3.0 D oil pressure sensor?

[DJ38]

Hello Guys n Gals
sorry for the first proper post is a question or two!

1, I have had my 3.0 02 plate Terrano for 3 weeks now, a week ago the oil light came on, I nearly papped my pants, I checked oil level ok, When I switched the engine off and gave it 5 minutes the light went out on start up and stayed out. this happened a couple more times.

Due for a service, so I gave her an oil change/filter change etc,
This fault occured only once the day after the service since then, no problems, I have towed a horse box 200 miles with no oil light issues.
When the light stayed on it was from start up only.
My question is: there are two oil pressure sensors, one on the engine block one on the oil cooler.
Are these a common fault, or could it be poor oil pressure.
If it's the latter, I'd be surprised as there is no rumbling of bigends or anything like that.

2, I have read reports of the early 3.0 lt d Patrol engines going pop, blowing holes in pistons if so, My engine is the same, am I at risk?
The fault is something to do with oil pick up failure,
can I do anything to help prevent this kind of failure.?
sorry for the long post, just struggling a bit for answers.
Thanks for reading.
Dave

 

[davemud]

Hi Dave

Had the same problem on my 2002 T2 when I had it, Tried 3 new oil switches first 1 done on warranty next 2 fitted over the 6 years I had the T2.
Get Nissan to fit one then they have to guaranty it for 1year it took 3 a temps to replace my last one oil light came on first thing in the morning ran car for 5 Min turn of then on light was out for the rest of the day....
Did have an oil pressure gauge fitted under the bonnet for some time to test for oil pressure problems but was there was always a good pressure....

My current Patrol I have fitted oil pressure gauge in a pod on the a pillar so don't have to fear any more. It also makes u aware of cold oil in the mornings and to warm the car up much better before roaring of under load

 

[DJ38]

Thanks for the quick reply,
I see you have blocked off your egr valve, have you noticed any difference?
I blocked off my egr's on my last vehicle
I take it that you just make flat plate same as the gasket size to block it.
Do you need to do another other mods, relating to blocking thr egr off?

 

[Deleted Member D]

OZ has the answer

Try this site for your problem mate. The engine your talking about is the ZD30 which is what I have in my motor. There is a document within the site to download using adobe.
http://www.patrol4x4.com/forum/index.php
:wink:
Great motor by the way -welldone-

 

[iansjones]

very strange i got this about 4 months ago then nothing to yesterday.
last night it did it for 5 mins and then ok.

 

[DJ38]

Thanks for that.
the download is superb, put my mind at rest for now.
The guy that wrote it up, seems to have got his heaf round all the mods and problems.

 

[iansjones]

can you give me the url to that doc as i tried to search and could not find it.

 

[DJ38]

Sounds like mine abit,
nothing then pop the bleedin light is on.
I think I'll put an oil pressure gauge on, as I wonder if the pick up pipe in the sump is blinding.

 

[DJ38]

I'll try email it to you, it's more in regard to the 3rd/4th pistons blowing on 2000/2001 models

 

[DJ38]

Sent it, I will try to find the url, and post it on here, as I downloaded the file a couple of days ago, never read it till tonite.

 

[DJ38]

Found it: it's the b/w one I downloaded!
this is good info 8)

http://www.patrol4x4.com/forum/showpost.php?p=80051&postcount=12

 

[iansjones]

thats great thanks

 

[DJ38]

Well I ordered and fitted a new pressure sensor and extension piece (extension piece has now been added so the pressure sensor doesn't screw straight into the block) prevents heat damage.
Oil light behaved itself saturday morning, then started popping on in afternoon, when revs below 1500rpm.
I have now removed the pressure sensor and fitted a digital gauge with it's own prssure sensor, oil at around 30-40 psi on tickover then going up to 80-100 psi when running along.
Not sure if I'm gonna go back to trying an original oil pressure sensor, had to get dealer to post me the last one.
All the dealers near me are Evans hawshores?
No real experience with Terrano's
Got my bits from Harrats Wakefield, very helpful on phone.

 

[andrewk]

Not sure if I'm gonna go back to trying an original oil pressure sensor, had to get dealer to post me the last one.

My '05 Patrol has TWO oil pressure sensors - one on each side of the engine, a high pressure sensor and a low pressure one. The sensor on the same side as the oil filter is the low pressure one. The workshop manager at Nissan, Oldham (who replaced the high pressure sensor on mine recently) reckons they've had lots of folks mistakenly fitting a high pressure sensor where the low pressure sensor should be.

Your Terrano will, I guess, have only the low pressure sensor. If the dealer mistakenly supplied you with a high pressure sensor for the ZD30 then that might explain your continuing problem with the light coming on. Just a thought .........

Cheers
Andrew

 

[davemud]

Hi have to agree with Andrew on this I think that's what they done with my T2
at the Nissan dealership thought they would not agree to it....
funny thing is when I pointed the differences in the builds of the same engine
and that mine only had one oil pressure switch it was sorted ....

 

[DJ38]

Your right, just been on to nissan and mine is the two type sensor Hi and low pressure, they sent me a high pressure sensor and guess what?
I had incorrectly removed the low pressure sensor(the one by the oil filter) and put the high pressure sensor on that side.
Bugger!
The high pressure sensor just sits near the starter motor, looks hard to get to, will fit it tommorow.
Nissan sent me a 2003 Technical Bulletin by fax, stating the fault and part number to correct it and locations and functions of both sensors
eg. The Black low pressure sensor monitors oil pressure at normal running conditions.
The Green or Yellow high pressure sensor incorporates a circuit self-check funtion,(during ignition on) and monitors oil pressure under specific driving conditions i.e. above 3600 rpm.
If anyone would like the full bulletin, I'll take time out and write it up on here.
Dave

 

[DJ38]

Well Guys, swapped the correct oil pressure sensor today and fingers crossed all is well.
The light now goes out as soon as I crank her over, never did that before, so looking good.
Thanks for all your input.
Cheers Dave.

 

[iansjones]

Any chance of getting a copy of that bulletin?
Also what did you pay for the sensor and what part no.

Sorry for all the questions but mine did it again this morning.

 

[DJ38]

I've left the bulletin at work, have you a fax number, I send it to you from work, pm me with it.
The sensor cost £20 also bought an extension that comes woth it, another £20, £40 in total, there already was this extension piece on, I didn't know this till yesterday.
Changed it anyway, will post part numbers later tonight.
If your light comes on from start up it's deffo the high pressure as this has a self test function and keeps the light on till u turn her off.
If you lookdown the driver side of the engine you will see the starter motor.it is a bit awkward to get to.
The oil sensor is under the egr valve back of the starter motor.
If you take your intercooler blackcover plate off,
pull out your dip stick,
then pop out the power steering reseviour(just lifts up out it's bracket)
Then you will be able to reach down and unplug the electrical connector on the oil sensor, then you'll need a 27mm long reach socket to undo the sensor then a 19mm socket to undo the extension piece.

Do not swap the oil pressure sensor next to the oil filter, this is the low pressure one, colour coded black rated at 0.2bar. As mentioned above I 1st put the new high pressure one on the low pressure location and every time the revs went below 1,500 rpm the bloody light came on.
High pressure sensor rated at 2.5 bar is colour coded green or yellow like mine.
all sensors have a colour code band on them