Over last year my Nissan Patrol Y62 became a money pit. I was somewhat surprised and disappointed with the car quality build and expenses. It has only 72,000 miles (~ 115,000 km), being driven on the paved tarmac roads and mainly on the highway. The car is being serviced in Nissan certified centre.
On the other hand, the people who say to you that they are only changing wipers and tires on their car they are lying through their teeth.
I followed some forums and here is general recommendation in addition to the preventive maintenance for Nissan Patrol Y62:
| Desert environment miles (km) | Normal environment miles (km) | Maintenance type | Nissan price (labour), USD |
| 3,000 (5,000) or every 3 months | 5,000 -7,000 (8,000-11,000) | Oil replacement + oil additive (Liqui moly) | 90+ 30 |
| 30,000 (45,000) | 50,000 (80,000) | Transmission oil replacement | 180 |
| 30,000 (45,000) | 100,000 (160,000) | Spark plugs or every 5 years. | 270 (130) |
| 40,000 (64,000) | 150,000 (240,000) | Sway bar links and arms (upper & lower arm and links) | Front 1,200 (500) Rear – 1,500 (950) |
| 70,000 (115,000) | 100,000 (160,000) | Serpentine belts (accessories belt) | 150 |
| 70,000 (115,000) After initial fill replacement 30,000 (45,000) | 100,000 (160,000) After initial fill replacement 50,000 (90,000) | Radiator coolant replacement | 170 (120) |
| 70,000 (115,000) | 100,000 (160,000) | Water pump replacement | 230 (117) |
| 70,000 (115,000) | 100,000 (160,000) | Struts & springs | 1,900 |
| 100,000 (160,000) | 100,000 (160,000) | Timing belt | ~ 2000 (1,300) |
| 100,000 (160,000) | 200,000 (320,000) | Hoses | |
| Brake fluid flushing every year. | Every three years | Brake fluid | 80 |
| Wear dependent Every three years | Wear dependent or every 5 years | Tires replacement | 1,900 |
| Every 18-24 months | Every 4-5 years | Car Battery | 162 (36) |
To take Nissan Patrol Y62 to 70,000 miles (115,000km) or 10 years in the desert environment it will take at least:
Oil changes: 2,760
Transmission oil : 540
Spark plugs: 810
Sway bars links and arms – 2,700
Suspension – 1,900
Serpentine belt – 150
Radiator coolant – 170
Water pump – 230
Brake fluids flushing – 800
Tires – 5,700
Car batteries – 810
Total: 19,270 USD
My actual expenses for Nissan Patrol Y62 are: 23,400 USD. One can argue that this should be sufficient to run the car until 2028 since the tires, suspension, links (except front). I sincerely hope so!
Nissan Patrol Y62 looks like a brut but it has weak knees – lower and upper arms and links need to be replaced every 60,000 km and this is on the road driving, going over speed bumps at 20 km/hr. I have already replaced them twice, mainly due to the cracked bushings. Suspension had to be replaced as the car was really sagging at the turns badly. All this with the very light load and towing.
Part of the expenses is due to the car age (10 years), at the same age and expenses I could have driven 60,000 miles (100,000 km) more.
Next two -three years I have to do timing chain (2,000) and front lower arms links (~1,000 USD) this should take me to 100,000 miles (160,000 km). After that it should be time for a new car, otherwise I need to spend another 30,000 USD for the next 100,000 miles.
However, this year the Patrol had been the money pit:
- There was a congestion on the highway and I managed to stop but was hit by uninsured driver (in Kuwait its not possible to get comprehensive insurance for car older than 7 years). I had to replace rear bumper, trunk lid, left light, front fog light, front grill, front left light, radiator support. Al together it cost me 6,700 USD.
- New suspension (I went for Ironman foam cell pro & springs) – 1,900 USD + Pirelli all terrain plus tyres (all five) – 1,600 USD
- Water pump, rear axle boots, parking cable and shoe, spark plugs, rear lowers arsm and links, rear seat rubber, etc – 4,700 USD.
All together last 12 months I spent: 16,500 USD on the car (routine maintenance added up) while only drove 12,000 km (7,500 miles). If you think that new car costs 70,000 USD + 23,000 USD on maintenance + 12,000 USD on the car care it results that one kilometer cost one dollar.
After watching Scotty Kilmer every three to four months I was covering inner and outer boot with AT-205, silicon, Honda “Shin Etsu” – but to no avail. Still had to replace front and back and those are really labor-intensive jobs.
There is significant element of the desert conditions – frequent tires replacement, batteries, etc but almost no rust.
I was disappointed with official Nissan service for two reasons:
- Their stated that Pirelli all terrain plus tyres are detrimental to Nissan Patrol Y62 suspension. I raised this question to Pirelli and awaiting their response.
- Refused to service front and rear arms and links, as I installed after -market struts and springs. I had to escalate this to regional office before car got serviced again.
I am planning a road trip in the coming days, which will take me to three different countries, about 3,000 miles (5,000 km) and as high as 10,000 feet elevation (3,000 meters). Hopefully all those extra will lead to an enjoyable trip without any breakdowns.