Nissan Patrol 4x4 (Africa)

Hi Guys

I am looking at gettting my first Patrol have wanted one for some time now .
looking for advice do I get the 4.5 or the 4.8 GRX and what must I look for when buying a Patrol?

Hello welcome here all depends on avalable funds the feul is about the same 4.5 is great 4.8 just more power looking at 100k for 4.5 and starting around 150k for 4.8 ....happy hunting let us see some picks and we can help check

Welcome Richard!!

Thanks Guys

What I am looking for is problems on these Patrols that one need to look for when buying a used one .

Luckily there is very little that can go wrong on a petrol Patrol. They are pretty much bulletproof !!

The only weak spot on a Patrol is the standard difflock. Personally, I believe that this is maybe not a bad thing, and here's why....

The suspension and drive train is so over designed on all the Patrols, with massive side shafts and bearings and a huge diff which makes a Landcruisers diffs look like matchboxes, that if you put the vehicle in a situation that something is going to break, rather let it be the difflock. A difflock can break and you can still drive home.... a little miserable perhaps, but still better than waiting for a flatbed for hours and massive costs repairing massive drivechain components.

The other weak spot is fuel consumption.... but if you want fuel light consumption, then maybe a Nissan Leaf would be a better bet...... .... none of us here bought our Patrols because they get great fuel consumption.

These machines are the best and most underrated 4x4's in their class !!

I have had 3 now, all petrol the 4.2 GQ, the 4.5 GU and the current one the 4.8 GU GRX, all amazing trucks but I would say the one I am most happy driving is the 4.8 perhaps that is because it is an auto but the power is great!

Problems not realy they are just about indistructable, only real "problem" I can think of is that the oil barons smile everytime someone buys one!! But saying that my son's Disco 1 V8 is worse than my 4.8 Patrol

Hi Richard

Welcome to the forum.

On the older models you can have a look if the viscus coupling is still working on the radiator fan. Also have a look at the fan, they tend to crack. There is a place in Cape Town that sells them for +-R750. Make sure the difflock works. On the Patrol they are not used much and tend to get stuck. They work with a vacuum and the pipes can perish/pinch.

It the vehicle is a manual the clutch will need to be replaced at +-250 000 km. This is a R7500-R10 000 bill so find out if this has been done.

The 4.8 has more power, the 4.5 has less electronics, same fuel consumption. If you can afford it go for the 4.8 GRX. The GL version is normally a bit cheaper. GRX has more bells and whistles. Also if you have the money go for the face-lift model. I think after 2005 (not sure exactly).

Graham (Pathmake on the forum) is the guru on Patrols and is in Valhalla, I see you are in Boksburg. He will also go through a vehicle free of charge for you to see if there are any hidden problems. You can also service you vehicle with him at a reasonable price.

All the best on finding your car.