Hi there

[biggles]

Hi there

I am currently the proud owner of a jeep XJ 2.5td that has been developed far past where it could be considered useful for anything but extreme trails. Anyone in the 4x4community site may have come across me. I am biggles there as well but been relatively quiet recently. Sooo... I am looking for something with offroad ability, towing ability and diesel. Something that wouldbe just as practical doing a grade 5 trail as a trip through namibia towing a trailer. I am a big fan of articulation and my jeep setup is tailored to keeping all 4 wheels on the ground.

So the natural conclusion was the Patrol!! Coils all round, SFA, and I prefer the styling over the cruiser. I drive Toyotas at work and never seen the appeal to them.

So I was looking for the 4.2Tdi in the R150K range with <200,000km. I came across one on the gum and looking at it in the next couple of days. But I have some questions:
Is the 4.2Td the model to look for?
Did they have intercoolers in 2002? Some sites mention 2003 for the intercooler. The one I am looking at has the bonnet vents, I have not asked specifically about an intercooler.
How much of a problem is it getting parts? Rumour has it Nissan SA are even worse than most other dealers at parts supply.
The performance of the 4.2Td... is is good enough to drag that big body to the top of a dune in Atlantis?
GRX? means what?
Did it come with front or rear difflock? or LSD?
Anyone recognise this one?


Anything specific to look for when checking it out? Apart from rear axle seals I can find no general issues.

So hopefully will be on here as a bona fida Trol owner soon.

[Alex Roux]

H Steven

For some people on this forum some of your questions will be music in there ears.
The model you are looking at had rear lockers only (like most GU models).
Patrols never came out with front lockers as standard.
You will rarely need them any way.

GRX in short means more fancy than GL.
Electric windows at the back, climate control rather than just air con, leather seats, sun roof, and a few other little things.

The big diesel is the ideal model for overland, crawls rocks very well, but a looong dune is not its favourite terrain. If the dunes are important to you, I would rather go for a petrol model. They are more thirsty and even much cheaper nowadays, but run dunes very well.
For a three ton vehicle, it is not underpowered, but that may depend in the vehicle's set up.
If this model is a 4.2, (since it looks like it my well be a 3td), it looks in very good nick. The 4.2s are generally older than the 3litres, unless imported
I like the bumpers. It seems to have a suspension lift as well?

Checks:
Check if the rear diff lock is working.
Pitty, you are not in Gauteng, then Graham could have inspected the car.

[biggles]

The more research I do the more I suspect that it is a 3.0d with a 4.2td transplant.

P.S. I just noticed that the header picture second from right trol is very similar to the one I am looking at.

[biggles]

Yes, it has an OME lift

[Marino4x4]

Hi

I saw this car on Gumtree. As far as I know the station wagon was not sold as a TDI in SA. I must be an import or a transplant or a aftermarket turbo and inter cooler. Try and find out from the seller if it was an original TDI inter cooler.

The cars after 1998 is known as GU or y61 models. The previous generation Patrols is known as GQ or Y60 models. There was 2 different models GRX and GL. Alex named the difference between the models.

Sand dunes is not the 4.2 bread and butter. It is more a tourer, rock crawler . With lots of low down torque. The diesel consumption will be 7-9 km/l ware the 4.8 petrol will give you 4-6km/l. It is also a good towing vehicle, but be patient when driving. You will not get to much speeding tickets.

All round the car looks in good nick. If possible take it for a drive. Also make sure the back diff lock works.

You will not be sorry going the Patrol way.

Good luck and welcome to the forum.

[Stefan]

Hi Biggles,

That looks like Pieter du Toit's Patrol

It was a 3.0 that was replaced with a 4.2 Conversion.

[ricster]

Biggles..... A TD42 patrol is like hens teeth...... It is a monster of an engine and virtually bulletproof!!

However there are a few things that worry me....

1) The 4.2 diesel Patrol NEVER came out as a GRX, only as a GL. The GL is the base model that doesn't come out with a sunroof or sub tank or leather seats as standard. Mine is a 1999 model TD42 Patrol but has leather seats ( was probably done as an extra)
2) The Patrol Y61 with the 4.2 diesel engine only was available from 1998 - 1999. Thereafter the Y61 desel Patrol came out with a 3.0 turbo and intercooled engine, known as the ZD30.
3) The 4.2 diesel Patrol ( 1998 - 1999 ) NEVER came out with a turbo and/or intercooler. If there is a turbo fitted to to a 4.2, it is an aftermarket turbo.
4) The 4.2 as a normally aspirated motor is like a donkey..... VERY strong , but sluggish.
5) If a 4.2 has a turbo, then there is a few things to consider. Is there an EGT gauge fitted. If so then the previous owner has been keeping an eye on the temps. The TD42 is known to get EGT's climbing a bit quick into the 650 deg C range. Pistons will start melting after 700 odd deg C. But having said that with the right turbo/fueling setup the power and EGTs can be brought under control.
6) A N/A 4.2 will not fair well at all on a sand dune..... neither will ANY NA diesel do well, doesn't matter what make. If there is a turbo, well then you have a nice bit of extra kick that will get you to places that a N/A won't. But here lies the problem..... you only have about 2500 rpm max. to play with. When a 4.2 starts hitting the 3500rpm mark, it sounds like the 6 pistons want to jump out the block and kick you in the ass, and 750 - 1500 rpm and desert sand just don't work. I did Atlantis Dunes a few years back in my 4.2 turbo Patrol and I had to really work that motor to get up some of those bigger dunes with sometimes 5 or 6 attempts.

So if you are looking for a dune rider and good towing, then a 4.8 petrol Patrol is your ultimate Patrol. For great overlanding and towing the 4.2 is awesome. There is NO fancy electronics on a 4.2 so they are EXTREMELY reliable anywhere in the bush, and fuel consumption is fantastic compared to a petrol 4.5 or 4.8 ( especially when the 4x4 low range is selected ). You will take longer to get there with the 4.2 diesel compared to the petrol, but will be a lot cheaper on fuel costs.

The 3.0 is a whole different ballgame....... A 2000 - 2004 model 3.0TD Patrol Y61 ( ZD30 ) is a gamble Patrol as these ZD30 motors were notorious for "blowing up" due to excessively high EGT's. Again if an EGT guage has been fitted there is a good chance that the motor has been looked after, but still a risk. As far as I'm aware Nissan corrected the problem from 2004 onwards. As a towing and overlanding vehicle I recently have a lot more respect for the 3.0 Patrol than I had before when a friend of mine ( Known as Juice on the Patrol forum), towed his overlanding trailer with his 3.0 Patrol on the pans in Botswana. I was very impressed with the fuel economy and efficiency of that Patrol through some sticky slop.

GRX means the luxury model with all the goodies.... the GL is the base model.

All Patrols ( Y61 ) have a difflock only on the rear. No LSD on any station wagons ( not sure about the Patrol bakkie/pickup). The Patrol has sooooooo much articulation that a front locker is not often needed, especially if you have a 2" or more suspension lift.

[Kagiso II]

That one belonged to Pieter du Toit - it had a 3.0 liter diesel which "granaded" and Pieter replaced it with the 4,2 engine.
Only reason why Pieter sold it was coz of cash flow at the time.
{Ricster -- Pieter's engine saga was about the same time when you bought stryk-ouzi .. ermm Iron Aunti agggg Maiden :-) }

Speak to Pieter [i think if you P/M him he will get the message and reply]

OR - speak to Christo .. he is wanting to sell Agarob .. now there is a Patrol to have ..
Daai Agarob skop gat. Punt

[ricster]

I agree with Stefan ..... I think this is Pieter's Patrol.

If it is, then you can speak to the guy who did the transplant right here on the forum. He is quite a legend here with the 4.2 diesels. PM Frans ( tour de frans ), and he will give you all the info you need. I'm here in Jhb and he helped me with the rebuild of my motor a few years back ( via many telephone conversations .....ha ha ha).

One thing for sure that motor will be in fantastic condition if properly maintained after Frans rebuilt it.

One other thing.... The 4.2 Diesel MUST be serviced EVERY 5000Km !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oom mac, yes Pieter did his just after I did mine if I remember correctly

[Pieter du Toit]

Hi There

Yes I have been the previous owner of this vehicle. I briefly read through the posts here but there are so many questions that I will take half a day to type out everything.

Yes it was the 3.0 Diesel model (from there the GRX) that granaded and I had a 4.2 conversion done. We decided to put the 3.0l intercooler on the engine as the 4.2 Patrol pick-ups come out standard with an intercooler.

I also saw the Patrol for sale on Gumtree - and it was standing along the road here in CT as well. All I know is that the guy I sold it to stripped a hell of a lot things from the car.................. which I was very sad about (even though not being my car anymore).

Please feel free to contact me directly either on my cell or via the forum for any detailed questions and queries.

Regards