Nissan Patrol 4x4 (Africa)

My GU 3.0Di just ran out of it's mechanical warrenty and it was time for myself to take the "self service" step. Other than the airfilter which I kept original, I saved at least R600 on the diesel- and oil filter alone.

I also followed the reference doc's instructions by blocking off the EGR since I am convinced that some of my vehicles tempramental behaviour originated from the EGR system. Fortunately I had an old EGR pipe as a result of a pipe failure before. I have cut off the end pieces from the pipe. I have cut blank plates from 1,5mm flat bar on the end piece's diagram and bolted them with the end pieces to both the open ends. (no pipe in-between any more) I adjusted the boost on the adjustment arm as recommended in the doc. I still have to do the open road "test", however I can clearly feel a few differences. Much less turbo lagg, quick "out of the block" responce and no overboost safety cutt-out any more. However, I do not feel a significant improvement in power either, not that I had a power problem. The next step is the EGT and Boost meter installation. I think that will complete the picture.

I am busy building my own breather oiltrap. I believe that the cleaner air intake as well as the absence of the EGR gasses will contribute to cleaner cylinder heads and less over fueling. Keep your thumbs. I bragged with the trouble free milage I got on my ZD30 engine so far. However, I experienced the tempramental behaviour which I hope to have sorted out.

JG,

Please keep us posted - I am very interested to hear the results on the open road test.

Mine is also a 3.0Di GU - and I am in the process of also having the EGR blocked off. I have done the EGT and Boost meter already - so yes I am also holding thumbs for some better results.

Will also let you know what the outcome on mine is - but I am having quite a bit done to my Patrol - amongst other things a freeflow system fitted as well. Once all the mods are done it will go for a dyno & fuelling excercise - so it will take some time to get all the results in!!!

Pieter,

I will keep you posted. Have you had any specific behavioural problem/symptoms before the mods? I experienced 2 distict symptoms before I blocked the EGR, which seems to be gone now.

1. When excellerating I often had the "limp mode" sudden power reduction. Funny enough that it occured more often at sea level than on the highveldt. I overaled my turbo earlier this year volatarily before a long trip. After the overal I had better boost, but it also appeared to happen more frequently. This indicates to me the value of the turbo overal but also that my turbo still had enough boost before the overal. Short and sweet - I think my engine suffered from "overboost". It may be that the adjustment I made to the boost adjuster settled the problem.

2. I also occasionally experienced a power surge when excellerating. I have cleaned the boost sensor with carb cleaner after which the problem seemed to be much better for a while. (I also disconnected the breather pipe rom the air intake) After the EGR block, I am still not sure if it was indeed a dirty sensor due to oil in the system or only a sensor doiing its work properly before I adjusted the boost.

It would have helped if I had the EGT & Boost meter installed before, hence my "afterwards" question to you.

JG,

Yes I am definately experiencing the no 1 problem (limp mode) - and then also when the boost meter goes up to 1.1 or 1.2 (without going into limp mode) it will also drop down in an instant to 0.5 or 0.6 - and then it stays there. That's why I want to block off the EGR and also my turbo is coming off for inspection - and if necessary an overall.

Will keep you posted but will take some time - I am having a custom build freeflow system done and a number of other things (got my bigger tyres today!!) - so will speak to you again in a week or 2's time!!!

Dis reg Pieter. Ek hoor dan van jou. Toets sommer daai bestaande boost sensor ook. Moeilikheid makertjie wanneer hy vuil word van breather olie.

Hi julle, ek het nog nie die limp mode ondervinding beleef nie.
Ek wil ook nog my EGR afblok , maar kom nie daar by nie.

JG het jy slegs jou turbo se VNT gestel soos per die ref. dokument? En stuur fotos van die catch can asb.

Pieter , wat is jou EGT as jy se so 110 km/u ry met waentjie op n gelyk pad, joune is pre turbo is dit nie. Myne wissel van so n 350 - 440 grade C post Turbo.
Pieter , wats die rede vir freeflow, soek jy meer krag , beter brandstof , sal graag wil weet.

Maar my ecu of enjin liggie kom nou gereeld aan, as ek afskakel en weer aansit gaan die liggie soms dood.Ek ondervind geen krag verlies ens nie.Ek weet nie wat dit kan wees nie. Ek het al gelees dat ons modelle nie n goeie aard het met die onderstel nie , en die Aussies sit nog n kabel na die onderstel.Wat die brand van die liggie veroorsaak het. So ek wil dit probeer. Het die artikel afgelaai op die web. Stuur my jul e pos adresse dan sal ek dit aanstuur.

Vir interessantheid, gebruik julle enjin water oor n tydperk van n paar uur se ry , bv. 6 ure se sleep, en na afkoeling kort myne so n half liter?

Ek vind dit n baie beter sleep voertuig as my vorige 4.2D., en hy hardloop baie koeler as die 4.2.Die enjin cruise ook baie beter teen so 110km/u

Koos

Koos,

Ek gaan jou vrae na die beste van m vermoe probeer beantwoord met my baie beperkte kennis - so se maar as jy dink ek praat str*nt!!!

Hi julle, ek het nog nie die limp mode ondervinding beleef nie.
Ek wil ook nog my EGR afblok , maar kom nie daar by nie.

Limp mode sal jy net beleef as jou voertuig "overboost" - so ten minste weet jy voertuig doen nie dit nie. Dit beteken ook egter niks nie - want jou voertuig kan ook "underboost" - maar dit klink nie so nie want jy se hy sleep selfs beter as jou vorige 4.2D. Die EGR beheer of kontroleer egter nie die actual boost nie - maar wel die lugvloei wat teruggaan na die turbo en engin toe. Dus as jy die EGR afblok is daar baie minder warm lug wat teruggaan na die turbo en engin toe - en dus boost die turbo net beter en behou die boost beter. Frans is ek nou reg met my verduideliking hier???

Pieter , wat is jou EGT as jy se so 110 km/u ry met waentjie op n gelyk pad, joune is pre turbo is dit nie. Myne wissel van so n 350 - 440 grade C post Turbo.
Pieter , wats die rede vir freeflow, soek jy meer krag , beter brandstof , sal graag wil weet.

My EGT hardloop so tussen 450 - 480 grade op gelyk pad - en my sleepspoed is 110 - ek hou daarvan want dis waar ek die beste economy ondervind en ek kom net 10 min later by my bestemming aan as die ou wat teen 130 by my verby jaag!!! (en ten minste 1 - 1.5 km/l meer gebruik as ek)!!!! Jy kan egter ten minste 180 - 200 grade bytel by jou EGT - maar onthou ek is by die kus - so lugdruk speel ook n rol.

Die freeflow wil ek doen om beter lugvloei uit die engin uit te kry - omdat die turbo lug nie vinnig genoeg ontsnap nie. Dit stel mens weer in staat om jou boost en fuel mixture te verhoog want jou EGT's kom weer baie af - en dit gee weer beter kraglewering. En hoewel dit nie logies klink nie maar met beter of meer kraglewering kry mens weer beter ekonomie ook. n Wyse man het eendag vir my gese " power and economy goes hand in hand - and very few people knows or realise it". Ek het nou ook groter tyres opgesit vandag (gespring van 265/75/16 na 305/70/16) - en alhoewel ek nie kan se ek voel regtig n kragverlies nie glo ek tog daar is wel n bietjie - ek het basies nog net so +- 25 km gery met die nuwe tyres - so dis moeilik om nou al te se. Maar ek wil graag my kar nou klaar maak - of so na aan klaar as wat dit kan!!! Nie dat ons seker regtig ooit heeltemal klaar kom met ons rygoed nie ne!!! Die freeflow gee ook n bietjie beter "brul" aan die kar - op turbo modelle hoor mens die turbo se spoel of fluit baie beter met n freeflow - en dis n moerse mooi klank.

Vir interessantheid, gebruik julle enjin water oor n tydperk van n paar uur se ry , bv. 6 ure se sleep, en na afkoeling kort myne so n half liter?

Ek was Des 08 met vakansie Richtersveld toe - en ook die Weskus Eco roete gedoen. In die omtrent 4500km wat ek gedoen het het ek nie nodig gehad om n druppel water in my kar by te gooi nie - en in die Richtersveld was ons dagtemperature 40 grade plus elke dag . Dit was hel warm - dis al wat ek kan se. In die drie jaar wat ek my kar al het en +- 30 000km wat ek al gedoen het as ek al n liter water in my kar bygegooi het dan is dit baie. Dit beteken nie egter noodwendig dat jy met n probleem sit nie - miskien moet jy begin met n pressure test op jou radiator en cooling system - dalk het jy n fyn lekkasie iewers wat net voorkom wanneer die sisteem onder druk kom - dis waar ek sal begin.

Ok ek hoop my beperkte kennis kon darem jou vrae beantwoord - maar wanneer my kar terugkom van die toordokter af sal ek n volledige post doen van alles gedoen en veranderinge wat gemaak is en verbeterings wat ervaar word. Die "to do" lysie groei elke dag met iets nuut by!!! Watch this space!!!

JG Shields wrote:Dis reg Pieter. Ek hoor dan van jou. Toets sommer daai bestaande boost sensor ook. Moeilikheid makertjie wanneer hy vuil word van breather olie.

Sal so maak dankie maar ek glo darem nie ek sal n probleem he daar nie my boost sensor is nou onlangs eers ingesit - seker nog nie eers 300km terug nie.

Koos, the loss of coolant does not sound right, but I agree with Pieter. First look for the cheap possible causes (if there are cheap faults you still need to fix them anyway, so even if they are not the root cause of the issue at hand, it is not wasted money/effort).

The very cheapest possible cause is a tired radiator cap, followed by hose leaks and then probably radiator leaks.

Koos

Gerrit wrote, The very cheapest possible cause is a tired radiator cap, followed by hose leaks and then probably radiator leaks.

n Pressure test op jou cooling system sal vir jou al die tipe van moontlike foute uitwys - soos Gerrit se al is dit "cheap" dit moet nog steeds regkom - en te lank gelos kan "cheap" ook "very expensive" raak.!!

My ma se 1.8 GLS Toyota Corolla (1984 model met 170 000 genuine km's) se engin is nou n rukkie terug oorgedoen - en toe kom kuier sy vir ons in die Kaap kort daarna - sy bly in Worcester - so 85 / 90 kilo's van die Kaap af. Oppad hierna toe het haar kar overheat en gekook - lang storie kort ek het die kar sommer self getoets en toe is dit net die radiator cap wat ingegee het. Couple of bucks later, nuwe anti freeze coolant en Bob's your uncle - daar hardloop haar karretjie weer soos n droom!!