The 3.0 GU Engine

[Florian320]

Johann,
even if it was already mentioned: idling up the engine is extremely bad for it. The wear-intensive cold running time is vastly increased.
See it that way: in Germany my low temperature record was -16.5 when starting my (Audi)-Diesel.
The starter didn't sound good, the cold engine doesn't sound good at those temperatures either.
And it even sounds different while driving in these temperatures until it becomes hot.

But these are temperatures you normally will never reach in SA, so therefore you are in a comfortable position.

As you have the not-so-perfect-engine in terms of reliability, I suggest making it as reliable as possible.
You can read thread over thread in this and the Aussie forums.

The quick summary:

- fit a madman
- fit an oil catch can
- fit a dawes valve (turbo boost limiter)

With these three not too expensive alterations you can make your engine trustworthy and long lasting.
If I had that engine (and I was close to buy that one, was just lucky that the car I was interested in blew up a week before I wanted to buy it) I would have done that - instead I bought a 4.5l.
But you have that one now and can make the best out of it with that few things.

[NMAD]

Thank You kindly for the replies. It does make me feel better. Mine also used oil since buying it on 30 000 km's. It's not a lot. But I compare it to my YD25 Hardbody that was a workhorse and worked very hard. Up and until 60 000 km when I sold it, not a drop oil added or used between service intervals.

All & all said, I hope I'm making a mountain out of a mole-heap. The engine doesn't smoke, doesn't leak oil. In the cold Kimberley mornings I do idle it for about 20 minutes prior to driving. Perhaps it also uses some oil there.

Thanks again

Nissan owners manual (2007)is a bit vague for the ZD30ddti but it says that once you have started your motor you should let it idle for only 30 seconds if the engine is cold but the outside air temp is above 20 degrees.
If the engine is already warm then you can start and drive as normal.
If its below 20 degrees and the engine is cold then the manual does not even mention that you must let it idle

On my TB48DE engine it just says that once you have started your motor and to warn it up you should let it idle for only 30 seconds and drive at a moderate speed for a short distance.

[Johann 1984]

Hey All,

A quick update. I have completely cut out idling the vehicle. The result is almost no oil consumption whatsoever. I haven't had to ad oil for three months straight and it ceased using any. Last week I towed a trailer for 500km and I had to ad about a point of oil after the trip. The excessive idling definitely pushes up oil consumption. As I say, it almost vanished from mine.

I had the vehicle in for its 90 000km service and had a dekra technician run some diagnostics. The vehicle engine was diagnosed without any defects.

Regards

Johann

[Tinus lotz]

Happy to hear

[Johann 1984]

A quick thought: As the vehicle has now done 90 000 km. I thought perhaps it would help to service the vehicle every 7500 km instead of 15 000 km as stipulated in the owners manual. I use to drive 35 000 km, sometimes even 40 000 km a year when I resided in Pretoria, but now, living in Kimberley, I drive barely 10 000 km this year. What do you guys think? The 7500 km service (engine oil and filters) a waste of money or a good idea?

Someone on the 4x4 community posted something a couple of years ago about a technician / mechanic residing in Valhala Pretoria who stated that he is 'the authority on Patrol maintenance'. I found it while googling. Does someone know of this gentleman and his contact details?

Regards

Johann

[Tinus lotz]

Yes it's graham Cummings
He does Very good work on patrols. He does prefer the petrol engines .
Speak to Michael here I would rather spend the extra bit on oil and a filter and do it very 7.5k dello 400 is the way to go ....
I change my oil every 5 and filters every 10 but I have a koolstoof 4.2

[Johann 1984]

Does somebody perhaps have his contact details?

[Peter Connan]

I think the manual probably says something "every 15 000km or 1 year" for service intervals?

Graham's forum name is Pathmaker, send him a PM?

[JoshJ]

Yes its every 15000 km under normal driving conditions. And also 7500km under severe conditions. Mine is out of warrenty and service plan now. So I will be changing oil&filter every 7500. Diesel filters every 15000.

Nissan uses shell helix H7 oil so I will just continue with this oil.

[Michael]

I agree that Shell HX7 is the oil to use for a ZD30. I use the same for the Pathfinder 2.5dci's

There is no harm done in changing the oil every 7,500km, but 15,000km in the norm. Remember rule of thumb is 15,000km or one year......which ever comes first.