Outer Limits 4x4 Board

whats better for a family wagon? mostly light daily work etc with occasional towing. want to go touring and the lower the fuel consumption the better.

3ltr = crap. nothing else matters

4.2 = so old school engine design its not funny and very sluggish compaired to a 4.2 toyota..

i would go the 3 lt just get the wastegate changed over and you will prolly have no problem... plenty of power, really good fuel econemy..

had my 02 3 litre for 92000 k's ,no major dramas,improved the exhaust and added a k&n filter.more pickup than a 4.2,good economy(averages 10.5/per 100k)towing loaded 7x4 trailer.Awesome car.My 2c worth.

great to hear from people who actually have a 3 litre

go the big 4.2

I wouldn't touch an early model 3 litre. They have supposedly fixed the problem in later years (time will tell). If you want reliability and peace of mind go the 4.2.

I just put on a 3" mandrel bent exhaust including dump pipe and got the turbo boost increased a little and the fuel pump tweaked. It has made a hell of a difference, cost $1100 all up and will blow the socks off a standard 3 litre and will still be a damn side more reliable.

3.0's go BOOM...
4.2's go forever...

mud4b wrote:4.2 = so old school engine design its not funny and very sluggish compaired to a 4.2 toyota..

i would go the 3 lt just get the wastegate changed over and you will prolly have no problem... plenty of power, really good fuel econemy..

Not bad considering the ZD30 Patrol uses variable vane turbo's no wastegate

awill4x4 wrote:

mud4b wrote:4.2 = so old school engine design its not funny and very sluggish compaired to a 4.2 toyota..

i would go the 3 lt just get the wastegate changed over and you will prolly have no problem... plenty of power, really good fuel econemy..

Not bad considering the ZD30 Patrol uses variable vane turbo's no wastegate

yup thought id got it wrong.. someone on here knows what to replace? something to do with that..

mud4b wrote:someone on here knows what to replace? something to do with that..

Yup replace the whole zd30 with a td42

ddr wrote:

mud4b wrote:someone on here knows what to replace? something to do with that..

Yup replace the whole zd30 with a td42

haha old diosaur....

mud4b wrote:haha old diosaur....

True but Dinosaurs lived for over 160million years. Gotta love the staying power of the big old beasts.

mud4b wrote:4.2 = so old school engine design its not funny and very sluggish compaired to a 4.2 toyota..

i would go the 3 lt just get the wastegate changed over and you will prolly have no problem... plenty of power, really good fuel econemy..

old school=reliabilty and with a few basic mods it will out perform a 3l anyway and still be going long after the 3l is dead and youve spent $1000s on air flow meters,injector pumps,injectors etc etc

Toss toss!!!
Get used to it as the ole 4.2 is no more!!!!

mud4b wrote:

awill4x4 wrote:

mud4b wrote:4.2 = so old school engine design its not funny and very sluggish compaired to a 4.2 toyota..

i would go the 3 lt just get the wastegate changed over and you will prolly have no problem... plenty of power, really good fuel econemy..

Not bad considering the ZD30 Patrol uses variable vane turbo's no wastegate

yup thought id got it wrong.. someone on here knows what to replace? something to do with that..

Blocking the EGR valve?
If so, its a really BAD idea. ZoomZoom followed by BoomBoom

get a toyota and stop arguing you lot

Get a Toyota you say. I couldn't afford the clutches and front diffs!!!!

I've had both, and while I did get rid of the 3lt because of problems (air flow sensors, diesel injection pump, cracked intercooler) I did drive it hard and through alot of crap. But from the sounds of what you want to do a current mdl 3lt would suit you fine

Redman has got it. A ZD30 after 2002 should be fine... To compare a 4.2, you need to intercool it. But in saying that, the 4.2 is a great truck too.

Wastegate! Stick to toyotas champ, the 3.0L has a bad enough name without ill informed people speaking on their behalf.

As for blocking EGR valves etc. This should be used only for diagnostics... I know there are a lot of "engineers" on here that will tell you how to "improve" your truck, and spending money on a decent exhaust will usually be a good start, but things like that are just an indication of the compromise that car manufacturers make to keep things affordable and meet regulations. They don't spend millions on R&D to bolt on EGR valves just for the fun of it.

While I had a heap of little problems with 3.0L - and then finally a large one! - I found the ZD30 to be a great little unit. I did the Cape and then Tassie (including some of the tougher tracks on the west coast) and it held up fine. I even became pretty good at diagnostics on the run.

I must say that the 6.5 Chev is a hoot though! My economy is about 14L/100km, but I can't drive it without being a hoon yet - only had it back for about month or so... I justified it by towing a heavy little camper trailer, and it also helps compensate for my small penis, but it is fun - the car too.

manno74 wrote:A ZD30 after 2002 should be fine...

Would you stake your thousands of $$ & possibly life on a "should"? I know I wouldnt.

To compare a 4.2, you need to intercool it.

My 4.2 is already FACTORY Intercooled.

My 4.2 is already FACTORY Intercooled.

And it's not the mechanical dinosaur that the other guys are referring to!

Would you stake your thousands of $$ & possibly life on a "should"? I know I wouldnt.

A little dramatic champ? yeah, I guess if something went wrong in one of the remote places, or on a difficult track... could get hit by a buss in the city too...

I did have problems with the ZD30, thousands of dollars worth! Fixed by applying many more thousands! But that was then... after talking to many others that have had problems with the ZD30, most (if not all I have spoken to) have been pre 2003 models - when Nissan did the "fix". They do still have dicky air flow sensors, and I'm willing to bet a few other little things, but having a look on the Nissan site, they don't even offer the 4.2L any more... 3.0L diesel or 4.8L petrol is all you get. I just rang Nissan and they confirmed that it is due to emmission regs! At least they haven't ditched the rigid axle for IFS (toyota lovers). Forget the stock market, watch the price of second hand 4.2s go through the roof!

A 4.2td w/ intercooler given a little bit of extra treatment (depending on how much you want to spend) can be made into a very 'put a grin on your face every time you drive' type engine, that will last for damn near forever. Exhaust, Injectors, Increase Boost -> Fuel (Theres loads more you could do)... should all be had for a under $1500. If you planned on touring I'd recommend these things as mods anyhowww. At the end of the day you will have something that will cane the pants of the 3.0, be more reliable and as I said last forever.

In saying that those who have the 'good' 3lts are very happy with them.A bloke I did a job for was crapping on about how much he loves his the other day, he also told me that there is no point in lifting you car because the diffs stay at the same height... I refuted with the only reason mine is lifted a measly 4" over standard is to fit the 35's but he didn't want to hear it.. sooo....ignorant much?

I know that I wouldn't trust in something that has a reputation for unreliability especially if you're touring...go with the good old tractor motor imo. Same engine (give it did vary slighty at a few points) for 20 years..

wow lots of good feedback I should have specified that it will be a GQ either way as I can't afford a GU yet So they are the "old" 3 litre turbos. I have always prefered the mighty 4.2 but it just seems that, with the way fuel prices are going to have to go, smaller motors will become the only option.....but I reckon I'll go with the 4.2 for reliability and simplicity and get my second tank for running the beast on WVO (vegy oil) thanx for all the responces

3.0L t-d didn't come out til GU. There was a 3.0L in the GQ, but it was an RB30 petrol (same as per early Skyline or VL commodore I think). There was a 2.8t-d in the GQ and early GU though...

4130warrior wrote:3.0L t-d didn't come out til GU. There was a 3.0L in the GQ, but it was an RB30 petrol (same as per early Skyline or VL commodore I think). There was a 2.8t-d in the GQ and early GU though...

VL Commodore for sure a guy at work has just gotten one RB30 non turbo.

2.8lt the little engine that could.. apparently...

Yer no ZD30 in the GQ. Go the 4.2 and you should be able to get one that has already been turboed/intercooled for an absolute bargain. There is a few going around on the for sale sections here for absolute steals.

What these cars are worth at the moment is like such a bargain for what you actually get.