Nissan Engines RD28T v TD42 v ZD30DDTi
 

Starting the hunt for my base project vehicle, I'm UK based, and rightly or wrongly have decided on the LWB Nissan Patrol, ideally the Y60 although i haven't totally discounted a Y61.

The plan is a long term rolling build, keeping it legal upgrading it and learning every inch but interested to hear feedback, good & bad about each engine option. My instinct was to hunt down a 4.2 Y60 on the basis of largest capacity equally least stressed components.

Many thanks in advance.

in my experience, the 3.0 is by far the most complicated motor of the lot. mine uses computer input to vary the boost and even the gearbox is controlled by the computer. parts are expensive and if something major goes, its an expensive and big repair job (e.g. an injector often requires a dieselpump rebuild, calibration etc as well). that said, mine has 316kkm on it and going strong. I had to do a rebuild at 210kkm, but since then no issues. if you do get a 3.0, make sure you install a Dawes(?) valve to ensure you don't have overboost issues (which is the main killer of these motors- plenty about it on the Patrol forum). I understand from one of the kids at work that you can now get an LS motor with a complete adapter kit for plug-and-play installation to replace the 3.0

the 4.2 motor is probably the simplest and most reliable in the long run. easy to repair and easy to chuck on a constant boost turbo for extra grunt (without compromising reliability). a very good choice and if I have to redo, i'd go for this option as opposed to the 3.0.

the 2.8 is a bit of a dud IMO. never had one myself, but two of my mates did and both had numerous issues, including cracked pistons etc.