Newbie GQ owner with a couple of questions ...

[webfish]

Hi all. Have recently swapped my 3 series coupe with about 2inch clearance for a standard looking 4.2 GQ '90 LWB low-roof manual ...

... and I love it. Much more practical for our 5 acres of land than that ridiculous beemer!

Q1. The only thing that I'm not sure about on this new truck is that it blows a bit of smoke. I'm sure it's been discussed before but can someone bring me up to speed on possible causes/remedies so that I can approach a diesel technician armed with a bit of knowledge.

Got the truck for a reasonable price so am happy to spend a bit getting it sorted.

Q2. Can someone explain the different diff locking set-ups. This one just has manual front hub (i.e. get out and turn 'em by hand) - how exactly does this differ from simply putting in 4WD?

Cheers, and apologies for being a bit green.

[haydgq]

Q1. The only thing that I'm not sure about on this new truck is that it blows a bit of smoke. I'm sure it's been discussed before but can someone bring me up to speed on possible causes/remedies so that I can approach a diesel technician armed with a bit of knowledge.


That's prob just the injector pump and injectors needing a good service or re-build or maybe someone has cranked the fuel screw up causing it to overfuel at certain parts of the rev range.

[coxsy]

q2 you put the transfer case lever in 4wd locking the hubs at the wheels locks the free spinning wheels to the axles so they drive
locking diffs means the axles in the diff head are locked together so both wheels drive there is avast anount of differents in preformance between open diff , limited slip diff and a locker,

[ALS4B]

question 1 have you checked the air cleaner may need replacing or fuel filter maybe, had this problam as well also i turn the pump back a 1/4 of a turn it seems to have fix it.

[flyingbrick]

question 1 have you checked the air cleaner may need replacing or fuel filter maybe, had this problam as well also i turn the pump back a 1/4 of a turn it seems to have fix it.

when i got my truck I took it into oilchangers and had air/fuel/oil filters changed as well as an oil flush and change. Was a different truck afterwards!

[coxsy]

a rare time to agree with you yes a service will do the world of good to your truck every 5000 kms or six month

[Lynx]

q1. what color is the smoke???

Cheers Daniel

[albundy]

when i got my truck I took it into oilchangers and had air/fuel/oil filters changed as well as an oil flush and change. Was a different truck afterwards

Do it yourself...by the time you buy the 10l of oil, the filters and depending on the model will determine weather you have to buy the expensive non-return ones or a pair of the cheaper normal ones, the fuel filter and the air filter and the engine flush you will be looking at close to $150. The labour on top of this will be charged at 2hrs or $130-150. You can get all the advice you need to do your own work on this site and if ya lucky some of the boys in your local area may just come around to teach you. If in CHCH area, I am willing to assist.
Al

[webfish]

Thanks for the advice !

Yes, I am keen to do the basic stuff on this truck myself. Used to do all my own servicing and repairs until I started buying complicated European and Japanese vehicles ... and gave up.

One thing I notice is there appears to be two oil filters side by side ! Never seen that before.

I'm not too sure about smoke colour. I noticed a bit out the back climbing a steep hill (I think it was black) and got my wife to follow later that day and she confirmed "a bit of smoke" heading up hills. Will get someone else to drive and follow for a look myself.

Cheers.

[albundy]

Black is the colour you want it to be. As has been said before, air and fuel filter change, run an injector cleaner through it and if it still blows haeps of black smoke then tweak the fuel pump. Not a big job. The two filters are standard on safaris. Depending on the year made and model will depend on whether you buy 1 non-return and 1 normal or just two normal. I had difficulty finding this out until I went to Nissan with the chassis number, they will be able to tell you. Most mechanics will just stick two non-return ones on as it makes them more money. You are looking at about $20 differnce in cost between the two filter types. Do your oil changes religiously at 5000km. I do and I still have engine compression within 2% of manfactures specification and my truck is 21 yrs old and gets punished frequently. What area are you in?
Al

[webfish]

Thanks for all this information - Forum's like this is are what makes the web great.

Pervious owner left a bottle of "Morey's Diesel Smoke Killer, Fuel Conditioner" in the back. I shall use it.

He has service receipts for a partial service every 5K and a full service every 10K. I think I'll just do everything every 5K.

I am in the Far North so a long way from Chch !

[haydgq]

Thanks for all this information - Forum's like this is are what makes the web great.

Pervious owner left a bottle of "Morey's Diesel Smoke Killer, Fuel Conditioner" in the back. I shall use it.

He has service receipts for a partial service every 5K and a full service every 10K. I think I'll just do everything every 5K.

I am in the Far North so a long way from Chch !

Yea every 5000kms is the way to go as its cheap insurance and as people have been saying a fuel and air filter are bugger all so do those aswell, I allways use fleetguard/cummins filters on my trucks and cars and they are very cheap but also very good quality compared to some of the cheap crap out there.

I was lucky when i owned Safari's i was working in earthworks so was able to grab the oil when needed free of charge so the 10-11 odd litres that the big donks use didnt cost to much , It was Mobil delvac MX multi fleet oil which is the same as Genuine Catepillar oil and worked a treat in my trucks and you can buy it in bulk which helps.

And i do recommend getting the injectors serviced as they are often never done.