ZD30 engines

Hi JustinC;

From what I've read from Nissan forums the last ones to have engine issues was Build 2002 Series III , post 2003 engine There has been no mention of a dropped Number 4 or Number 1 Piston etc ( as Tombie mentioned ) but there are other niggly issues like MAF sensors , EGR valves.


Sorry JC Edit :

think i Spoke too soon. Kept reading , a mention of a 2003 Build with similar engine failure to early series ZD30

QUOTE:

Hi all

Have just joined today due to the failure of my '03 ZD30 and looking for answers. Mine blew up on
the way back from Adelaide to Perth on New Years Day (Happy New Year!!) and has been diagnosed with
complete failure of cylinder 3 and partial to cylinder 4. They are offering a $12K Engine replacement
as the answer! I do a lot of km's as i use my vehicle for work, mainly highway/country but has been
serviced by Nissan every 10,000km since new.

It appears mine has had similar issues to the early series motors that have been described, and
perhaps the reason there aren't many cases yet is because not many have started tor each the higher kms.
I am launching my several pronged attack to Nissan today on how to avoid a $12k bill.

Details on my experience below.

1) What mileage has your 2003 3.0 Td done? (145,000)

2) Any strange things happening at the moment to your engine? (Blew a Huge Cloud of Smoke on Monday,
towed 400km home and now at local Nissan Dealer needing a complete rebuild or replacment)

3) What mileage had your 2000 3.0 Td done when it blew up? (145,000)

4) If your 3.0 blew up what was the build date? (03/2003)

5) Did anything stand out as unusual before the engine blew up, it might seem trivial but
if enough people noticed something a pattern might emerge. (It has had 3 Oil Pressures Sensors
replaced under warranty early on, and then another one 5000km ago which i paid for.)

6) What country?(This could be important in tracing the root of the problem) (Australia)


But then again this could be an Isolated incident with the post 2003 Build?????

Latest I heard of was 2004:eek:, I worked with 2 EX Nissan dealership employees:D

Let me know JC if you want some particular details and I'll chase it up;)

the electrical contractor i used to work for had a 2002 navara with the ZD 30, cracked a head and dumped coolant so fast the engine was trashed by the time the jesus light came on

Quote:

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Originally Posted by justinc

OK, I know this is a LR forum, but can i get some anecdotal and preferrably first hand info about later ZD30 engines and their propensity to melt pistons?
Navarra OR Patrol.
Thanks,

JC

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is this following on/adding to this thread on overlander (and elsewhere) ?
What a nightmare

All I know is that early on in the ZD30's life in pootrols, Nissan gave the owners the run around big time.

I know a guy in Ringwood who paid $15k to a nissan dealer to replace the engine as "It had never happened before" at the time.

I think that was around 2001 or something like that, too long ago to remember details.

I do remember the second engine went in under warrenty after legal action forced the issue and the car never came out of the workshop with his name on the papers again.

He now drives a Rodeo dual cab.

I have heard about MAF sensors and over boosting etc etc but I doubt that Rays would have hit full boost in the time he had it as it was barely run in by the time the engine granaded.

Cant help you much more than that sorry JC

Sounds like a typically over complicated computer controlled (Or is that out of controlled?) engine. Thank goodness the Td5 doesn't have any of these issues!!!

When or IF I get to repair this particular vehicle, I will be fitting a Pyro and a boost gauge for him Front and centre.

Thanks for all replies, time to do a comp test and find out if any 1 cylinder has lower compression...It has a 'chuff chuff' on startup if you have the cap off and is hemorrhaging oil from the front seal:(

JC

My brother in law has had two of the 3 litre pootrols,an 01 & an 06 one.He never had a problem with either,but they did a change to the 01 one...think it was an increase in sump capacity,or maybe a different dipstick with a higher level mark on it.This was done under warranty.He never towed anything & they generally got an easy life.
The only time it went off the black top was for a wash on the lawn,with tank water of course.
One of my son has a zd30 navara with around 80k on the clock.
Recently had a problem where it leaked oil from the oil filter around 2 weeks after a service.
Luckily noticed it in time or the motor would have been wrecked.
The guys whos service it were very concerned,they mainly do nissans,and not much else.
They thought possibly either the o ring on the filter housing was faulty or the oil pressure relief valve got stuck and the over pressure pushed the oil past the o ring.


We are just hoping it doesnt happen again.:(
They have a nice little funnel under the oil filter & we have run a tube off it to the drivers side of the car so we can easily se if it happens again.

The ute does get good fuel economy,& the lsd is very helpful off road,but as for overall comfort ,not real good.

As for the pootrol,the td5 beats it in all departments,except maybe resale value.

Most ZD30s here have had major fuel system issues some times resulting with engine damage. Usually just out of waranty:mad:. The patrols that are lying down here are those towing heavy weights. The 2.8 also were bad for over heating here when towing but the lighter gear box breaks 1st in some cases.
There are thousands of complaints on over streased ZD30 engine failures. I think a phyro may saved some of them.
I have had Patrols in our fleet here and the lazy 4.2L 6 is only worth a mention on being robust. Pity the truck fell apart 1st:eek:
Tony

Hi Justin
Will take a bit of sifting, but lots of info on here:

GU/GR Nissan Patrol - Patrol 4x4 - Nissan Patrol Forum

I joined before I bought the Disco...

Decided if I was getting a Patrol it would be a TD42T.

Having said that a friend towd a tralier from Perth to FNQ (Creb track etc) and back only recently traded on a 200 series (for the Kinetic suspension).
Cheers
Mike

So tell me, where on the inlet manifold does the EGR enter?
Cylinder's 3/4 perhaps?