Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hi, wife has given the go ahead to trade the Pajero for a late model Patrol. But before i spend a lot of time finding one i have a coupla questions.

It must be a turbo diesel, is there a huge noticable difference in power for on road use between the 3l TD and the 4.2 TD? We intend to tow a 8ft x 6ft coolroom around a fair bit.

Is there any noticable difference in power and economy between the manual or auto, and is there any reason not to get either - for eg do some model patrols have auto issues or anything? We are only campers/tourers we dont wanna do any rock climbing in it.

One thing u need to ask yourself are u going to keep the truck for a while i.e. out of warranty period if yes i would suggest 4.2 for pure reliability. Once tuned and exhaust they tow even better.

I have a TD6 and its awesome, fuel is getting better and better i'm averaging around 14km around town with 35 and standard gearing my truck has a lot of weight on it.

I think the 3L are good truck it's just that the motor will have to work harder if you use to tow. Hence life expectancy wont be as long and thats why i asked wheather you would keep it after warranty.

my 2 cents
James

I would like to say yes i would be keeping, it but i would guess 2 years and i would be changing it. Mainly as i be moving into a leased truck in that time.

Would there be a huge differnce in power between the 2?

Begbie wrote:Would there be a huge differnce in power between the 2?

Go and drive them both...

for towing an 8x4 coolroom - what weight does it run at? Maybe an F350 would suit you better!

I couldn't imagine the cool room could be tooo heavy.
I am guessing you towed it with the Pajero ? if so i think patrol should do it easy.

Tow ratings for GU.

3.0L TD - Auto 2500kgs, Manual 3200kgs.
4.8L petrol and 4.2L TD - Man & Auto 3500kgs

E

Depends if cool room is full or empty? I would say either will tow it well anyway, I tow a bike trailer with three bikes and all the gear and jerries etc, mines got 35" tyres and non turbo 4.2 diesel, weak on hills but still goes alright generaly, Pajeros don't exactly peel your eye lids back!

Yeah the paj tows it. It will easily be towed by any patrol - i am more interested in how much different in power between the 2 diesels vs fuel economy - eg does the 3l only seem tio be a tiny bit less powerful but a heaps more economical?

3.0L TD - Auto 2500kgs, Manual 3200kgs.
4.8L petrol and 4.2L TD - Man & Auto 3500kgs

So this means the auto in the 3l is less tough than the 4.2? Do the auto in these have any issues generally? Normally i would ahve a manual, but am thinking the modern auto might be worth having?

no auto on td42 so it has to be manual

i was talkin to a guy who towed a caravan on the back of his 3L turbo, and he reckons he was going through clutches a fair bit. he was on his 3rd, for a 98 model. but then again maybe he just needed to learn how to change gears......

thats heaps he must not know how to change gears

hmmm Gionna have to do my research - am cashed up and ready to buy, but not entirely sure what i can get for my money.

26k will be the limit, i will hunt and hassled and negotiate the best i can to find something in this money.

Must be white
Must be Turbo Diesel - how many kms is too manty to buy on a 3l?
Must be the newer groovy shape (NOT the 97 shape) GU?

Should be right?

Like this one http://www.carsales.com.au/pls/carsales ... istance=25

hey all that looks good on paper but

its one of the first 3L and if the motor hasnt been changed there is a good chance it good blow do you really wan to take that much of a risk

Nah i dont - i spent last night searching through plenty of nissan forums and i think i have a better chance of buying an Opel Sunbird Torana than a 3l Patrol.

4.2td for sure now - whats the max kms for one of these, so i can do another 100k or so without having to change motors? I am guessing these things can do 300+ wihtout rebuild?

Am all cashed up, just need to find one CANT FRIGGING WAIT!

Begbie wrote:4.2td for sure now - whats the max kms for one of these,

about 600,000klms+ IF treated well.

Search for a thread from Woop. he removed the head on his at 560,000klms and you can see the cross hatching on the bores from new.

Since 4.2 Diesel Wagons are like ricking horse shit, at a reasonable price, whats the 4.5 Peterol like on juice?

20l per 100km around town about right for these?

Why not try auctions. Be patient i got 98 4.2 diesel for 24grand in september done 170ks full service history.

Since i am talking almost all onroad use and some light touring/camping (i have small kids so no mountain climbing), the wife driving it a fair bit, i am starting to wonder if i should just get petrol - fuel econ will be similar to 4.2 around the suburbs anyway?

Also does the 2.8lt have all the probs of the 3l?

Is the 3l really that bad of a lemon?

Can anyone answer the auto questions - are they prone to any expensive failures? or do you notice a significant power decrease with auto, or do you notice increase in fuel usage with auto?

Since i dont really think i can afford, or be bothered waiting for a 4.2 in my price range, i have to choose between 2.8, 3l or the petrol.

EDIT: forgot to add have had to revise rh budget to 26k instead of 30k as have had to spend a few dollars on our business vehicle (refrig van)

i'm surpised you havent found one they are plenty around i see them all the time in the tradinpost and 4x4 trader also you could try large nissan dealerships such as FTG they trade a few in and before they send it somewhere else u may just get first preference

they are out there just have to look a little bit harder.


forget the petrol and the 2.8 not worth the hassle

Begbie wrote:, i am starting to wonder if i should just get petrol - fuel econ will be similar to 4.2 around the suburbs anyway?

Humm..... I don't think so.......

GUJohnno wrote:
Humm..... I don't think so.......

What would the difference be?

Begbie I agree with you the 4.2L are hard to find....good ones anyway. I am in the same boat as you. My budget is a little higher, but still its a hard decision. You need to consider that many of the 4.2L, esp DX models will have been flogged by mining companies or farmers and have high k's.

I'm swayed by the 3L personally. It does get a bad rap from some and for sure there have been problems, but if you take a look at this forum it is always the same few guys who bag them and they all drive 4.2L and I suspect have never owned a 3L, so how do they know? I think some people just repeat what the hear. I know Roly owned a 3L and got pretty sick of it though.

Take a look at http://forum.patrol4wd.org/phpBB2/ for a different persective, the 3L gets quite a good rap on there........there is loads of info on the 3L. You can start with http://forum.patrol4wd.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1007 and search for more.

Hope that helps, let us know what you decide.

One thing in favour of the 3L is there are plenty of them 2nd hand, auto and manual and many have just been used as shopping carts so should be in good order.

Cheers,

Martin

Mate I can give you a very simplistic view from someone who has driven daily the 2.8's when they came out, then the 3.0's. Still driving the 3.0's at work. Have driven both the manual and the auto. We all bagged the auto when it first came out (from the point of view that who drives a diesel auto 4bee more than anything) but once we got over the shock it was O.K. We haven't had any prob's with the auto's at all and believe me if there we any we would have found it out by now. I tow quite a bit with them and they perform well. I purchased a 2003 4.2 intercolled myself becuase I want to keep it till I'm older and balder. I am very happy with it although have had a few minor prob's with it but these relate to the crap service I've been receiving from the Nissan dealership. My opinion is stay right away from the 2.8's. I had the pleasure of smoking two of them not doing anything unusual. Anyway, not very scientific but an honest point of view. Good luck.

Hmmm sounds like a bit of a gamble, but then again 3l Patrols are every third car on the road, some must be ok?

Spoke to a guy from Brighton Nissan today who told me that the 3l was fine that there was a small problem with the sump being under sized on the first 100 or so sold, but these were all recalled and they were all fleet/gov cars. He reckon they are fine, look for one that has been a tow vehicle and not a shoping cart - the carts have ben thrashed when cold and under driven when hot by the Mums.

10min after that i spoke to a guy at www.finechoice.com.au and he says they dont stock 3l Patrols or Ford Explorers - says they are total lemons. I dont want a car that is thought of as a Ford Explorer class of vehicle.

Now speed posts not to buy 2.8s - Patrol not really soubnding like a very good truck at the moment...

I have got 26/27k to spend, 4.2 is seeming a little unrealistic....

Begbie wrote:Spoke to a guy from Brighton Nissan today who told me that the 3l was fine that there was a small problem with the sump being under sized on the first 100 or so sold, but these were all recalled and they were all fleet/gov cars.

RECALL? BULLSHIT

I would never go near this place again. ALL GOV/FLEET CARS? LMAO.. ONLY 100 OR SO??!!!

At least he got the sump bit right

IN which year/month did the dodgy 3l stop in Aus?

What is the engine no prefix of the dodgy or the good 3lt?

mabsydney wrote:I'm swayed by the 3L personally. It does get a bad rap from some and for sure there have been problems, but if you take a look at this forum it is always the same few guys who bag them and they all drive 4.2L and I suspect have never owned a 3L, so how do they know? I think some people just repeat what the hear. I know Roly owned a 3L and got pretty sick of it though.

thats a fair call i know alot of us drive 4.2 but there is a reason behind it

i have had about 4 people come to my house and drive my 4.2 and see the mods to it because the want to tune there 4.2 upto scratch and 2 out of the 4 all had 3L diesel they sold them and bought second hand 4.2 and havent looked back.

I dont think our opinion is biased but u can believe what u want to believe

if you want believe that any LAND ROVER vehicle is capabale off roader and non expensive to repair u can believe that to....

Morks are most of these comments aimed at those who want a serious offroader? Does it all still apply to those who drive around a lot, but almost always onroad?

So for some one who will never be trying to do anything too wild off road, maybe tow the bikes to the camp site etc - the 3lt should be fine providing i get one that was made after a certain time/model? Which time or model is it that has the 'safe' ones?

Begbie wrote:Morks are most of these comments aimed at those who want a serious offroader? Does it all still apply to those who drive around a lot, but almost always onroad?

So for some one who will never be trying to do anything too wild off road, maybe tow the bikes to the camp site etc - the 3lt should be fine providing i get one that was made after a certain time/model? Which time or model is it that has the 'safe' ones?

No sorry the comments arent aimed at thoughs who want a serious offroader

my uncle has a 3L series 3 done now just on 110k doing similar stuff mainly doing highway kms towing bikes and small things are going wrong like air/fuel sensor the other day they went to the shops and it woundlt start.

But hey he like's it still and doesnt want to go to a 4.2.

thats the only reason why i said what i said from previous people (family) saying things to me.

But all in all if you really want a 3L and you like it go for it just make sure its either at least series 3 or its had the motor replaced and if you dont have any problems with it well thats great and if go more of a serious offroader then choose a 4.2 later on

I found a thread that says 3l is fine after 10/01 ?

I found a 4.2 ST Wagon in White today for 19999 ata car yard...but 320k (1 owners full service history owned a buy a country telco) is still too many KMs for me. Be IMPOSSIBLE to resell.

morkz, and others,

Have you mod'd the turbo/intercooler and exhaust on a 4.2L?

How do you think it affects the reliability/longevity of that engine. AFter all that is the criticism leveled at the 3L that it works too hard. Obvioulsy squeezing more power out of an engine is going to affect these things.

Any ideas?