Nissan Patrol 4x4 (Africa)

Has anyone fitted a Patrol 4,8 with and additional oil cooler for the auto gearbox?

If so I would appreciate it if you would post details - I am planning a Zim trip next year, towing a off road caravan and want to keep the temp down, esp in heavy sand.

Kruger- Gonarezhou- Mana Pools- Hwange.

Thanks Rob

A lot of guys tow really heavy and never needed it but iam sure it cant make problems as long as you put it in the correct place and so on what does your temps go to ?

Hi Tinus,
Not towing on a flat road around 80 degrees C climbing to over 100 up along hill.
The only reason I know is Anthony fitted a Madman ( he used the EGT probe) no oil light has ever come on.
Checked oil - looks perfect, light yellow, so to my mind no signs of overheating - but just want to be sure - my gearbox oil temp runs much higher than the engine temp which rarely moves above 60 degrees C.
Cheers Rob

What does your gearbox temp normally run at?
& what is the highest temp you've reached?

I believe there is a thermal cut-off that will put the auto into limp mode till it cools down enough.

Hi Hugejp,

Max was around 115 but no warning light came on - I suppose if I had no probe I would'nt worry!!

Oil is generally fine to at least 130 degrees.

But your engine temps really need to be considerably over 60 degrees. I think the thermostat probably opens at either 73 or 78 degrees. And engine oil should ideally be at least the same or a bit higher.

Mine has reached 120degC in bumper to bumper traffic on a 39degC day.

Even then it never hit the limp mode cut-off.

As long as you dont flog it hard when its that hot & hopefully dont keep it at that temp for too long, I recon it'll be fine.

I have also noticed that turning the aircon off reduces the tranny temp by atleast 2-5degC

Peter I agree with you - my Disco 3 gets to 120 towing ( the engine temp) but the Patrol is really low - but running beautifully!
What do you check, or why would the temp be so low?

hugejp thanks for the input - you obviously also have a gearbox temp monitor.

Yip, I have a temp monitor & a front mount cooler with the radiator lines disconnected.

Is that engine oil temp Onematch? If so, I suspect there is an issue with the measurement. Either the sender is faulty or the calibration is incorrect, or the sender is getting cooled down somehow.

I can't see the temps really being that low.