Nissan Patrol 4x4 (Africa)

Hi Patrollers,

This is probably a retorical question that has been discussed a few times. I am keen on buying a Patrol. Last year I let a beautifull 4.8 slip through my vingers. Now I have an opportunity to obtain a 3.0 Diesel.

The vehicle has 165000 km on the clock and it is a facelift 2005 model with service history and an ARB steel bumper.

How thirsty are the diesels, how much mileage can they rack up and what is the life-expectancy of these engines? Also, seeing as it had 165 000 km on the clock, how reliable are these engines?

Your advice and knowledge will be appreciated

Thanks

Johann

Johann,

The only reason in the world to buy the diesel instead of the 4.8 is a fuel consumption saving. There is absolutely no other justification for the existence of the vehicle.

Buying a second hand turbodiesel is always, in comparison to buying a second-hand naturally aspirated petrol engine, a high-risk manoeuvre.

It only requires a single catastrophic engine failure on the turbodiesel to wipe out the value of any fuel savings you may otherwise have experienced, for a great many kilometres.

If like me, you do not buy the vehicle for daily use, then the prospective fuel savings on the turbodiesel probably do not matter so much. If however you plan to drive it every day, it is a different calculation altogether.

For me and given my intended use of the vehicle (holiday and weekend and intended to do very heavy work in very hot conditions) the fuel consumption saving pales into insignificance in relation to the reliability requirement. Your circumstances may be different however.

Another factor to consider is how long you intend to keep the vehicle. The longer you keep a turbodiesel, the greater your statistical odds of experiencing a failure somewhere along the line. If you intend to keep the vehicle only for a comparatively short period of time, then perhaps your risk is contained. From my perspective I intend to drive the vehicle for many years and therefore I calculate that I am probably better off with the 4.8 engine.

Finally, I think that most people tend to over estimate the fuel consumption factor when taken in relation to the total cost of ownership of a vehicle over many years. Certainly, that is the case in relation to a vehicle which is purchased new when one considers the depreciation factor.

All that said, even I will admit that sometimes the fuel consumption on the 4.8 brings a tear to my eye.

In the ultimate analysis, only you can make a decision based upon your own personal circumstances and needs. What I have said above reflects my thoughts and is probably a mirror, in part, of my own circumstances.

I hope this helps, if only a little bit.

Good luck in making your decision!

Johann ek stem saam met Clem, my persoonlike gevoel is mens koop turbodiesel nie 2de hands nie ek het nou net deur n erge duur oefening gegaan met n 2de handse diesel kar vir my dogter , nadat ek n paar jaar terug myself onderneem het om nooit 2de hands diesel te koop nie , het ek n soortgelyke kar gekoop wat my vrou van nuut gery het met geen maar geen problem en toe slaan die pawpaw die fan met die een wat ek koop.

As jy wel 2de hands gaan is daar n klomp goed wat jy moet doen soos ek aflei van posts op die forum om te sorg dat die Patrol diesel lekka loop vir jare, lees maar daar is n klompie verhale wat jou sal help besluit. Ek gebruik my GQ 4.2 petrol daagliks en soms wens ek ek het n diesel gehad totdat ek weer van n turbodiesel hoor wat n gat in n piston geblaas het dan gooi ek petrol met n smile

Graham op die forum kan n Patrol baie goed deurgaan maar mens kan sekerlik net tot n punt kyk voordat mens moet die cylinderhead afhaal om te kyk hoe lyk die res van die enjin waar die eintlike probleme soms voorkom.

Ja dit is a tawwe besluit, luister maar na daardie stemmetjie in jou onderbewussyn en bid daaroor en luister vir daardie stemmetjie , ek het myne geignoreer en die prys betaal en dit beteken dat ek nog 3 - 4 jr gaan moet wag voordat ek opgradeer.

Shalom
Jules

In my view, both Clem and Jules are spot-on with their advice. Nothing I can really add except if you decide petrol, think carefully and if the 4,8 GRX auto is in your bracket then go for it - the same petrol consumption as the 4,5 but heaps more power available...

Thanks Gentlemen,

I will then rather give this vehicle a pass. It is a pity that the 4.2 diesel that does duty in the pick-up is not in use in the ordinary patrol. Perhaps minus the turbo.

Perhaps an avenue worth exploring??? Second hand Patrol Pick-Up, remove rear LSD and fit lockers to both axles???

Die LSD is baie goed vir sand en modder beter as die diff-lock!

Met die diff-lock aan probeer jou voertuig net reguit ry.

If you are prepared to buy an older vehicle, there are some wagons around with the 4.2 engine. Note though that all the local ones were non-turbo, so anything you find with a turbo is either modified or a grey import.

As for the pickup, I doubt it is as capable off-road as rear leaf springs are very stiff and it has a longer rear overhang. Under some conditions, loading it up will help, but in other that will be a disadvantage.

So I guess it depends what you want it for. If for overlanding and you are one of those people who prefer a bakkie (with the inherant advantages and disadvatages that implies), then it's quite capable enough, possibly more so than the wagon most of the time, and the standard 180l fuel capacity will also help.

Ek hoor wat julle sê oor die LSD, maar, uit my eie ervaring is dit iets wat ek eerder op my voertuig sou wil vervang met 'n ewenaarslot. Die LSD laat my lelik in die steek op asknopers. Dis seker 'n lekker meganisme as mens plaaswerk doen met 'n bakkie op modderige en gladde paaie...

Verstaan my mooi ek is n petrol head maar die nuwe gen 30l lyk al hoe meer aanloklik....die ave van 8km per liter is mooi vir my en as die voertuig opgepas is hoekom nie?
Fit n madman en pas hom op op die aus forum kry die manne 600000 plus uit daai engines.ek dink ook dat as n man elke dag met hom ry maak n groot verskil.

Ek is nou maar 'n Diesel aanhanger as dit by voertuie kom wat jy beplan om vir jare te ry en gebruik. Die nuwe generasie Diesels is net verstommend, maar eerlik om tweedehands te koop kan riskant wees, baie min mense verstaan en weet hoe om 'n Diesel enjin op tepas. Kyk na wat die vorige eienaar met die voertuig gedoen het, indien hy volledige diens rekort het en die voertuig het enige vorm van "engin protection " toerusting op kan mens weet die persoon het geweet dat daar sekere goed is waarna gekyk moet word met betrekking tot Turb diesel enjins.

En dan die grootste ding om na te luister is jou " gut feeling" oor die voertuig. As daar enigsins 'n negatiewe gevoel is oor die voertuig, hou verby en gaan kyk dan eerder na die Petrol Patrol.

Wat LSD aan betref, my eerste Patrol was ook een met LSD ewenaar. Ek het met hom oral gery waar die Difflock brigades gery het, net 'n klein verandering in jou lyne en die wete dat jy soms biekie meer stof gaan opskop, sodat die LSD sy werk kan doen en gereeld na sy olie omsien en hy sal na jou omsien.

Dit my beskeie mening. Belangrikste is jy moet gelukkig voel oor jou besluit en dat dit 'n Patrol is.