Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hey guys,

I got a 1998 Nissan Patrol GU 4.2l Turbo Diesel.

Going next Friday up the East coast of Australia with the misses for a camping holiday for 2-3weeks and will cover around 7,000kms.

I just bought the car a few weeks ago so obviously oil and filter change but never had a Diesel before and never gone for such a looong trip so wondering if you guys could help me out with what you recommend to change/service before I leave. Cars at the suspension shop at the moment getting all new suspension components fitted aswell.

Also:

- How many litres of oil does the 4.2l T.D. Need for service?
- My motor has 2 oil filters both different models (is that standard or aftermarket?)
- Car has 125,000kms
- Any guages people recommend before I leave (turbo timer, boost guage, water temp, oil pressure etc etc)

Any other advice would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers guys,
Maciek.

CHUUBZ wrote:- How many litres of oil does the 4.2l T.D. Need for service?.

~10ltrs with filters

- My motor has 2 oil filters both different models (is that standard or aftermarket?).

some models did have 2 different filters. Go with Nissan ones.

- Any guages people recommend before I leave (turbo timer, boost guage, water temp, oil pressure etc etc).

Boost gauge is handy, as is EGT. forget the turbo timer.


Do you know the cars history at all? Lots of offroad work?

What I'd change:
oil and filters
fuel filter
air filter
diff oils
Fit MP3/DVD Player

Check the fanbelts, and carry spares with tools to change if required.

If its all road klms, that would be about it.

Don't worry about the turbo timer, but if your doing fairly long stint's, let the engine idle for a minute or two before you turn it off.. This is more important if your running above standard psi etc, but I'd still do it as a safety thing...

Oil pressure/temp, water temp and a/t temp if its an auto and your towing would also be good additions if you really wan't to know what's going on.

WINDSCREEN WIPER FLUID!! Nothing more annoying than killing a nice fat bug and not being able to wipe it off...

bogged wrote: Fit MP3/DVD Player

And make sure you bring music. I had a very quiet seven hour drive once, not sure who took the CD's out.

Turbo timers are a gimmick, when you have an EGT gauge fitted, don't shut it down until the temps drop below 200C.
You'll find you almost never have to let it idle down, it's only necessary if you've just driven up a hill.

The main thing, spend as much time as possible before the trip in various terrain with your vehicle, get to know it's normal behaviour so you can spot abnormal behaviour.
Test every bit of work that is done now before it's needed. That includes fill/drain plugs are tight, filters aren't leaking, radiator hose clamps are tight etc.
Don't overtighten when you're checking stuff either.

just drive it........... and deal with any issues as they come up, thats part of the adventure

taps wrote:just drive it........... and deal with any issues as they come up, thats part of the adventure

Thanks but no thanks, dont think the misses considers being stuck in woop woop a enjoyable holiday haha.

The history of the car is all hwy kms, the couple I bought the car off had since new almost and all they used the car for was practically towing their Caravan around Australia on their retirement holiday and the odd occasion to drive into town and back. The husband told me he was a mechanic and looked after and serviced the car all the time, but then again they are complete strangers and not family and I don't know if he was talking crap to sell me the car or being legit.

Car already has a complete stereo system so thats ticked off the list, oil and filter I know how to do and same as air filter, fuel filter I've never done before and never changed diff oils either, is there a manual online or should I buy a Patrol Workshop book from Autobarn?

Car's a manual by the way and I won't be towing anything, just the 4x4 will be loaded up with clothes, food, camping equipment etc.

What spares should I carry around? I'm guessing radiator coolant, oil, fanbelts and radiator hoses... anything else?

CHUUBZ wrote: is there a manual online or should I buy a Patrol Workshop book from Autobarn?

http://www.patrol4x4.com/forum/index.php
http://www.patrol4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18331 <-- something I managed to find

What spares should I carry around? I'm guessing radiator coolant, oil, fanbelts and radiator hoses... anything else?

tools to replace those things Check the jack and wheel brace fit and work

enjoy the trip dude.

CHUUBZ wrote:The husband told me he was a mechanic and looked after and serviced the car all the time

I'll be brutally honest here - this means absolutely positively FCUK ALL!! I've heard that one more than i care to remember.

Things i do when i buy a second hand car (which you should consider):
- Engine oil (i always use an "engine flush" treatment before i change the oil, thats just me though)
- Oil filters
- Air filter/s. If the old bangers are still good, hang onto them for spares.
- Fuel filter
- Coolant change with block flush and radiator flush
- Gearbox oil
- Transfer oil
- Diff oil (front and back - different oil for the back cause its LSD)
- New Belts (keep the old ones for spares)
- New radiator hoses (and replace the clamps if they look a bit seedy)
- Battery terminals (it pays to check them, and replace them with some GOOD quality units - not cheap $5 shit)
- Clean the pollen filter for the blower fan (interior fan)
- Check power steering fluid
- Check diff breather hoses on your diffs and gearbox/transfer

See how that works out for you!

Also a quick tip, before you drop your gearbox, transfer and diff oils, take the car on a good 30 minute drive to get the oils hot (warm actually), as they will flow/drain better. Changing your engine oil while its hot/warm is also handy - but not while its still burning hot.

When i drop my sump oil, i do it first off while its hot and give the engine at least an hour to drain - sometimes i leave it overnight if i dont need to use the car.

CHUUBZ wrote:

taps wrote:just drive it........... and deal with any issues as they come up, thats part of the adventure

Thanks but no thanks, dont think the misses considers being stuck in woop woop a enjoyable holiday haha.

The history of the car is all hwy kms, the couple I bought the car off had since new almost and all they used the car for was practically towing their Caravan around Australia on their retirement holiday and the odd occasion to drive into town and back. The husband told me he was a mechanic and looked after and serviced the car all the time, but then again they are complete strangers and not family and I don't know if he was talking crap to sell me the car or being legit.

Car already has a complete stereo system so thats ticked off the list, oil and filter I know how to do and same as air filter, fuel filter I've never done before and never changed diff oils either, is there a manual online or should I buy a Patrol Workshop book from Autobarn?

Car's a manual by the way and I won't be towing anything, just the 4x4 will be loaded up with clothes, food, camping equipment etc.

What spares should I carry around? I'm guessing radiator coolant, oil, fanbelts and radiator hoses... anything else?

Be wary if your towing in 5th of a whine. Early GU models had a weak 5th gear and if it has already been used for towing it may be something to consider. Having said that, mine is still good (touch wood)

PAUL

will you be far from major towns?

i think in a trip, no matter where you are, there is no need to carry coolant, its something else that can get damaged and leak,

on long trips i have a 20l plastic jerry can on the truck which is filled with drinking water, that way if your stuck you can drink it, or if you split a hose you can replace it and fill with the water, worst case drive to next town and get coolant,

Service the Mrs. Lube her up and you should have an easy trip.

Best advice i have is to join RAC or NRMA. Since if you give it a good service before you go in the weeks leading up to it everything should be sweet for your trip since its only 7000km

yeah thanks for that mate thats what I did when I bought the car.
not bad, RACV, I think $170 per annum and free towing, if i break down somewhere and they cant fix it i get free closest hotel so yeah sounds pretty good for $170 a year haha

thanks for all the advice guys!

the free towing says 100kms - is that per trip or per year??

I would replace all belts and hoses in the engine bay BEFORE leaving, and keep the old ones as the spares. Otherwise I bet you will blow at least one hose on the trip.

CHUUBZ wrote:if i break down somewhere and they cant fix it i get free closest hotel so yeah sounds pretty good for $170 a year haha

Yeah..... ha ha.