goodo4x4

Hi all its been a while since an update. We did a great trip on Melbourne Cup weekend upto the Murray-Sunset NP and surounds covering 2500km's of mainly sandy tracks in 6 days. Average fuel consumptions was 14.6l/100km's. http://www.4wdlinks.com.au/gallery/Murray-Sunset-NP-Nov-2006 But the Patrol is off the road at the moment. There was a loud noise from the front of the motor. I thought it was the idler bearing or a/c compressor. In fact the a/c compressor was noisy and Nissan are replacing it, but the real noise was coming from the power steering drive gear. Apparently half the teeth were missing from the gear. So now I have to wait for parts from Japan and put up with driving the loan Pulsar. Next trip looks like being to Toolangi on Australia Day weekend. regards Michael

For me the original plan was to keep the car only for four years and buy a new one so durability of the 3.0l was less of an issue. But now I am building a new house and have to keep the Patrol longer :2 (25): A few people are now putting in 5.7l LS1 GM petrol V8' motors in the Patrols. These motors are readily available in Australia and are a relatively cheap replacement. I'll see if I can find some pictures. Alternatively 6.5l Chev diesel V8's are also being installed.

merci

Here's one for starters: I'll start a seperate thread with some of my favourite Aussie patrols. http://www.patrol-gr.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=24484

Thanks. There are similar love/hate relationships with the 3.0l here in Australia. However, 70%-80% of all Patrols sold in Australia have the 3.0l motor. If money was not an issue, I'd buy the 4.2l and then spend another $7000 on it to make it really work - bigger boost, bigger injectors, exhaust etc. There are some highly modified 4.2's here and they sound sooo sweet.

Les 3L est un moteur pour la ville... Donc pour les tapettes... Par contre apperement il on aussi des problemes, mais Nissan font moins les chiens qu'en France: Il a eu a changer sous garantie le joint de culasse... Comme quoi sur un autre post il est le precurceur de ce qui va arriver... Et encore une merde de plus sur les 3L une... Par contre y'a pas a tortiller du cul... Moi quit a m'endeter a vie je preferais prendre le 4.2LTD... Surtout pour 4300 malheureux € de plus... Come ça là au moins ta un moteur d'homme qui sort sa puissance des entrailles et pas de l'electronique. Car il dit que le 3L est plus vif et a la meme puissance que le 4.2L, mais le 3L 4 pattes c'est seulement grace a son invasion de puce... Voici la traduction integrale de ses dires pour ceux qui on du mal: Oui le 4.2TD est encore disponible ici. Il coûte 7000$Aud de plus que le 3.0lTD. Je ne pourrait pas justifier les dépenses supplémentaires (Je pense que cela veu dire qu'il ne peu depenser plus). Le 4.2TD a presque exactement la même puissance et couple que le 3.0lTD. le 3.0l est plus nerveux en ville où je roules la majeure partie du temps (Un moteur de SUV de ville quoi...). Et $7000 d'economisé c'est autant d'economisé pour les accesoires ! !(Ca c'est pas faux... mais c'est dommage quand meme) Le 3.0lTD a été raisonnablement fiable (vous avez vu il a dit raisonablement... il sais que ça peu etre pire). J'ai dû remplacer le joint de culasse que Nissan ont pris sous garantie. Le joint a cassé très probablement, a cause du radiateur bouché mais Nissan n'ont pas discuté (Et oui il est pas en France... Nissan Australie lui je penses respectes ces clients). Sorry I can't comment on this - I can't read French.

All new cars sold in Australia are right hand drive. However, some low volume imports are allowed in left hand drive - usually by private importers. Special registration is needed for these.

Yes the 4.2TD is still available here. It costs $Aus7000 more than the 3.0lTD. I couldn't justify the extra expense. The 4.2TD has nearly exactly the same power and torque as the 3.0lTD. The 3.0l is more responsive around the city where most of my driving is done. And $7000 bought a lot of accessories!! Todate the 3.0lTD has been reasonably reliable. I have had to replace the head gasket which Nissan covered under warranty. The head gasket issue was most likely caused by a blocked radiator but Nissan didn't argue.

The reason for all-terrains is economics. 90% of my driving is on bitumen unfortunately! I've recently purchased a second set of rims with some Nankang Mudstars for offroad use. These have proven OK however I just steaked one the other weekend

There are many outlets in Australia that build lift kits upto about 7". Many of these will export overseas. I don't have any experience with big lifts like this so can't really answer your question. However, try posting the question on the dedicated Nissan thread at the following forum: http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modules/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=5&sid=4c47a8ec733c94c1cdd6ffa3ed58f3cf

The snorkel is made by Airtech. I bought it through Nissan so it has a Nissan badge on it.

The Outer Lights are IPF900's and the inner lights are Hella 1000. The Hella's are better than the IPF's but cost less. regards Michael

Here's a pic of the my new light configuration.

I don't mind it now. But after 3 hours of trying to get the vehicle out and with the carpets all wet I wasn't very happy. A couple more...