2.8DT what are they like???

[Fieldsy]

Righto let's get this stright right now I am and allways have been a TOYOTA man but I am thinking of buying the missis a GU wagon for her shoping cart ....... and to tow my FJ40 on interstate to comp's. so anyway my queston is how is the 2.8DT as a tow rig? I know this prob sounds like a dumb queston to you Nissan types but I am the first to admit I know bugger all bout Nissans. 2.8 sounds bloody small for a 6 cyl to me but I do rember some good thing's being said bout some smallish datto donk but can not for the life of me rember which one it was.

Oh and why am I thinking of buying a Datto. 1 price ( 98 80series costs bout the same as a 2000 GU Datto) and

2. the drive line is frekin huge! ( I did know that )

[XFACTOR]

buy a 4.2

[ozy1]

well, if you are going to use it as a tow rig, i would be leaning towards the 4.2, the old man has a 2.8 and it gets along quite nicely with the camper trailer and running 35's, but that is the most we have towed, i have no experience towing larger weights

[patrol man]

2.8 gear box is half the size of a 4.2. gu 2.8 has trouble with the electric pump, it is under powered but would do the job. beware of service history as 2.8's have a problem with heads being porius, due to coolant not being changed at correct interals..

[Daisy]

Ok

My 2.8 TD - TOWED a CAR CARRIER and a 75 UTE with big lift tyres etc on it from Gold coast to Wollongong 2 months ago.

It roasted the clutch on its way back without a load (only had a set of swampers on it and the new bullbar i bought) and it was a 250 dollar tow truck trip home from ballina where it finally burnt the clutch dead.

Factory 2.8 TD with 33's.

Oh did i forget to mention.. 1st gear and doin 20 kph @ 3000 rpm on one particular hill b4 coffs harbour for the next 5 kms up that hill.

She was okay offroad. Bit more power would be great.

The question was about its towing ability. Owning one of them - ill say firsthand.. it sucks big time. Id put a v8 in her anytime.

Oh did i mention fuel economy.. She runs like 11 ish litres /100 kms average dailydriving which skyrocketed up to nearly 25 litres / 100 kms to the gong

Given the option, I'd either buy a 4.2 instead. But given my current financial situation i wasnt able to do so. So i opted to rebuild a 4.2 engine and replace my 2.8. Still in the process of doin that.

TOM

[patrol man]

havn't seen a td28 yet must be new. did i menstion the flywheel trouble they have. duel mass type. they come apart or the rubber flogs out in the centre.there dear to buy new, but I think there available after market. solid types. how much did the clutch cost to replace GQ?

[Daisy]

havn't seen a td28 yet must be new. did i menstion the flywheel trouble they have. duel mass type. they come apart or the rubber flogs out in the centre.there dear to buy new, but I think there available after market. solid types. how much did the clutch cost to replace GQ?

Flywheels are available from nissan at a cost of like 2000 dollars

Aftermarket from Mr clutch i believe was like around 900 dollars including clutch kit. (pretty reasonable if you ask)

Direct clutch has a jig where they can MACHINE the dual mass flywheel and supply a clutch for $550 .

I never went and got my clutch repaired. The moment i got home from the tow truck trip home was the moment she was jacked up and stripped for the 4.2 to go in. Couldnt see the point of wasting another 1500 in clutch repairs where they could have gone towards the 4.2 ... so that option i took. Nearly completed the rebuild. And since ill be doing more offroading and towing, and having factory 4.6's and 36's - no more clutch burning

[Offroad-Events]

I'd definitly go with the 4.2. I have the RD28T in my MQ and I tow a lot (mostly flatbed with a Zook or two on it). The power is ok, but when you have to gas her uphill the temperature gets critical. I often have to slow down from 100/110 kph to 70-80 uphill to cool her down again. Cylinderhead is #2 already. If the 4.2 would be available here in europe it would be my first choice but you only find a handful of them here.

[Mad-Mav]

Bro Inlaw has a 2.8 TD and uses it to tow a float & 2 horses with all the gear regularly on weekends. All up towing weight 2.82 Tonnes - 150 KG on the tow ball. He reckons it goes OK, uphill is a bit slow. He's done over 200,00 clicks and hasn't replaced or broken anything as yet. I have a TD4.2 (non turbo) we hooked her up once with his rig and he says it goes a s%#t load better. I reckon if you can get a 4.2 it would be a better option. Know a bloke in Newcastle selling a bewdy LWB for $17900
240,000K, lifted, big tyres, and a few more goodies attached.

[blackmav]

we lined a 2.8 GU patrol and a 4.2 petrol Patrol gq shorty both with 35s and both towing zuks up at syd and drove to melb and back. petrol 4.2 was constantly slowing down for the 2.8 to catch up. GQ could hold its speeed the whole way.110- 120 kph ...turned around at melb and left at the same time at about 5.00pm from wandin. we got back at about3.30 am they got back about6.30am. we must have come close to the most fuel used-about $750

[not not]

if anyone is still interested i did have a 2.8t in my 97 gq I always hade trouble with the temp going up even after fitting the later 4.2t radiator the motor had 220000 on her had good road speed( after you got over the lag) off road i was always grabing 1st gear my clutch was from a skyline which give it more clamp presure and a longer life but eventually i gave up and replaced the beast with a switzer 4.2 and havent really looked back the convertion was sortove straight forward but attention the the drivers side engine mount was needed as it sits about 25mm diffrent to the 4.2.
Any one that needs info on what is needed to be done for the conversion just email me
hughes01@dodo.com.au

It was also cheaper to do this than to sell and buy a 4.2 then fit a turbo

[peteiswin]

As a member of this niche, I feel I've got something to add here. (I consulted this section before buying my truck and couldn't find anything relevant to my needs)

The gearbox is in fact the same as what you get in R31 Skylines, so it's small, probably not nearly as strong as the one you get in 4.2L petrol/diesel. In fact I hear the motor uses the same long block as the RB30 motor you get in Skylines aswell.

That being said, having driven all 3 motor's recently, I would definitely rate the 2.8TD for both on and off road. I haven't attempted to tow anything, but definitely it's a decent truck without towing anything.

It hasn't got the raw, low end torque of the larger motors- but I've got 2" lift & 33" tyres and I would say on road it performs better than the 4.2L deisel by a long shot, and off road it's about the same. I'd say I probably use more low range 1st gear than my 4.2L petrol counterparts though.

If you're like me, and want a good, fairly economical daily driver that is still better than most 4wd's in the bush, 2.8TD is a good bet.

Also, on the beach, 40km/h in 3rd @3000rpm on boost, no overheating as far as I've experienced, which is more than can be said for some other turbo diesels available.

[tritontray]

Grave dig yes, but i'll use it to my advantage.

I have always seen the 2.8 TD Patrol as a good way to get into the solid axle (nice and solid, I am sick of loose tinny feeling IFS) patrol market.

I drive a Terrano II 2.7iTD , 4cyl 92kW @ 3600rpm and 278Nm @ 2000-2000rpm, 30 inch tyres on steel sunnies (29's standard), 2.5inch mandrel bend exhaust from turbo back, Alloy bull bar, and as close to a two inch lift as I could do. I only ever tow max 600kg's no more than 10 times a year. It is very well serviced and seems mechanically excellent, uses no oil between 5000 changes except for what leaks out of the intercooler.

I don't mind it, but it is slow and I feel like I am always pushing it to keep up with traffic, rattles inside and out, and wanders everywhere due to the IFS lift, feels like its struggling at 110kph @ 2900rpm, runs a little hot most times (seems thats par for the Terrano II course though, but the exhaust has helped), is tiring to drive on long trips, gets about 10-12 litres per 100km combined driving, aircon is absolutely rubbish.

So, will a 2.8 Patrol, 6cyl 95kW @ 4000rpm and 252Nm @ 2000-2000rpm suit what I need to do and do it BETTER than the Terrano. This being: Cruise at 110-120kph easily with a boot load of luggage and 4 people. Be as economical as the Terrano II, handle 2 inch lift and 32 inch tyres without handling issues, have the aircon cool the car down during summer on a low setting after initial fast cooling on high fan setting, be more comfortable than IFS basically on front bump stomps, be comfortable and not draining to drive on long trips (do they have cruise control) which the girl friend will find to be ok as well, have ok interior storage (2 x cup holders that can take a take a way coffee for instance) a good glove box, centre storage, not have interior rattle due to the interior panels moving and rubbing (creaking and noise due to crap road surface is not such an issue, but when the car idles it would be nice not to have to hold the dash board to stop the vibrations), tow the 600kg's 10 times a year and tow 1.5 tonne boat 250km on freeway conditions mid north coast area NSW 5 times a year during summer. Cope with state forest style 4x4ing 6-8 times a year for a day or a weekend camping trip but nothing that I will bust my car with, but a bit more than a stocker will handle.

IF I was to go down the Patrol route, it would get or already have; Steel bullbar, Driving lights, Exhaust (what size best for a 2.8), Chip, 2 inch lift or 3 inch lift if nothing needs to be changed/handling affected, 32's (no need to go bigger for what I do), tow bar, cargo barrier.

SO what I want to know is. Is something heavier, with less power, that will get bigger tyres more lift etc do a better job for what I want. I can't get a 4.2TD or NA (because of price and I just don't think I need one for what I need to do), The 3.0L reports worry me a little. Although an acquaintance of mine has a GU III 3.0L runs 4inch lift, 35's on stock gearing, chipped and its been everywhere and in between and is flogged is still in one piece and going as good as ever. So I guess that always makes me think the 3.0L MAY BE ok IF I found a good well serviced example. I realise the 2.8L may have head issues, but in comparison to how many are out there is it as bad as some make it seem.

So let me know your experiences, thoughts, ideas and anything else. Sorry it is long, but thought I would dump my brain on the page hopefully giving you the most info I could. If you think all of this is best for another 'brand' of forum, please let me know and i'll put it there ASAP, and get out of your hair.

Thanks for reading.

[MuddyTroll]

I blew up my 2.8. Replaced it with a 4.2. Do not waste your time pumping money into a vehicle that only barely rates better than the 3.0L hand grenade.
I learnt the hard way. Catastrophic engine failure 200+kms from home with the car full of family is not something I want to re-live thankyou.

[MyGQ]

Well i have had the distinct pleasure of driving both the TD42, TB42 and the RD28T on and off road

TB42 on Gas tuned right right i had more power than a Petrol running GU 4.5L.

TD42, much more torque, and alot better when laboring down low off road, with 35's on and standard gearing it still would go great in the bush, alot of 1st low but still nothing it couldn't climb

now to the RD28T, what a POS. With 33's on to climb the same hills that my TD42 could do at 1200RPM without stalling, the RD28T needed 3000RPM to do it, in other words thrashing the shit out of the motor and smashing the car around in the bush to get any power out of it. On road they are good if you don't tow shit, in fact they can get up to 60K's just as quick as a TB42, their total lack of power and torque in such a heavy car makes them a slug, its like having a RB30, only on diesel. they aren't worth the effort if your serious about towing and real low down 4WD rock crawling

[itchyvet]

Oh deary me, what a sluggin does the poor 2.8 get ?

I've owned one now for FOUR years, had 47 thou on the clock when I bought her.
First time I took her into town,hated the bloody thing, bugger at the lights, took ages to pick up and always held traffic back behind me.
Not a pleasant truck to drive in heavy traffic.
Along came Mr Rudd and generously offered to subsidise the fitting of LPG fumigation to my Patrol together with state subsidy as well.
Couldn't get her in fast enough for the fitting. Locating the lpg tank required re-routing the exhaust, so ditched the old one and upgraded to 2 3/4 inch STRAIGHT THRU.
Boy oh Boy, what a difference it made. Dyno test proved the lpg gave me an increase of 30 Horses EXTRA, the engine ran heaps smoother and quieter and pick up was something else entirely. Now she is a dream to drive in ANY traffic, and the whine of the turbo is pleasing to hear as well.
Downside ? The old clutch couldn't handle the increase of power and started slipping seriously, instead of waiting for things to go BANG when you least expected, I took her in and replaced the clutch as well as the dual mass flywheel,(which was in good condition) sorry now that I ever fitted the solid flywheel as the smooth gear changes are now something of the past.
I copped a lot of flack from many posters on sites such as this, most had no idea or experience of lpg fumigation systems thus fitted and were only going by heresay, all preached doom and gloom, my engine would disintegrate ect, ect.
Now four years down the track, other then replace a main crank front oil seal and replace timing belt she's going as sweet as ever.
Oh, something I've not read in any posts, here or other similar sites, the 2.8 loves to Rev, it is neccessary to allow her to build up revs when she produces max torque, no problems with acceleration or staying power.
Mind you, very rarely, IF EVER, do I find the need to go past 3 Thou in the rev range.
Of course she's NOT a v8 nor is she a 4.2 and anyone expecting similar power from such a small engine deserves the outcome.
Economy ? I'd put my 2.8 alongside any 4.2 with the exception of the new Cruiser V 8's , she'll leave em all for dead, (same for highway cruising,)another thing I love about this Patrol, in these days of costly fuel, it's an important factor.
Long live the Patrol 2.8 TD.

[Forrest]

take my advice and go 4.2 we have owned our 2.8 for 6 years and caused nothing but trouble with the gear boxes clutch problems oil leaks its just a peice of shit motor

[Yom]

I had a 96 GQ with the 2.8TD for a while. It had 300,000km on it, genuine KM 1 owner vehicle.

Honestly, compared to an atmo td42....shits all over it. Would take the 2.8TD anyday for a daily driver. Yes there's turbo lag and yes not as much torque low down but its a quieter and smoother engine which can actually move when you tell it to. The atmo 4.2 cannot do that.

If i was towing though then the 4.2 would be better for sure. Don't know if you could put up with the 2.8's sluggishness below 2000rpm with a weight on the back.

On the plus side, the little 2.8 and its 5spd gearbox make for outstanding flat shifts. Very smooth box and boy can you fly through the gears in it when you don't lift off for gear changes and only change once the tacho wouldn't move any further. Even while using coolant (was being held together by a bottle of chemiweld or something) it went HARD for a few thousand KM. Dunno if it had anything to do with the ball bearing in the wastegate actuator line and the overboost valve on the manifold removed. Did I mention it sounded like a jet engine and revved well into the red?

Very under-rated engine and gearbox combo. Yes they're not great but certainly doesn't deserve the slander people throw at it IMHO.

[reid93]

i'm only young so i'm not that experienced, but i bought my 97 GQ 2.8L oiler about 7-8 months ago, for only $7500 haven't had an issue with it what so ever, she's done about 230,000km and i think it still has a lot of life left in it. As long as u take care of it eg. warming her up before a drive, trying to keep the gear shifts under 2200rpm, servicing it every 5000kms with quality oils, she'll last for ages (i think). My old man drives a TD42 with only 160,000km on it he's owned for 13 years now, i've driven it, pretty much the only difference between the two at the moment is his patrol will sit on alot lower revs then mine when i'm doing 100km/h but i know his will last alot longer. i have a lot of faith in my 2.8L i rekon i could make her hit 400,000kms just as long as i don't drive like a dick. Most of these other saying that they are a shit engine probably don't know how to control their right boot when they hop into a 2.8L and that is probably the cause of their problems...

So i rekon a 2.8L is a frikken good first car. But if you've got the money buy a well maintained TD4.2...

[thehanko]

As long as u take care of it eg. warming her up before a drive, trying to keep the gear shifts under 2200rpm

keeping changes under 2200 will be pretty laboured for a small diesel (not all the time albeit). Your not going to damage it revving a bit higher than that.

I'd put my 2.8 alongside any 4.2, she'll leave em all for dead

any 4.2

[mikmav]

http://www.patrol4x4.com/forum/nissan-p ... hip-57696/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

$150 to chip them, and they fly.. soooo much nicer to drive now... 2.8's don't need to be a slug.