New owner – some basic queries

[Clem]

Hi guys,

Well, today I bought the first new car I have ever had – a new Patrol 4.8. I should take delivery of the car in about two days time. I have been looking for an overland vehicle for some time to replace my old Discovery 1, which has given us some really good service across some of the backends of Africa for the last 12 years. I got a new Patrol at R 530 K and so closed the deal today.

I am looking forward very much to learning about this new beast that I have bought – quite different to my previous vehicle. As is so often the case, I am sure there is a wealth of technical knowledge on this forum. I plan to hopefully pick some brains along the way and make a few friends as well. :-)

Could I ask to start with whether this vehicle has any particular weak points (I suppose all machines have their good points and bad points) and things that should be treated with care? For example on the old Land Rover R380 transmission one needed to treat the fifth gear with particular care as it was really for coasting and not designed to take heavy loads... to mention only one of the many shortcomings of that particular vehicle that I had to deal with over the years (but on the whole it has been a really great car and I have not yet quite made up my mind to sell it).

Any beginner's tips and pointers would be much appreciated – even if it is only to refer me to a particular thread on the forum.

Glad to be here.

Cheers,
Clem

[Marino4x4]

Welcome Clem

Welcome to the forum.

You have made the best decision of your life!!

The only problem with the 4.8 is fuel consumption. But you probably know that. The other big problem all patrol owners have is the client service from Nissan. Their technical knowledge on the cars are limited, but luckily there is a forum like this with very clever people with a good knowledge on the cars.

Hope you have years of good driving in the car and welcome once again.

[Clem]

Welcome Clem

Welcome to the forum.

You have made the best decision of your life!!

The only problem with the 4.8 is fuel consumption. But you probably know that. The other big problem all patrol owners have is the client service from Nissan. Their technical knowledge on the cars are limited, but luckily there is a forum like this with very clever people with a good knowledge on the cars.

Hope you have years of good driving in the car and welcome once again.

Many thanks Marino. Not to worry on the fuel consumption – I do not think it can be significantly worse than my old 3.9 V8 Land Rover, which almost never gave me anything better than 18 L per hundred kilometres (admittedly it did have a roofrack and a fair amount of steel on the inside). As for the dealer's knowledge… Well, I have been through all of that with Mercedes-Benz and they now know well enough to listen to when I tell them what the problem with the car is. Anyway, once it is out of warranty I will probably either service it myself or take it somewhere else to someone who actually knows what they are doing.

Many thanks for the welcome and the reassurance on the vehicle. It was a scary amount of money to EFT!

[Tinus lotz]

Welcome man !!!
Going from a landy to a patrol is a great move !!!just put petrol and you will have the time of your life!!!

[Clem]

Welcome man !!!
Going from a landy to a patrol is a great move !!!just put petrol and you will have the time of your life!!!

Thank you Tinus! :-)

[Peter Connan]

Welcome Clem

There are two or three things I would like to draw your attention to.

The first are the auto-locking hubs. These lock by the difference in motion between the hub and the sideshafts. It has happened that during very heavy 4x4ing in rocky terrain, a wheel might momentarily lift or otherwise lose traction, and the hub starts to disengage, and if traction is regained in that moment, with the hub partially engaged, it may break. The same can happen when "rocking" the vehicle in sand. For heavy 4x4 work, I would recommend that you lock the hubs manually.

Secondly, the diff-lock solenoid wants a regular workout to keep it moving nicely. The diff lock itself also needs to be fully engaged before significant torque is applied, so drive with a light foot until it has engaged properly.

The last item is that when towing a heavy trailer you might want to shift into tiptronic and hold fourth gear, it will help your consumption and speed up hills.

When driving in heavy sand, select low range sooner rather than later, this will also help with fuel consumption.

Happy trolling, and come and share your experiences with us!

[Clem]

Welcome Clem

There are two or three things I would like to draw your attention to.

The first are the auto-locking hubs. These lock by the difference in motion between the hub and the sideshafts. It has happened that during very heavy 4x4ing in rocky terrain, a wheel might momentarily lift or otherwise lose traction, and the hub starts to disengage, and if traction is regained in that moment, with the hub partially engaged, it may break. The same can happen when "rocking" the vehicle in sand. For heavy 4x4 work, I would recommend that you lock the hubs manually.

Secondly, the diff-lock solenoid wants a regular workout to keep it moving nicely. The diff lock itself also needs to be fully engaged before significant torque is applied, so drive with a light foot until it has engaged properly.

The last item is that when towing a heavy trailer you might want to shift into tiptronic and hold fourth gear, it will help your consumption and speed up hills.

When driving in heavy sand, select low range sooner rather than later, this will also help with fuel consumption.

Happy trolling, and come and share your experiences with us!

Thank you Peter. It is exactly this kind of advice I was looking for. I am beyond the point of life where I want to try the limits of the vehicle (or myself, for that matter) having already pretty much "been there, done that". I think I must be one of the few people to have snapped the planetary gear carrier shaft in a Land Rover differential (which resulted in Trutrac torque biasing differentials all round), so I will be careful with that front drive train then.

I'll make a rule of fiddling the diff lock from time to time then when first starting it up for the day.

I've noted the fourth gear rule already by surfing the forum and from speaking to a friend. Quite honestly I'm likely to go for a light trailer but maybe I'll change my mind after having driven the car....guess I must be one of the few people to buy a Patrol without ever having driven one. A very big factor for me was the ladder frame, beam axle and coil spring combo - something not seen that often anymore but something I have a huge appreciation of from my Land Rover.

[Jorrie]

Welcome with us Clem. As Thinus said, put foot and put fuel.

[Herrie]

Welcome Clem! At least you only have to check the fuel gauge for 500 000 to 600 000 kilometers

[Bruin Beer]

Clem,
Very welcome.
I would like to point out that the ride in the Patrol might feel a bit more sports car that the landrover. There are very little that beat the ride comfort. Not to say the Patrol is uncomfortable but you do get allot more feedback.
Just remember you have to select 4H at least to get the locker to select.
I normally just pull the short leg a little till the light comes on and then fiddle the diff lock.

As Peter stated the diff lock does not impose allot of confidamce by me. Be very sure to allow the diff lock time to 110% ingauge before smakking the horses.

Sure you would enjoy this monster.
Bruin Beer