4.8lt Patrol on Gas

Haven't put mine on gas yet, may one day but as fuel is only 20% of cost of running its not high on priorty list considering the compromises and fact that my long term (110,000km) average is 16.5lt/100km anyway.

However , it was time to have valve clearances checked the other day and I did mine myself figuring they wouldn't need adjustment so no need for Nissan but as part of checking out price Nissan said that its around $200 except if its gas and last gas one they did was so bad that valve head job was $4000.

Sort of makes you think !

My brother an automotive engineer in the field says , no matter what anyone tells you even with late models , always run valve saver on gas and its even a good measure off gas.

Robin Miller

I also haven't put mine on gas and after Robin's reply glad I haven't. The main reason for me is that mine is driven to places where gas is not readily available so a gas tank would be taking valuable space.

Kind regards

Di , its an issue I have looked into a bit and there are some
good news stories out there but the bottom line is more
frequent valve clearance settings and issues so I'd be
hot of the warranty side of things if going ahead.

Normally a car can expect to get to up to 150k before
requiring valve shim adjustment but gas ones seem to
need it between 50-100k and if you don't you risk valve
replacement.

Range issues were my main concern to Beatit, and I agonized over
it for a while and recently fitted rear OOT 145lt tank which
came up well and have comfortable 1000km range now (manual).

(have trip coming up which I est will require 220lt min.)

Replacing the sub-tank would have been better option with gas in mind
however I may yet be able to one day fit small (60lt) tank in sub position
for running around town and keep 145lt main , which is still
more than car has standard for outback trips.

Robin Miller

I am having my GUIII 4.8 put on gas next month ,had to book two months ago.
Its an injected LPG system & has its own computer ,so when you turn over to LPG
the gas computer changes the timing to suit the gas.
They drill injectors into the intake runners on the manifold.
I have been advised to fit the upper cylinder lube as well to save the valves.
The job is being done in Newcastle.
I am 100 % anti diesel.
Cheers,
Doug.

Bill,
My mates 4.8 has been on gas for 2 years now with no dramas, apart from, in my opinion, he has only got a 35 petrol tank now! and when gas is either not available or awaiting delivery he's stuck! last year he was at Auski r/house nw WA and no gas so had to hang around for a few days before moving on! the 35ltr petrol was not enough to get him to Port Headland as he was towing 25' van! and didnt want to chance running out of fuel.Also spoilt his plans of visiting Karagini np.
Brian

Thanks to all the replies. Bill is a mechanic and a licensed auto gas fitter so the cost of fitting and doing valves isn't a real issue. We have had a GQ on gas for about 10 years now and really happy with it - still going strong and son #1 taking this over. We installed an extra long range fuel tank and have never had a problem with range - and the vehicle runs just the same on gas as petrol even pulling the van!

I just wondered if there were any obvious problems anyone has found with their 4.8lt - the Nissan salesman was specific with the 4.8t - said 4.5lts were fine.
I just wondered why he would say this, and what others experiences were.

There is always a wealth of advise and info from this forum.

Di

Bill says we have a 95lt gas and 75lt petrol & use a custom-made stainless steel removable petrol tank on the rear back floor which gives us another 80 lts - for when we travel on long trips.

Di

I had my 2002 4.8 Ti put on gas 2 years ago. I also had the larger 75 litre petrol tank fitted. The main problem with the 4.8 is the lpg burns hotter than fuel and burns out the ceramic Catalytic Convertor. Mine burnt out halfway across the Nullabor, collapsed and blocked the muffler. You should fit a Hi-Flow Catalytic convertor. ( I fitted a Stainless Steel one $300.00). Since then it has been Ok. The money was reimbursed by the LPG Installer so it is obviously a genuine problem. I have had other problems but related more to people not knowing what they doing working on it.

As usual after having the problem and talking to other people about it, it is not ucommon and not worth the risk of "I'll chance it".

I get approx 300k out of a 90 litre tank towing a Jayco Swan Outback. This effectively gives me 600k range and will allow you to do most trips.

My sytem is not the Gas Injected Type.

Good Luck.