Quote Originally Posted by bsteveo View Post
Hey,
I'm trying to not rush into purchasing my first Patrol and am seeking some advice on what to look out for, etc.
So far I've read about the dangers of the "grenading" early series 3 liter TD motors.
I'd prefer to find a Diesel Patrol but have been reading about Petrol/Gas Patrols being pretty reliable also.
I'm currently looking at the GU series 4, and looking to spend about 20k or less.
I've already inspected a few at dealerships around Melbourne, and have encountered some dodgy Patrols with massive gaps in service history to leaky diffs. Been trying to look out for clean examples, no gaps in maintenance, no leaks, particularly oil in the intercooler etc.
Thanks
Hi bsteveo,
It's also important to search for the type of patrol that suits your needs and what you may be comfortable with.
I had a duel fuel set-up on mine, I am reasonably comfortable working with most things petrol, but had a diesel Navara once and had no idea what I was doing under the bonnet.
I have removed the gas from mine now and although a little dearer to run will be a lot easier to service and with a long range tank and sub I can get about 1000ks or so range without needing to fill up, whereas on dual fuel 600-650 pulled me up (plus I only need to take a couple of jerrys with me for extra).
I found that it ran really well on gas and was as cheap as chips to run, so if you're looking for something to do mainly a bit of offroading around your area gas or duel fuel is a cheap option.
If you're comfortable with diesel you can find enough info on here to help with what type of motor suits you best.
I would say that whichever way you go, have someone who knows what they're doing check the vehicle out for you before you buy.