Nissan Patrol 4x4 (Africa)

Is there not anybody that can remove the injectors or something else and use some tipe of optic camera to check the inside of the engine cylinders.

This type of thing is used for aircraft engines!

Who ever can do this will be very busy checking lots of engines!

I called one of the oil test companies, they confirmed piston burning due to over fuelling is something they will detect with their test.
It will be very interesting if somebody had a blown motor to send an oil sample, and also send a an oil sample of another running vehicle.

Here's the reply re the oil test:
The oil test will detect fuel contamination, water contamination, glycol contamination and of course all metals relating to engine wear including piston burning. Early detection of fuel will indicate over fueling immediately.

Kobus its called a Borescope and yes they are freely available in the auto industry just not sure if youl see a crack that easilly with it but a damaged piston will def show

Hi, I have owned a 2003 model, facelift.

I loved the vehicle, drove like a charm BUT it had the reputation.

The fantastic thing these days we have forums like this.I learned a lot and through the forums especially the Aussie forum I did some preventative measures to stop this reputation.
I did the following on my engine.Drove a 120 000km problem free afterwards.
Installed an EGT gauge, and NEVER exceeded the upper limits
Installed an intercooler fan, that ran permanently.
Cleaned on a regular basis the AFM and intercooler
Installed a catch can
Changed oil regularly and filter.
Never but never towed or went uphill in 5th gear or pedal to the metal, or let the engine labor

My GQ 4.2D suffered from running a bit hot on hot days while towing , I never had it with the 3.0D , maybe because the 4.2 you needed to floor it more , I don,t know.

What I have learned from this engines is that the post 2002 engines are better, they take more oil as well.And some components were improved.

Power , there was enough, or let me say just,much better towing than the 4.2D .Unfortunately it's lacking,comparing it with my current engine which has more than enough power with excellent fuel consumption.

I traded it in at Polokwane Land Rover, I have since never seen or heard about her again.

An oil test will be a good idea, not many people know about this option, but one thing you need to remember is that if the oil test shows a problem, you then know you should avoid that vehicle. If it does not show a problem it either means that there really isn't a problem, or there is possibly a problem that could not be detected, it's not a 100% guarantee all is fine, just keep that in the back of your head. If the verdict is good and you do buy the vehicle, I would immediately take the precautions like an EGT gauge as already mentioned in this thread.

Koos yes the real reputation was the 2001 to 2003 engines after that htey fixed the fuelling error in the ECU , and had the mod for more oil
Interesting thing though was that the oil mod was not a bigger sump but merely a new dipstick according the Auzie forum so you just added a little more oil to te motor

I run a 2001 and am very pleased but yes ive modded a few thing like a bigger intercooler , intercooler fan , catch can , dawes valve , exhaust system , boost guage and EGT gauge

BTW, on one of the Aussie 4wd Action DVD's they showed a 3.0D from 2003 and explained what was done to do away with the premature engine failure problem. The one they showed on the DVD had an extra bulged section bolted to the bottom of the sump which increased the oil capacity.

Thanx Zantus ill reserch that option maybe its something that one can buy for our local 3.0

Interesting to learn about the increased oil capacity...

My 4.2 takes 9.8 liters of engine oil - how much do the 3.0 motors take? Do they also have two oil filters like the 4.2?

Christo the 3.0 takes less i think around 7 , i will service mine this longweekend then i can tell , no it only has one cartridge type oil filter with a oil cooler in the block