Nissan Patrol Engine Problems

Check the fuel supply side of things; it sounds like it’s not getting enough fuel on either side. Check the fuel pump, they are known to wear out on cars running dual-fuel systems.

The Nissan Patrol 4.8-litre can be successfully converted to run on LPG, and many kits are available. The LPG Warehouse has two vapour-injection kits available, and is developing a liquid-injection kit. A rebate of $1750 is available.

IT MAY well be the computer, but I would be checking for an air leak. The way the idle speed is varying suggests there's an air leak into the intake manifold.

THE 3-litre turbodiesel has a propensity to melt pistons. I've been told the later ones don't have the problem, but I've also been told they're no better, and Nissan won't say anything, which makes me suspicious. I would avoid it, particularly if you're doing much highway driving, because that seems to bring it on.

YOU NEED to be very careful when having your diesel converted to dual-fuel, converting diesels is quite a new science compared to the conversion of petrol engines and there isn't the same level of experience there to call on. It does work, and can cut fuel consumption, but It's also quite easy to increase the engine's power to the point where the engine can be damaged. Speak to the converters involved and ask them if you can talk to other owners who have made the conversion so you can get their opinion.

THE Nissan letter we received was referring specifically to the engine failures, not to a lack of performance you refer to, though there may well be an issue with the performance of the ZD30 engine, as you suggest.

BECOME a mongrel rottweiler mum and don't let up. It might not work, but you never know, Nissan might relent in your case. You could take legal action, but that's going to be costly and, at the end of the day, will probably go nowhere. The sooner we have lemon laws here the better.

Under the Australian Consumer Law introduced in January 2011, a consumer can request a refund or a replacement for persistent problems if the car doesn’t do the job it’s supposed to do.

We haven’t heard of any problems with the new liquid-injection technology, but it is relatively new and yet to be fully proven like the alternative vapour-injection system. There is plenty of debate over the benefits of liquid-injection, the proponents of the technology claim substantial increases in power and economy, while opponents, those who favour the well-proven vapour-injection technology say the benefits are minimal and not worth the risk that comes with being a pioneer and adopting the new technology. As an aside we have heard that Ford has delayed introduction of its Euro 4 E-gas engine, which was to use liquid-injection, for at least six months. While the reasons for the delay are not clear, it has been suggested it could be because of refueling problems at high ambient temperatures. That’s speculation at this stage, but whatever the problem it’s serious enough to have Ford going ahead without an E-gas option for the next few months.

Cheap doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting a poor quality job, but you do need to be careful about selecting an installer. Find out what brands of system you’re being quoted for and talk to the manufacturers of those systems to confirm the competence of the installers involved. I would choose a well-respected brand of system and a well-established installer with a good reputation, and it might help if you could talk to other owners who have used those installers.

It's most likely that the fuel pump is worn out and needs replacing. It often happens when you run the petrol level down too low.