Outer Limits 4x4 Board

hi all im new here and im goin to be a pain and ask the ? that has been asked a million times, im looking at buying a patrol and im a diesel fan cause of there reliability and great fuel economy.
is it advised to look at the 3.0 ltr diesel motor in the series 1 and 2 or do i look at a petrol.
with the petrol what type of fuel econoy do they get?
my budget would be stretched to be looking at a series3 diesel.
if i buy a diesel and it pops what is the cost and is it hard to put a v8 holden motor in them.

rosscav wrote:is it advised to look at the 3.0 ltr diesel motor in the series 1 and 2 or do i look at a petrol.

you would be better advised to slash your throat than one of them..
http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/phpBB2/search.php
search for grenade.

with the petrol what type of fuel econoy do they get?

Which one, most GU petrols 20/100 or worse.

my budget would be stretched to be looking at a series3 diesel.

Then maybe either save more, borrow more, or buy something cheaper like a GQ.

if i buy a diesel and it pops what is the cost and is it hard to put a v8 holden motor in them.

doing all the work? Which V8 - Which gearbox? etc. anything from $5k - 20k

Forget the 3 litre grenades and forget the guzzling petrols. Instead buy this : http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/phpBB2/vi ... p?t=130834

It's a great buy and you won't regret buying a turbo 4.2 as they are the best motor in a GU.

thanks guys is this info from experience or what you have heard, with my experience of working on many early 3.o ltr turbos and never seeing a problem that is why im a bit undecided on buying a 3.0ltr.
has anybody on this forum had there own vehicle blow up. what is the cause of the problem?
would love a 4.2 as they are bullet proof but just try and find 1 with lowish ks on it and what type of fuel economy do they give?

wouldnt even bother with the diesel if ya thinking if it pops about a v8 as you might as well got petty and do the v8 straight out as diesel 2 petty is hard!

rosscav wrote:thanks guys is this info from experience or what you have heard, ?

Its what they have heard. From a mate's uncle's cousin's friend.

Yes they're troublesome, but not to the degree the internet forums make out.

If they were, you'd hear ALOT more about them.

In saying that, I too would feel better putting my money on a 4.2L diesel or a petrol. I wouldn't bother with the 4.5L though - its good for removal and fitting of a V8. Nothing more. The 4.8L is the factory patrol petrol id be aiming for. But it might not be in your budget! I also wouldn't buy a 2.8L. No low down torque. No better high end power than a naturally aspirated 4.2L diesel. Coupled with their known head problems and known tendancy to get thirsty for their size (all common issues for the RD28ETi ALL around the world - unlike the ZD30 which has a reputation for 'severe' unreliability only in australia... ), I see no possible positives to owning one? No offense to any owners but thats just my opinion.

I debate this one a lot too. I have HEARD a lot about how the 3.0's are grenades and there are plenty of authentic accounts of problems.

On the other hand I see a lot of them driving around and they don't seem to blow up while I'm looking at them. So I dunno.

The 4.2 t/d is definitely the pick for performance and resale though. No worries about it holding it's value that's for sure.

rosscav wrote:has anybody on this forum had there own vehicle blow up. what is the cause of the problem?

Wheres Awill's list of them.. From 2-4 fourms theres PLENTY.

would love a 4.2 as they are bullet proof but just try and find 1 with lowish ks on it and what type of fuel economy do they give?

As long as your not in a hurry, you will be fine, just dont rush, wait for the right one. They DO come up, but what do you call Low klms? Remembering a well treated one will see 600,000 no problems.

brentz wrote:wouldnt even bother with the diesel if ya thinking if it pops about a v8 as you might as well got petty and do the v8 straight out as diesel 2 petty is hard!

good point, if your thinking the conversion, just buy a 2.8 being the cheapest GU, or a blown grenade, been a few on Ebay over time for $8-10k.

bogged wrote:Wheres Awill's list of them.. From 2-4 fourms theres PLENTY.

Don't worry Bruce, the list is going quite well, it's up to 83 ZD30 blowups now and that's only on people who post on forum's I frequent, phuck knows (or Mr Nissan knows) what the real number is.
Regards Andrew.

not to worried on the numbers as there are plenty of zd30's out there just wanted to know how common the prob is, my personal oppinion is it depends how you treat it or how its been treated by previous owners.
i havent mede my decision yet, would love to keep my 4by that i have now its a 2.8 rodeo turbo which is bullet proof but we a have 1 bub and another on the way, thats the prob, anchore points for car seats?

chimpboy wrote:I debate this one a lot too. I have HEARD a lot about how the 3.0's are grenades and there are plenty of authentic accounts of problems.

On the other hand I see a lot of them driving around and they don't seem to blow up while I'm looking at them. So I dunno..

I see it more as hte point of you need a spare 10k layin round just incase it does go bang.

I personally would never buy one

BUT

Someone was throwing figures around not long back that the ammount of blow ups compared to the number was some tiny percent.

Does anyone know anymore details ?

Cheers Nick

Im sure the old TB42 engines on GQs had far more cylinder head failures than this ZD30 blowing turbos.

Rod

I have just been in your situation but was looking at series 3 and read the thread on blow ups on patrol 4x4 forum (just had a look for it but couldn't find it). It did put me off and I stretched the budget (loan) to get a 4.2TD with 125k's for $34K. I personally just could not feel comfortable doing long trips with one...I would drive myself nuts thinking about when it's going to blow (I know i know they supposedly fixed them by series 3 but there has still been some victims). I have since done more reading on preventative measures though and I would get one over anything but a 4.2 and fit an EGT and boost guage and replace/clean MAF sensors regularly. If you can stretch to the 4.2 do it. If you can stretch to a series 3 3Litre then do it. Otherwise if series 2 make sure its had the recall mods done, get the guages and watch it like a hawk and you should be right. Realistically, with how many of them there are on the road it is a very small percentage but it happens. Good luck mate, its not an easy decision.

John.

After having borrowed Familybus' s 2.8td Gu to tow a car back from syd-wagga. I would seriously consider buying one instead of the 4.2

Cheaper and still plenty reliable. Some say how slow they are, but i would much rather not give it back, but he twisted my arm ( litterally ) so i had no choice

His will be up for sale shortly, and i wish i had the $$ to buy it as it is set up[ for touring perfectly.

My cousins 4.2 GQ is nice but i now which motor id prefer.

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/phpBB2/vi ... p?t=131918

pongo wrote:After having borrowed Familybus' s 2.8td Gu to tow a car back from syd-wagga. I would seriously consider buying one instead of the 4.2

Cheaper and still plenty reliable. Some say how slow they are, but i would much rather not give it back, but he twisted my arm ( litterally ) so i had no choice

His will be up for sale shortly, and i wish i had the $$ to buy it as it is set up[ for touring perfectly.

My cousins 4.2 GQ is nice but i now which motor id prefer.

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/phpBB2/vi ... p?t=131918

unfortunatly due to the wife taking off and leaving me with my son and a shite load of debt, the familybus is up for sale now! shes been a great vehicle and put alot of money into her but im getting out of the 4wd scene and either selling it or swapping it for something more streety! such is life and thank my x-wife

familybus wrote:unfortunatly due to the wife taking off and leaving me with my son and a shite load of debt, the familybus is up for sale now!

fawk, must be that time of year.. know 4 personally thats happened since xmas...
Theres hope for ya dan to join the list (in joke with other member of board)

I live in a pretty small town (population about 6000), and i know of 5 ZD30's that have packed it in - 4 of them with only a bit under 100,000km on them, and all serviced at the local dealership too. Saying that, I would have to say that that particular motor is about as common as EA falcons too, so yes, it would only be a very small number of failures given the number that have actually been sold. My mates dad has been a "grey nomad" for the last 8 years and always tells me that there aren't too many ZD30's towing vans - only the TD42's.

Go for a 4.2. Might be big and slow, but they'll last forever - and there's also the option of a turbo down the track to liven things up a bit.

Coxy