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ZD30 engines

Tech Talk for Nissan owners.

Moderators: toaddog, V8Patrol

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ZD30 engines

Post by DirtyNav »

Ok ive done a bit of research on a nissan navara that i would like to buy.
ive read that the zd30 ungine in the 2000-2003 was very bad. I would like the 3.2 and i would buy the turbo kit for it myself however it is so hard to find a good example of one.

So my question is if i get desperate lol
How bad is the zd30 engine really. all engines have % chance of having problems so why is this one so bad? or are the complaints over exaggerated?? (im hoping lol)

any replies would be appreciated

Also i have been searching on carsales etc for the past week trying to find a nice navara (hilux' are way overpriced) my cash limit is 12k i know im very limited but i was hopfu lol.

Anyways thanks for the help.
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Re: ZD30 engines

Post by bogged »

DirtyNav wrote:How bad is the zd30 engine really. all engines have % chance of having problems so why is this one so bad? or are the complaints over exaggerated?? (im hoping lol)
If your still talkin Navaras, they appear to be reasonablly ok..


if your talking patrols. if you buy one, its a lottery. Even 07's are cracking still.

If you can afford $10k+ to replace the engine when it blows up, then buy one. If you cant, look elsewhere.

YMMV
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Post by DirtyNav »

no i cant afford another 10k for a new engine lol
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Post by figjam_1985 »

3.0L patrol = Nugget. :D
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Post by Offroad-Events »

Seems like the ZD30 in the Navara is not exactly the same as the Patrol engine. I have the ZD30 in the Terrano and it runs great with 115k km's. In Europe the only ZD30's with real problems were Patrols up to 2001 (I think) when the engine update came. Haven't seen any newer belly up yet.
'04 Nissan Terrano 3.0Di ZD30 *pimped*, some Zooks & '87 GQ
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Post by joshy »

problems with the zd30 in navs are fairly limited, but not unheard of. Odds are much better then the trols.
D22 Navara....hydro coilovers, hydro steer, 42's...
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Post by LUX90 »

Apparently the turbos arent the best. My mates split the intake wheel in half recently and was lucky not to kill the engine with it. Apparently they are common for killing turbos
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Post by Offroad-Events »

Do they use the same variable turbo as thr Trols and Terrano ?
'04 Nissan Terrano 3.0Di ZD30 *pimped*, some Zooks & '87 GQ
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Post by tweak'e »

the navara uses normal turbo and is non intercooled. patrol/terrano uses variable turbo and intercooler.
the nav also doesn't have the MAF sensor, it runs purly on boost pressure. a much more reliable system.

terranos has the exact same problems as the patrol does.

the early ZD30 motrs all had common problem with blowing holes in pistons, so if your looking for a navara in those years look for one thats had pistons replaced.

all light diesels crack heads etc, all depends on how they are looked after.
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Post by Offroad-Events »

The ZD30 Terranos didn't came before 2003, so they all got the revised engines. There's not a single ZD30 Terrano with a grenaded engine in Germany that I, or my befriended Nissan Dealer, know of. Only proplem we have with them over here is the diesel filter getting clogged with parafine in the winter when temps go below -15°C, but this is also with the YD25 Navara and the Xtrails. My Terrano gets a filter heater tomorrow since we're below -20°C over night for the last 2 weeks and driving the 1-series bimmer gets old :bad-words:
'04 Nissan Terrano 3.0Di ZD30 *pimped*, some Zooks & '87 GQ
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Post by brad-chevlux »

Offroad-Events wrote:The ZD30 Terranos didn't came before 2003, so they all got the revised engines. There's not a single ZD30 Terrano with a grenaded engine in Germany that I, or my befriended Nissan Dealer, know of. Only proplem we have with them over here is the diesel filter getting clogged with parafine in the winter when temps go below -15°C, but this is also with the YD25 Navara and the Xtrails. My Terrano gets a filter heater tomorrow since we're below -20°C over night for the last 2 weeks and driving the 1-series bimmer gets old :bad-words:

how much power does terrano make and how heavy is the teranno?
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Post by DirtyNav »

well im looking at a non turbo 2000 qd32 engine navara on the gold coast tomorrow. we will see how i go lol. once i get it i will need a 3-4" lift plus turbo kit (grins evily)

Thanks for all the info guys :)
Last edited by DirtyNav on Fri Jan 16, 2009 9:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by Offroad-Events »

brad-chevlux wrote: how much power does terrano make and how heavy is the teranno?
The Terrano puts out 154hp and 354NM torque, same as the first gen. ZD30 Trols. Weight is a different thing, though. Curb weight is less than 2000kg and gross weight around 2800kg. I tow a 3 ton trailer regulary with this thing without a single problem.
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Post by dave_str »

Nothing wrong with the QD32, good strong motor.

As for the ZD30's, if your after one get 2003 onwards or as new as you can afford.

Turbo's being a issue on D22's, abuse is the cause. Flogging the piss out of the car and shutting the engine down before the turbo has cooled down will do it. Mine vehicle's are prone for it.

I have a 2006 model D22 STR with 106,000km's and still have the original turbo, awesome truck which I have no plans of selling anytime soon.

Dave.
2006 STR Navara with lots of goodies, just need a V6 front diff and a locker.
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Post by DirtyNav »

Awesome thanks very much for the input guys :) im heading to the gold coast to have a look at the QD32 shortly
(its on http://www.platinumauto.com.au/home.html its the only navara listed). hopefully it is all sweet.
the turbo wont be an issue ive driven turbo cars. R32 skyline for the past 2 years. i look after my turbo lol.

im going to get RACQ to look at this car though as im unfamiliar with diesels.

Good day to you all.
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Post by tritontray »

It looks like it has been resprayed. The inside of the tub is undamaged and there are non standard 4x4 stickers on it. For 160 000 odd klms I would have expected scratches
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Post by twodiffs »

DirtyNav wrote:well im looking at a non turbo 2000 qd32 engine navara on the gold coast tomorrow. we will see how i go lol. once i get it i will need a 3-4" lift plus turbo kit (grins evily)

Thanks for all the info guys :)
Can you lift an IFS 3-4"??
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Post by joshy »

theres a 3" kit for them. anymore youll need a bodylift
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Post by Offroad-Events »

3" front, 4" rear is possible, add a 40mm bodylift and you can easily fit 33's
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Post by joshy »

2" body and 2" sus lift and you can easily fit 35's ;)
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Post by twodiffs »

oh ok, what does have - longer coils for back and just torsion bars or does the lift have a different wishbone setup at the front?

I started off with a Terrano (1988 2.7D non turbo) and it was a slug especially once I put 31's on it. Ended up putting lifted coils in the back and heavier torsion bars in the front, then the front was wound up but the prob was that there was about 60-70mm from the bottom bumpstop and wishbone arm, and about 20mm from the top bumpstop so upwards travel was zilch :?
Bushbashed that for a year then got a GQ in 1999-2000.
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Post by joshy »

3" sus lift uses a modified upper control arm.
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Post by DirtyNav »

hmmm so if it has had a respray is that bad?? ive seen a couple of this age navara with the same 4x4 sticker. . . . . it looked ok when i looked at it. i have to sort stuff out before i buy it though.
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