Nissan Patrol Problems

There were a lot of problems with the 3.0-litre turbo-diesel some years ago, but we haven’t had any reports of engine problems on later models like the one you’re looking at.

Read the report from Howard Ramsay and see you're not alone. The claimed fuel economy is 14.3 L/100 km for your model in urban, or city driving, but it the ultimate real life outcome depends heavily on the sort of driving you're doing. I reckon the dealer is probably correct, there isn't much wrong with your car.

That model was known around the trade as the ‘grenade’, as it was just a matter of time before it blew up. I would suggest it could have.

You’re buying a high mileage car so be careful to check the condition of the engine and driveline and walk away if there’s any suspicion they’re close to worn out. There’s little difference between the Landcruiser and the Patrol, but avoid the 3.0-litre turbo diesel Patrol as it has engine issues.

You would expect it to be revving harder with the extra load of the trailer on the back, so that’s normal. I would engage overdrive when conditions suit, like on the flat, and run at the lower speed, but disengage it when the engine starts to labour, such as climbing hills or pushing into a head wind etc.

It was common practice to idle early turbo engines for one to two minutes before switching off to help protect the bearings in the turbo. It was done to ensure the turbo was not spinning at high speed and was not too hot when the oil pressure and flow was shut off. As you say some people even fitted aftermarket "turbo timers" to delay shutdown for a period after the ignition was turned off. Early turbochargers weren’t as robust or reliable as today’s are and some manufacturers recommended a short idle before shutting the engine down, particularly immediately after operating the engine at high load. Turbochargers and turbocharged engines, such as the 2.0-litre diesel and 1.4-litre petrol engines in the Cruze, have come a long way since those early days, so you don’t have to let them idle for a period before turning them off.

The claimed fuel economy for your Patrol is 11.8 L/100 km on average, which is of course just a figure provided for comparison purposes and as we have found out isn't necessarily a very accurate indicator for real life economy. One carmaker has told us that their real fuel economy number could be as much as 50 per cent out. On that basis yours would fit within the possible bandwidth of fuel economy on the Patrol. Check the exhaust to make sure there isn't a partial blockage that might be restricting the flow.

First, establish clearly if the problem is associated with running on LPG. You say it went away when you ran on diesel, so run some LPG through it again and see if the noise returns. If it does head back to the LPG installer, or the Eco Shot people, and have them do a thorough check on the system. It could be that it's getting too much LPG. I am very wary of these systems, because they work by substituting LPG for diesel, and increase the power output of the engine. The idea is then that you lift off the throttle and use less fuel, so reducing your running costs, but many people don't and make use of the extra power instead. As a result some run into engine problems, as is possible with your Patrol.

First, establish clearly if the problem is associated with running on LPG. You say it went away when you ran on diesel, so run some LPG through it again and see if the noise returns. If it does head back to the LPG installer, or the Eco Shot people, and have them do a thorough check on the system. It could be that it's getting too much LPG. I am very wary of these systems, because they work by substituting LPG for diesel, and increase the power output of the engine. The idea is then that you lift off the throttle and use less fuel, so reducing your running costs, but many people don't and make use of the extra power instead. As a result some run into engine problems, as is possible with your Patrol.

Even though you have new tyres make sure they’re properly balanced; if they are not good tyres of a reputable brand they can be out of round. Also check the diff and Panhard bar bushes for wear, and replace them if they are found to be worn. If all that checks out ok then it’s likely to be the swivel bearing adjustment on the hubs.