Need some info on ZD30

[X-R-Cist]

Hi guys, i havent posted here in a while since ive sold the old donk. But now im in the market for another patrol and i wanted to get the ZD30.
I know a lot of ou dont like it and will tell me to go for the 4.2, but this is not the advise im after.

I know these engines were prone to self destruction after 100k. However i know that at some stage this was fixed. can someone tell me what year model ZD30 i should be searching for and what year i should steer clear of?

i would love a 4.2 but the finances arent working for me and i need a 4x4.
i could get a 2.8 but that was my previous one and i didnt really like the slug.

[bogged]

can someone tell me what year model ZD30 i should be searching for and what year i should steer clear of?

I'd say look for a 2010 model..

[X-R-Cist]

ok now seriously, i know a lot of you hate these engines, but i know that missan "fixed" the self destruction issue at some stage...i cant remember if it was 2003 or 2000...

[bogged]

ok now seriously, i know a lot of you hate these engines, but i know that missan "fixed" the self destruction issue at some stage...i cant remember if it was 2003 or 2000...

they came out in 2000... save your money for a bit more or get a loan, the TD is well worth the effort.

why do you "need" a 4wd right now?

[X-R-Cist]

Well, baby number 1 just came in and i just sold my little round around car which i had. currently we have a small corolla and since my next purchase was going to be a 4x4 i dont want to buy a family car and then a 4x4 (rather just get the 4x4 now).
So we need a new car really, and the missus is agreeing that we should get a patrol again, so i aint going to argue with her!!

budget atm limits me to 2.8 or 3.0, also its really hard to find a 4.2 wagon out there for sale. I do see a lot of utes...but i need a wagon

ideally i would save up to get a 4.2, but i need to buy one soon as the little corolla can only do so much

so any ZD30 after 2000 should have that problem fixed?

[of4x4]

I believe that it was around 2003 that the problem was "fixed".

This link has a list of owners and mileages that the zd30 died (about halfway down). Note most are 2000,1,2 although there is a 04 and 05 present....

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/phpBB2/vi ... p?t=110557

Cheers.

[j-top paj]

why not 4.5 or 4.8?
i was after a td42t when i was looking for mine and found a nice tb45 and im happy with it

[bogged]

Note most are 2000,1,2 although there is a 04 and 05 present.....

bingo... so.. FIXED

why not a 4.5 or 4.8, he is broke now...

[Patroler]

Why not a GQ (td42) - obviously you'd get a good one for the price of a zd30 gu, mechanically hardly any difference?? You could either find one thats already set up with everything or get a stock low kilometer one (i did this) then you'd have enough coin left for a decent turbo setup...

[manno74]

If I were buying again... I'd buy a GU ZD30, like what I got, but I'd buy it blown... Pick one up for around $8k, sometimes even with some mods. Then I'd send it away for a 6.5L Chev, like what I got! That adds around $21k if they do all of the work.

I have driven ZD30s (obviously) and even the Td6 GU IV as well as the new 3L Patrol (not the ZD30, it's a new common rail 6cylinder rather than a 4 cylinder that's squeezed pretty hard to get it's performance out of it). I have also driven a few cruisers (stock and modified) and nothing even comes close to the 6.5! I only get around 14L to the 100km, but it'll definately pull Grandma off the dunny and sounds great too!

If that's not the go though... They did the "fix" in the factory from 2002 on... You could get a decent GQ for the same money, but get as new as you can for your money. It may be "hardly any difference", but newer is ALWAYS better. There are lots of bits that wear...

[89 GQ]

I would be getting a 04 model carry a spare MAF, install boost and pyro guage block EGR set boost to max out at 16pound and you should be a happy camper.

Cheers chris

[Swerve]

I got a 2003 and couldnt be happier.

Bought it 2 years ago and only problem is my hazard switch died which will get fixed next week under warrenty.

bought at 51k up to 90k.

Steve

[tweak'e]

i think 2003 is when they came out with the new block.

however how its been looked after is highly important. these motors do not like poor servicing.

[sad001]

A mate of mine is the Spare Parts Manager at a large Nissan Dealership and said he couldn't recommend to any friends buying a 3.0 of any vintage. Too hit and miss. Bare in mind he makes his living selling replacement engines, turbos, MAFs etc

[PK]

So why doesn't the Navara have the same issues - or does it?

Is it because:
1. The Navara is carrying around a heap less weight than the GU, or
2. The Navara isn't intercooled and puts out less power?

Any ideas?

[tweak'e]

So why doesn't the Navara have the same issues - or does it?

Is it because:
1. The Navara is carrying around a heap less weight than the GU, or
2. The Navara isn't intercooled and puts out less power?

Any ideas?

nah, weight difference is minimal.

the difference between the patrol and the navara is the patrol ZD30 has the variable turbo and control gear (mainly MAF sensor). its the MAF sensor which seams to be what gives the most problems. when it screws up the turbo can over rev, overboost and force heaps of EGR into the motor. also if the EGR valve sticks it causes the same problems. catch 22 is the turbo system and emmision system are intercontected so its not easy to get around the problem.

also imho people who are used to the big old six tend treat it like an old bullet proof six not a high performance four. plenty of reports of people who simply don't service them well if at all. some dealers would also be culprits of this.

[stuartcarr2002]

If I were buying again... I'd buy a GU ZD30, like what I got, but I'd buy it blown... Pick one up for around $8k, sometimes even with some mods. Then I'd send it away for a 6.5L Chev, like what I got! That adds around $21k if they do all of the work.

I have driven ZD30s (obviously) and even the Td6 GU IV as well as the new 3L Patrol (not the ZD30, it's a new common rail 6cylinder rather than a 4 cylinder that's squeezed pretty hard to get it's performance out of it). I have also driven a few cruisers (stock and modified) and nothing even comes close to the 6.5! I only get around 14L to the 100km, but it'll definately pull Grandma off the dunny and sounds great too!

If that's not the go though... They did the "fix" in the factory from 2002 on... You could get a decent GQ for the same money, but get as new as you can for your money. It may be "hardly any difference", but newer is ALWAYS better. There are lots of bits that wear...

The new common rail is a ZD30 4 cyl, they havnt changed the engine, just the way the fuel get in it.

I have a 2002 ZD30, and have been happy with it, touch wood. it now has 145ks on it...

[manno74]

The new common rail is a ZD30 4 cyl, they havnt changed the engine, just the way the fuel get in it.

I have a 2002 ZD30, and have been happy with it, touch wood. it now has 145ks on it...

You're right Stuart, I was taking the word of the salesman... I should have checked the specs on the web site more closely... Sory about that.

As for the ZD30 in general though, I do believe that it is a good donk, especially for a european transit van (as it was designed). I just don't have any faith in it in remote areas of Australia! I have had what can only be described as a dud motor. Unfortunately for the ZD30, I'm not the only one. There is a lot of anecdotal evidence out there, but I had quite a few things go wrong, and some of them more than once (after they were fixed or replaced). I also serviced the vehicle at half the prescribed interval with quality gear, so maintenance wasn't an issue.

The Chev may well turn out to be a bad option, only time will tell - and then the missus is sure to re-tell and re-tell and re-tell... I didn't want to spend a small fortune on a fix, but with a blown engine, I wasn't going to get much for the truck, and with all of the mods - big and small - I had to keep it, replacing the engine was the most viable option. I could have re-built, but I still wouldn't have confidence in the motor. A 4.2L Nissan was going to cost the same as the Chev when it all came down to it, so in went the Chev - it sounds pretty good too!

[shlacks]

totally diff head on the new zd's which should help as most failiers blow through combustion chambers of the pistons through to the rings and start to mash things up from there....