ok and still within date. Check to make sure it doesn't run out soon. How much are you saving with second hand tank?
$2,800 sounds pretty good. Did they say it was a vapour system? Make sure parts are readily available should you need them one day down the track.

[Alitis007]

As long as its in date you should be fine mate. Is that a vapor system or injected?

[Jamesandlizk]

Injected. Vapour is $2200.
The only thing second hand is the tank everything else is new.

[lhurley]

I was talking to a bloke the other day with a 4.5 and he swears by injected LPG, more power and more economy then petrol he rekons...

I would vouch for that, mines injected, and i get better economy and power out of gas. She needs some love but still goes good. I get about 20/100 on gas with a dodgy injector and a heavy foot, and thats half highway, half town.

[ozzymalone]

Great buy buddy. Not sure if my LPG is vapour or injected but can definitely vouch that the tune is in favour of the lpg and it drives like any other car, just a bit heavier. Mine is a pig on petrol and just sucks it back with little to no power. Interested in finding a chip so I can tune for both fuel types. Ok on petrol on the highway but guzzles everywhere else compared to the lpg.

[4by]

$2800 for injected is awesome. Even $2200 for vapour sounds cheap. I was going to change mine from vapour to injected and they quoted me $4000.

[4by]

Great buy buddy. Not sure if my LPG is vapour or injected but can definitely vouch that the tune is in favour of the lpg and it drives like any other car, just a bit heavier. Mine is a pig on petrol and just sucks it back with little to no power. Interested in finding a chip so I can tune for both fuel types. Ok on petrol on the highway but guzzles everywhere else compared to the lpg.

Xede do a chip with 2 tunes so you could have one for petrol and lpg. I have one in my car.

[Jamesandlizk]

$2800 for injected is awesome. Even $2200 for vapour sounds cheap. I was going to change mine from vapour to injected and they quoted me $4000.

So I just went to pick the car up, surprise it's been in an accident with a roo. There is damage to the front end even though the bloke told me its never been on an accident. Lifted the bonnet and it need coolant. Took about a litre. Bloke reckons he just did the rocker cover gasket and mustn't have filled t up properly.
Need to know 1 why u would need to replace the rocker cover gasket and 2 is there a simple way to tell if the head is gone in it? Can't afford a lemon.
2 the high gear in 4 x 4 felt like it was gonna stall, could this be from low fuel? Bloke reckons it ran out of petrol driving into his driveway after we left and that's why.
He said we can have a mechanic look at the car but don't want to waist $300 if I can help it.

[Jamesandlizk]

What is the cost of a head and or a head gasket if anyone has had to replace one before?

[4by]

So I just went to pick the car up, surprise it's been in an accident with a roo. There is damage to the front end even though the bloke told me its never been on an accident. Lifted the bonnet and it need coolant. Took about a litre. Bloke reckons he just did the rocker cover gasket and mustn't have filled t up properly.
Need to know 1 why u would need to replace the rocker cover gasket and 2 is there a simple way to tell if the head is gone in it? Can't afford a lemon.
2 the high gear in 4 x 4 felt like it was gonna stall, could this be from low fuel? Bloke reckons it ran out of petrol driving into his driveway after we left and that's why.
He said we can have a mechanic look at the car but don't want to waist $300 if I can help it.

What.... your joking.... he hit a roo..... what the????????
Did you see the car before, was it all okay??

Ok, so normally I adjust the tappets and still use the same rocker cover gasket. Unless he damaged it. Shouldn't have to use coolant to change rocker cover gasket....

As I know it a head gasket will show up as milky residue under oil filler cap, (unless he wiped it clean) bubbling in radiator with cap off and engine idling, using water and spitting water out the exhaust. I think a compression test or cooling system pressure test will show up head gasket fault.
Not sure about the engine stalling. Get him to put some fuel in it and try again.

Perhaps you should look at another car or get this one cheaper again..... good luck and let us know how you went.

[rottodiver]

Get it checked... It is not a waste of money either way...
Scotty

[lhurley]

Rocker cover gastkets aren't expensive, less then $50. Unless he took off the radiator hose to change the gasket, it shouldn't need any water. Rocker cover usually only needs to come off to do the tappets. Tappets need to be done fairly often on gas.

I would be very apprehensive about buying it. If it was my money, I wouldn't be buying it.

[Lowie]

Hey Ozzymalone - I have recently installed a performance chip in my trol (one of those that trick the MAF) had it custom built to suit the 4.5L. Took me ages to source it and didn't cost a lot (well under $100). I haven't done a lot of k's yet but can say the fuel economy hasn't change much (still a thirsty bastard on both petrol & LPG) but definately has increased performance wise. Once I've turned over 1,000k's I'm gonna ge it dyno'd. if it comes up good I have done a deal to sell them in Oz as we definately need somethig to improve the performance of the 4.5L.

[Lowie]

Re the 99 trol. Bloke sounds dodgey to me. I agree with 4by - those two suggestions are a dead giveaway if the heads cracked or blown a gasket.
FYI, I paid $10K for my 98 Ti with 340K's on it.