HI Peter Connan,

thanks for your article on the 1996 Nissan Patrol, 4.2 lit SGL. We have an almost identical vehichle which had similar issues; fuel consumption and overheating. The exaust and manifold was repalced with a free flow system, made in a local exaust shop, and not expensive, this helped boost power at the top of the rev range (4000 rpm), but do wrap the manifold and down pipes with fibre tape (ask some local car racing modification shops). The carburetor was rebuilt and reset with not much saving in fuel, but better power when driving faster (>100 km/hr), Our fuel consumption remains around 20 lits/100, and maybe 22 to 23 lits per 100 in 4x4 mode, say in the central kalahari.

The overheating only happened while game viewing or at slow speeds, 4x4 or in very hot conditions, we changed the gearbox fluids and differential, which was actually a bit thin. Finally we installed two 12inch electrical fans on a switch inside the vehichle. the fans are cheap, at about R200 each, only 12 inch fit, the bigger ones foul the fron grill supports. when it look on the hotter side, we jst switch on the fans. I do belive that when wading, eg; the okavango, that cheap fans can be troublesome, but they are cheap enough to try it and see. try fans they are easy and do work. we did not have  aproblem in etosha last month.

Thanks for the review. Our vehichle towed the VW Toureg out of the Okavango, see SA Leisure wheels Feb 2009, "Is your 4x4 eally covered", so we would not swap it for anything.