Info on new 3.0L diesel engines please.

[Dorroughby]

Hi everyone,

I'm sure this is an old and tired arguement but I am still going to ask the question.

Can I preface what I am about to say with the fact that we are possibly the silliest people we know!!! You're about to find out why!!

My husband and I bought a 4.2L Turbo diesel (ST?) in 2000, put $12K worth of mod's on it, ready to go around Australia with our two children.

I fell pregnant and we postponed the trip, not once but twice. We grew out of the car, prams n 4wd don't mix and couldn't afford the more regular services. We sold it and still see it driving around Canberra, it still makes us sad.

We now have 5 children and have plans to travel for up to a year when my husbands long service leave comes up in 2014.

We started our prep by buying a 1998 100 series petrol/gas Landcruiser earlier in 2012 and have been absolutely shafted. The guy had roadworthy papers and a rego inspection that had passed so we didn't do the mechanical checks we should have. We paid $13K and have taken it to two mechanics (one of which is a specialist 4wd mech), who have told us we are up for $10K in just what they can see is mechanically wrong. They are worried that as they open the car up further the picture will get grimmer.

So, now we have done our available cash, we are looking at trading the car in for a new lease car. Salary sacrifice is a god send for us, but we are now looking at a car that is far more expensive and needs to be less than 8 years old when we finish the lease in 4 years time. ie it has to be less than 4 years old now.

So now you know how silly we have been, we would like some advice so that we don't make the wrong decision again. (Really, we'd just like our old Patrol back but i'm sure the owner's love it!!)

We have put posts on 4wd action and Lcool but from the responses we have received from 4wd action, we are starting to think that the Patrol is the way to go again.

My question is.........now that the 3.0L diesel is the only engine sized option (we know we would like diesel), what is it like?

Have the engine issues been fixed?

What are their L/km ratio in town and on the open road? We are a one car family.

Are they economical towing a campertrailer, with 7 people onboard?

What are the pro's and con's?

What do we need to consider before purchase?

Is there a better year model? We would go new if there is a definate benefit but also like the idea of a
second hand so we are not paying full price. Warranties need to be considered as well.

Any info anyone can give us would be greatly appreciated.

(My husband is mortified that I am admitting internationally that we are *%$#heads)!!

Dorroughby

[growler2058]

Yep the "grenade" motor issue has been sorted 04 on are fine
I've got a brand new hire one at the moment to tow a jayco eagle outback (long story) am getting 19-20ltr/100

PS jump over to the intros and say g'day something we ask all members to do cheers

HaveA tapped out new year

[the evil twin]

Holy Cow... a year travelling with 5 Kids and a Camper Trailer, what an adventure.

My family structure is a little different but we did similar in that we sold a GQ Patrol and Salary scarificed to get a 2 year old GU. Greatest decision we ever made really.

At the moment I would probably suggest going new as the price on the patrols is the lowest ever and there are some good deals to be made BUT a 2nd handy under 2 years old with a lot of fruit could also be an option plus you can trade your lemon either way. You should be able to extend the factory warranty as part of the Salary sacrifice or what I did is waited a year then claimed it back.

The latest 3.0 litre Patrol engines are as reliable as any and for general use need no mods at all however they are a Common Rail engine and irregardless of Ford/Toyota/Nissan the fuel systems cost about 1/2 the car so clean fuel and good maint. is essential.
Many will advocate EGR blocks, manual Boost Control, 2.75 inch exhaust, 3 inch exhaust, Chips, etc etc.
They all have their purposes and I have some on my truck but they are not the end of the world. IF you want to fit any/all then fine but on the CRD none are absolutely 'must haves'.
Probably 90% or more of the Patrols on Aussie roads would be either stock or have a chip and exhaust work.
I would suggest an EGT gauge and a on board diagnostic (OBD) gauge such as a Scangauge which can read Boost Pressure, Coolant, Fuel flows etc would be top of my list then Exhaust and Chips etc

Vehicle mods such as lifts, tyres, long range tanks etc would be up to you and your budget. With the 3rd row seats in place you won't get much in teh back so will have a big roof load.
I would NOT fit winches, steel bars etc unless you absolutely need them as the weight is significant. A roof rack and towing the camper with a family of 7 will be enough load to worry about as you will be up at GVM anyway.

Now, Fuel economy... that is a gamble. For some reason only known to the Gods CRD engines seem to have wildly varying economy figures and it is the luck of the draw what you get.
You will see figures quoted from as low as 10 LHP up to 17 or more for just the vehicle.
I get 12.5 LPH averaged over the last 80,000 K's. My truck is heavy with steel bars, winch, draws, roof rack, long range tanks and towing my big rrsed heavy camper I get 14 to 16sitting on 90 to 95 KPH but my vehicle has mods as well. Some get better economy some get a lot worse.

[MEGOMONSTER]

All depends on how you push it up the hills. If you don't mind losing a bit of speed to climb, the fuel gauge will like you. If you push it up hills well then fuel bill starts to climb too. From melb to Albury with a boat in tow and full boot and back seat and pushing it to gain time I managed 15.8 ltr per 100km. Average speed 120 kph on cruise.
But from Albury to Newcastle, I stopped pushing the hills and just let the speed dwindle a little I got 11.5ltrs per 100km. Average speed 108 kph with cruise on flat only and disengaged at every climb.
Newcastle to Gold Coast 12.4ltrs per 100km, as I was sort of pushing her a little harder.

[Maxhead]

Well, I cant add too much to the above posts but my economy is very good(what i consider good anyway, for a 3T truck)
Everyday driving is around 12.5l/100
Towing 2.7T van we averaged 19l/100 on our 16000km trip

We are more than happy with the Patrol, mine is a manual and I prefer it over the auto one we had.

If you guys are looking at a CRD motor(2007 onwards) you are more then happy to take mine for a spin to get a feel of it

EDIT: just re read your post so yours will be CRD motor...

[happygu]

If you want the ultimate peace of mind and have your heart set on a different vehicle, then I would be looking at the very latest car you can get, but remember the more you pay, the more you will be paying off every week that you aren't working.....and the money disappears quickly when you aren't, especially with that many mouths to feed.
Personally I would have no hestitations in taking a 3L Patrol all around Australia for a year, and there are plenty others who are doing the same thing now.

You need to drive one, and possibly hook the camper up to it if possible. It really depends on what you want to do to it, but you will be heavily loaded, which will take a bit of puff out of it. You may decide that you will need to add a chip or exhaust system, to keep it prforming at its best.

Also think about this, that the car you buy now, wont be worth nearly as much with an additional 40K on the clock.

I think in your situation, if money is tight and not actually knowing what is actually needed in repairs, then I would keep what you have and get it fixed so that you know that you have a reliable vehicle, even if it costs 12K to get there.

I think that it will end up costing more with a newer vehicle, i.e sell yours for 10K - pay 60K plus to get a new one and add the bits you need to make it liveable and reliable for a year or so. Sell after for 40K......

I would much rather see you in a Patrol, but the numbers may not make sense for you, and .....cough, cough, cough, Cruisers aren't that bad.....

[happygu]

Great to see people giving it a go though...we have met so many families that have pulled up stumps and have gone for the year, and generally most have said it was the best time of their lives.

There was only this one teenage girl....grumpy as you can get....whining about missing her friends..... Now I understand that friends are important, and it is hard to miss out on the life back at home, and I tried to point out to her, that she had to see this as a priviledge, that there would be so many others that would trade for her place in a heartbeat, but i am not sure that she viewed it the same way.....

[Morton]

I travel with my wife & 4 kids, tow a camper & roof is often loaded in my 02 Patrol, I get pretty good economy except when I push it hard which I have done, the most recent was up to Brisbane, I did appx 20l/100km going up with myself & 3 kids but had 7 people on the trip back with the camper & more luggage, didnt put my foot into it as much & got appx 16-17l/100km, mine is a DI but I am to understand that the CRD does have better economy, but just reading Evil Twins comments, maybe it is much of a muchness, either way I think you will be happy with a later model Patrol, although a V8 version is here or nearly here, maybe that is an option!

[Squalo]

Get one that is still in warranty and put the extra three year factory warranty on it - $1300 or so, and good for up to 150,000km on the clock.

Then put a free-flow exhaust on it, and have it tuned for more power. A bigger intercooler with larger scoop would be a good idea too considering the weight you will be adding to it.

A chip really gets them moving once you open the exhaust up, but you should remove it (and all wiring) for services, Nissan may not say anything to you at the time but you can bet they'll note it on the service history and if you have a powertrain warranty claim you could have a problem.

[happygu]

Get one that is still in warranty and put the extra three year factory warranty on it - $1300 or so, and good for up to 150,000km on the clock.

Then put a free-flow exhaust on it, and have it tuned for more power. A bigger intercooler with larger scoop would be a good idea too considering the weight you will be adding to it.

A chip really gets them moving once you open the exhaust up, but you should remove it (and all wiring) for services, Nissan may not say anything to you at the time but you can bet they'll note it on the service history and if you have a powertrain warranty claim you could have a problem.

Sounds like the way to go - hang on that nearly sounds like mine.....