It's times like these that I am pleased to still have my very old 1996 GQ 4.2efi Patrol. It's almost analogue & certainly not too complicated but built in Japan to be easy to work on .... mostly.
I always change my engine oil & grease the few spots that have nipples. I do the other things like radiator fluid changes and check the running gear wheel by wheel using trolley jack & axle stands. Easy peasy. I always adhere to the service chart in the back of the owners manual referring also to the Electronic Workshop Manual that I have. Changing the brake fluid with SWMBO 'assisting' is always an interesting exercise which frequently ends with next door neighbour filling in.
I can no longer change the transmission fluids (too weak to get the plugs out) but a check out chick at the local WW has a hubby who is a work from home mechanic who does that and everything else that is beyond my strength or skill level. For the (rare) big stuff I have a 4x4 Patrol specialist who seems to be honest & reasonably priced.
ps .. I use the old engine oil to sprinkle on top of some crusher dust that is spread like a path around my green house in the back corner of my block. No weeds. Every few years or so I take a drum of the excess build up to a local Supercheap.
Warren-Pat_01 said
10:25 PM Mar 30, 2020
Cupid,
I bought one of those gizmos that enable you to flush out the hydraulics single handed. It certainly saves getting the other half to get out of her comfortable chair (knitting?) at the time I needed a hand (oops, foot). Used it a few times on the GU. The cost was far less than what a garage charges after a couple of services.
I also bought a long (1m) breaker bar to get the drain plug out if the Nissan's gearbox - had no idea as to how tight those plugs were! I thought the cast iron case was in danger of cracking!
I did the hydraulics once a year - I note, Isuzu recommend doing it at two yearly periods so I might have to sneak in a couple myself. I also note they advise greasing the universals on the drive shaft every 15,000km!! The slider, yes - but not the universals if one doesn't want the seals to pop!
I saw too many stuffups from outside mechanics - at least I knew what was done, and saved some dollars as well. As I said above, the specialists got the work I couldn't do.
Warren-Pat_01 said
10:27 PM Mar 30, 2020
I just love auto-correction systems - Sorry Cupie!
Cupie said
11:06 PM Mar 30, 2020
Warren-Pat_01 wrote:
Cupid, I bought one of those gizmos that enable you to flush out the hydraulics single handed. It certainly saves getting the other half to get out of her comfortable chair (knitting?) at the time I needed a hand (oops, foot). Used it a few times on the GU. The cost was far less than what a garage charges after a couple of services. I also bought a long (1m) breaker bar to get the drain plug out if the Nissan's gearbox - had no idea as to how tight those plugs were! I thought the cast iron case was in danger of cracking!
I did the hydraulics once a year - I note, Isuzu recommend doing it at two yearly periods so I might have to sneak in a couple myself. I also note they advise greasing the universals on the drive shaft every 15,000km!! The slider, yes - but not the universals if one doesn't want the seals to pop!
I saw too many stuffups from outside mechanics - at least I knew what was done, and saved some dollars as well. As I said above, the specialists got the work I couldn't do.
Warren ..
Thanks for the tips.
I'll have a look at the breaker bar & hydraulic fluid thingo once I can get out of the house in a few months.
Aus-Kiwi said
11:08 PM Mar 30, 2020
66 year old. Do my own servicing . Mainly oil changes . Pads in brakes . Have decent floor jack if required . Hardly need a jack on truck type vehicle if you park one side up on curb etc . Mazdas the changes are well know to empty and fill straight away . No big issue there unless your looking at an excuse not to do it !!! I like putting in top quality oils . I cannot trust anyone to use these oils . Besides its more a time and hassle to get it serviced . Bushes etc are checked in NSW every year . Well ? They should be to get pink slip !!
Cupie said
09:01 AM Mar 31, 2020
Aus-Kiwi wrote:
66 year old. Do my own servicing . Mainly oil changes . Pads in brakes . Have decent floor jack if required . Hardly need a jack on truck type vehicle if you park one side up on curb etc . Mazdas the changes are well know to empty and fill straight away . No big issue there unless your looking at an excuse not to do it !!! I like putting in top quality oils . I cannot trust anyone to use these oils . Besides its more a time and hassle to get it serviced . Bushes etc are checked in NSW every year . Well ? They should be to get pink slip !!
Good oils.
Yep I agree. When I first got the GQ with <50,000k on it, on the advice of our mechanic, I replaced all oils with Penrite & have only used their oils over the last 20years or so. HPR30 seems to be the right engine oil.
Aus-Kiwi said
01:51 PM Apr 1, 2020
Yep HPR 30 for most pushrod engines . Twin cam etc including V8s I use HPR5 . Older engines that run flat tappets as in older 308 / 302- 351 engines are better off with diesel oils these days with zinc additive where pressure fed or boundary oil layer doesnt apply . They are splash fed., Rockers etc can wear faster . Its been taken out due to catalytic converter contamination .
Aus-Kiwi said
11:33 AM Apr 2, 2020
This Kia at our shop was serviced . Yea right !! This engine would still be going if it was ! Would have saved the owner $4k . All cleaned up, honed ready to go .
-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Thursday 2nd of April 2020 11:38:11 AM
It's times like these that I am pleased to still have my very old 1996 GQ 4.2efi Patrol. It's almost analogue & certainly not too complicated but built in Japan to be easy to work on .... mostly.
I always change my engine oil & grease the few spots that have nipples. I do the other things like radiator fluid changes and check the running gear wheel by wheel using trolley jack & axle stands. Easy peasy. I always adhere to the service chart in the back of the owners manual referring also to the Electronic Workshop Manual that I have. Changing the brake fluid with SWMBO 'assisting' is always an interesting exercise which frequently ends with next door neighbour filling in.
I can no longer change the transmission fluids (too weak to get the plugs out) but a check out chick at the local WW has a hubby who is a work from home mechanic who does that and everything else that is beyond my strength or skill level. For the (rare) big stuff I have a 4x4 Patrol specialist who seems to be honest & reasonably priced.
ps .. I use the old engine oil to sprinkle on top of some crusher dust that is spread like a path around my green house in the back corner of my block. No weeds. Every few years or so I take a drum of the excess build up to a local Supercheap.
I bought one of those gizmos that enable you to flush out the hydraulics single handed. It certainly saves getting the other half to get out of her comfortable chair (knitting?) at the time I needed a hand (oops, foot). Used it a few times on the GU. The cost was far less than what a garage charges after a couple of services.
I also bought a long (1m) breaker bar to get the drain plug out if the Nissan's gearbox - had no idea as to how tight those plugs were! I thought the cast iron case was in danger of cracking!
I did the hydraulics once a year - I note, Isuzu recommend doing it at two yearly periods so I might have to sneak in a couple myself. I also note they advise greasing the universals on the drive shaft every 15,000km!! The slider, yes - but not the universals if one doesn't want the seals to pop!
I saw too many stuffups from outside mechanics - at least I knew what was done, and saved some dollars as well. As I said above, the specialists got the work I couldn't do.
Warren ..
Thanks for the tips.
I'll have a look at the breaker bar & hydraulic fluid thingo once I can get out of the house in a few months.
Good oils.
Yep I agree. When I first got the GQ with <50,000k on it, on the advice of our mechanic, I replaced all oils with Penrite & have only used their oils over the last 20years or so. HPR30 seems to be the right engine oil.
This Kia at our shop was serviced . Yea right !! This engine would still be going if it was ! Would have saved the owner $4k . All cleaned up, honed ready to go .
-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Thursday 2nd of April 2020 11:38:11 AM