Outer Limits 4x4 Board

I have just sold my beloved GQ and am now looking at getting a GU around the 2002 age bracket, the question is do I go for the 4.8 and stick it onto gas or get a 3.0TD, I know that these are known as the Nissan grenade but is there any mod you can do like fit gauges etc to counteract the problem, is there a particular year where the piston thing is a problem or are they still causing dramas. I can pick up a 2004/2005 3.0td from the auctions for around 22K , would this still be a problem motor. I would try for a 4.2 TD but they are like hens teeth, i like the sound of the 4.8 but not to sure how they are on gas or if the earlier models(2002) had any problems i should look out for, has anyone done the gas conversion and if so how does it perform on both fuels.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated as i am starting to look at GU's this weekend

Cheers

MNBS 4x4 wrote:I would try for a 4.2 TD but they are like hens teeth,

Then hold out until you find the right one.
Personally, after reading the thread where a blokes grenade just blew up a second time, I wouldnt go near one with Guts 40ft pole.

4.8 good if you got lots o coin to run it.

MNBS 4x4 wrote:I have just sold my beloved GQ and am now looking at getting a GU around the 2002 age bracket, the question is do I go for the 4.8 and stick it onto gas or get a 3.0TD, I know that these are known as the Nissan grenade but is there any mod you can do like fit gauges etc to counteract the problem, is there a particular year where the piston thing is a problem or are they still causing dramas. I can pick up a 2004/2005 3.0td from the auctions for around 22K , would this still be a problem motor. I would try for a 4.2 TD but they are like hens teeth, i like the sound of the 4.8 but not to sure how they are on gas or if the earlier models(2002) had any problems i should look out for, has anyone done the gas conversion and if so how does it perform on both fuels.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated as i am starting to look at GU's this weekend

Cheers

The problem with 3ltr fixed prior to 02. I have one with 246000ks with no problems.I use rx super oil. Allow it to wind after a run and do not let it lug in any gear.Economy is good, up to 1200ks max.Hope this helps.

Cheers bogged, you say the 4.8 is expensive , I know they are on petrol but any ideas how they are on gas

MNBS 4x4 wrote:Cheers bogged, you say the 4.8 is expensive , I know they are on petrol but any ideas how they are on gas

My brother has one of the 4 or 4.2 what ever they are on gas and gets 17ks -100klms.

Check out the patrol4x4 forum. Everything you need to know is there. I've got the 4.8. No known issues that I'm aware of. But same goes for 4.2 and 4.5. 4.8 economy is dependant on your right foot. As Foo on Patrol said, 3.0 1200k max. I could get 1000k on the highway if super cautious on the pedal. Compare the cost of diesel and petrol, and not much in it really. But, mistreat the 4.8 and you will be stopping from servo to servo. That's the price you pay for power in any vehicle.

Servicing and spares for the 4.8 are very good. No scary prices for the majority of consumables you will use. Diesels pumps can hurt if they give up.

I also found that 4.2's were about $10k more on average for a similar vehicle, if you could find one. That's a lot of petrol to go through before the diesel was a better financial buy.

Foo on patrol wrote:The problem with 3ltr fixed prior to 02. .

bogged wrote:

Foo on patrol wrote:The problem with 3ltr fixed prior to 02. .

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Thats not nice.A friend of mines father inlaw has over 400000ks :)

Foo on patrol wrote:

bogged wrote:

Foo on patrol wrote:The problem with 3ltr fixed prior to 02. .

Thats not nice. A friend of mines father inlaw has over 400000ks

Considering 03/04/05/06 models go bang, believe what you will..

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/phpBB2/su ... hp#1603903

YMMV.

Fooman, I think you'll find that as they get newer, they appear to be less likely to go bang. But not a known date or fix is available as to when is good to get one. Roll of the dice I feel. Hence, I got the 4.8. Read the 4.8 thread on patrol4x4 forum. Very positive. But depends on your requirements though, you may be better off getting the 4.2.

I love my 4.8 now I got rid of the TD42, it can be heavy on juice, 20 per 100 but it is smooth, more powerful than a moderatly modified TD42, has power from 1500 to 5500 not 1500 to 3500. Wouldn't touch the 3.0l if I had the choice myself.

Joel

I've wondered how the 4.8 was on fuel ...My old '89 4.2 SWB maverick on petrol does the same on fuel 20 l to 100 kl = 1 litre per 5 kl'm and 2.5 litres per 5 kl'm off road ...Might update to a 4.8

MNBS 4x4 wrote:I have just sold my beloved GQ and am now looking at getting a GU around the 2002 age bracket, the question is do I go for the 4.8 and stick it onto gas or get a 3.0TD, I know that these are known as the Nissan grenade but is there any mod you can do like fit gauges etc to counteract the problem, is there a particular year where the piston thing is a problem or are they still causing dramas. I can pick up a 2004/2005 3.0td from the auctions for around 22K , would this still be a problem motor. I would try for a 4.2 TD but they are like hens teeth, i like the sound of the 4.8 but not to sure how they are on gas or if the earlier models(2002) had any problems i should look out for, has anyone done the gas conversion and if so how does it perform on both fuels.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated as i am starting to look at GU's this weekend

Cheers

Hi MNBS 4x4, as Foo on patrol said, the "original problem" was rectified from the series II onwards. The problems that remain are due to the ECU being fed bad information from its sensors.

Fitting EGT and boost gauges counteracts this problem, lots of good info on the patrol 4x4 site, here is a link showing the k's that some of these motors have traveled http://www.patrol4x4.com/forum/showpost ... ostcount=1

Cheers,
Whitie

Ok this grenade thing, its still present in my mates Series III GU 3.0L

blew up on him with 120,000K's on the clock

Boost and EGT guages just let you know when your in trouble, not going to stop it.

the 3L engine still blows up today, even the new one is a bomb waiting to go off.

Stay well clear of the ZD30 engine unless you have the cash to replace it when it does go, and then you still playing another waiting game

The Navara Variant doesn't seem to go boom, so i would look at putting that same ECU and engine if if its replacement time, rather a few less KW's from stock than waiting for another Kaboom

Never have liked the ZD30 from the day Nissan brought it out, and now i know why

MyGQ wrote:Ok this grenade thing, its still present in my mates Series III GU 3.0L

blew up on him with 120,000K's on the clock

Boost and EGT guages just let you know when your in trouble, not going to stop it.

the 3L engine still blows up today, even the new one is a bomb waiting to go off.

Stay well clear of the ZD30 engine unless you have the cash to replace it when it does go, and then you still playing another waiting game

The Navara Variant doesn't seem to go boom, so i would look at putting that same ECU and engine if if its replacement time, rather a few less KW's from stock than waiting for another Kaboom

Never have liked the ZD30 from the day Nissan brought it out, and now i know why

I think the Navara thing is partly because the engine is over stressed in the Poo, thats a lot of vehicle for a 4 cylinder to push around plus they are asking more HP from it.

Mind you some people do get good runs from them, I spoke to a bloke recently who is on his second 3.0 GU & says that he is happy. He has a mate that has had one go bung but recons he was hard on it.

Maybe they are just finniky/high maintinence engines that dont like abuse or rough treatment, who knows. No one seems to provide exact service histories on these things to help analyse what may have gone wrong.

As said before I think its luck of the draw, there are plenty of them out there & not all of them drop their guts.

MyGQ wrote:Ok this grenade thing, its still present in my mates Series III GU 3.0L

blew up on him with 120,000K's on the clock

Boost and EGT guages just let you know when your in trouble, not going to stop it.

the 3L engine still blows up today, even the new one is a bomb waiting to go off.

Beg to differ, these motors now mainly grenade due to the ECU - all new high tech motors have the same problem, some are able to handle it better than others.

When they blow, it is usually a hole in the piston due to either high boost or high EGTs and both can usually be attributed to a failing MAF sensor. The Boost and EGT gauges will prevent the bang as the human will see that there is a problem with one of the sensors (as shown by the gauges) and drive / take corrective action before any damage has been done. Most people in the know change out their MAF at 100,000km and keep the old one as a spare in the glovebox.

Real mechanical failure (something different to the above) has been rare on these motors and people who have stripped them at the 250,000km mark have reported the innards to be almost as new.

I do not care what people purchase, it is their own choice, however I think that posts regarding these motors going bang and insinuating that it was caused by the "original problem" is not helpful. Much better to learn why they are now going bang and how the fitting of two gauges will prevent it.


Cheers

Hey guys

I have the 4.8ltr on gas (lpg) In a few words the car is great, engine is great, auto is awesome, power is good (tho I would like moooorrreee) but THE FUEL ECON IS TERRIBLE!!!

Im not shitting you, the fuel on LPG is 300km per 85ltr (if your lucky) towing you can come down to about 220km per tank (85ltr) thats hi-way driving, around town with a boat or trailer I dont know, but you can watch the fuel guage go down with your foot. IT SUX IT!!!

The fuel econ on petrol is just as bad, i have around 38ltr in the SUB tank, and around town I get about 100km before I need to start thinking about a fuel stop, on the hi-way is not much better but I should get 140km then I really need to see a fuel station..... I hate the fuel economy!!!!!

PROBLEMS
If you are going to go gas, I would try look into the LPG injected, It is a fair bit more expensive but you should get around 400km per tank and around the same power....
I have the vapor system, which has been good since I had another gas mechanic look at it.
When I 1st had the gas done, I had nothing but problems, blowing up air boxes, popping, stalling, cutting out, to the point of telling the gas mechanic that done the job to REMOVE THE SYSTEM (this is after the 15 time), in which he said he will, if what I (HE) does today does not fix it.. They replaced all wiring, computer, convertor, etc and all was running good, untill I got 450km out of wagga wagga on my way to queensland to my NEW home (this was from just leaving the mechanics that same day it turned to shit again.

Pretty much as soon as I made it to queensland after 600km of popping, stalling, NO BRAKES!!! NO STEERING!!!! etc I took it in to a place up here in Riverview repco centre, they had to do a road worthy (for rego), and I asked for them to look into the gas problems, they found the wrong processor had been installed. They quoted me and I was on my way. As this quote was fairly expensive I went away, untill 1 year later when my sister in law near had a head on with a truck because the car stalled, I said fix it. Since getting the processor fitted it has been awesome, Absolutely no problems since..... So this has restored my faith in LPG, but really it comes down to what you know....The guy that fitted the system HAD NO FUCKING IDEA!!!!!

Hope this helps

Casey

I can get down to 14ltrs per 100k if I drive like Miss Daisey. Push it hard, tow something heavy or both, and it will drink. Petrol will give more mileage than LPG and is fail safe. That's why I have now decided not to go LPG. I had planned to go injected LPG, but with the economy I can get when I try, it wouldn't be viable for a long time to go LPG.

If you don't mind diesels and would really prefer one, definately get the 4.2 over the 3.0. If you prefer petrol get the 4.8 over the 4.5. Both are the thirstier of the variants, but probably worth the extra purchase price and fuel costs.

Thanks for all the replies guys, its good to hear all the differant opinions, but it is hard trying to find one that doesn't looked flogged, will hang out and get the right one though, problem is i had my GQ for 8 years and new it inside out and back to front. I spoke to Nissan the other day (The fella semmed quite genuine) and he reckons that the 4.8s are terrible on gas especially one it has been in for a while, but that is just his opinion, as long as the installer is up to scratch and knows his stuff

He's right. But it has nothing to do with 4.8's let alone Nissans. It is the quality of the kit and the quality of the installation. You can't blame an engine for eating a head, if it's not setup correctly. I know a few LPG installers that I trust 100%, but I still aren't keen on LPG. Potential issues outwieght the savings. But before people pay out on me for my opinions, I too had a GQ TB42 for several years on LPG. It drank more LPG than petrol per k by far. 30ltr/100k isn't uncommon. And I did a head too.

Where abouts are you anyway? Can come and drive mine if you want.