Specs, fluids & service · 1987–1997

Nissan Patrol Y60 (GQ) specs, fluids and service intervals

The numbers you need in the garage, on one page: spec sheet, capacities and service intervals, wheels and tires, and the parts to order. Sourced from owners, specialists and the factory; tags marked confirm in manual haven't been checked against a factory source yet.

Read the full guide

Spec sheet

CHASSIS	Y60 (GQ in Australia; GR in Europe)
PRODUCTION	1987–1997 (Safari, Japan) · Barcelona, Spain 1988–1998
ALSO SOLD AS	Nissan Safari (Japan) · Ford Maverick (Australia, 1988–1994)
BODY	3- and 5-door wagon, high roof, ute, cab-chassis
WHEELBASE	SWB 2,400 mm (94.5 in) · LWB 2,970 mm (116.9 in)
LENGTH	SWB 4,340 mm · LWB 4,810 mm
SUSPENSION	Coil-sprung live axles: 3-link front, 5-link rear
TRANSFER CASE	Two-speed, part-time 4WD
ENGINES	TD42 · TD42T (Japan) · TB42S/E · RD28T · RB30S
GEARBOXES	FS5R50A 5-speed manual · RE4R03A 4-speed auto
DIFFS	Rear LSD on most; H233 rear (H260 leaf cab-chassis)
FUEL TANK	100 L main (optional 100 L second tank on utes)

By year

YEARS	PLATFORM	ENGINE	OUTPUT	NOTES
1987–1997	Y60 (GQ) · TD42	4.2 L OHV diesel I6	85 kW / 264 Nm	The legend. Silvertop until August 1993, then the lighter 'Blacktop'. Manual-only in Australia, per CarsGuide.
1987–1992	Y60 (GQ) · TB42S	4.2 L OHV petrol I6, carburettor	125 kW / 325 Nm	Torquey and thirsty. Watch for cracked heads, especially on LPG.
1992–1997	Y60 (GQ Series 2) · TB42E	4.2 L OHV petrol I6, EFI	135 kW / 320 Nm (Wikipedia; CarsGuide quotes 129 kW for Australia)	Fuel injection arrived with the 1992 Series 2, along with bigger brakes and standard LSD and auto hubs.
c. 1990–1997	Y60 (GQ) · RB30S	3.0 L SOHC petrol I6	100 kW / 224 Nm	Five-speed manual only. The budget engine; 4X4 Australia dates its local arrival to 1990.
1992 or 1995–1997 (Australia; sources differ)	Y60 (GQ) · RD28T	2.8 L SOHC turbo-diesel I6	92 kW / 255 Nm (Wikipedia; 85 kW / 235 Nm in Australia per 4X4 Australia)	Five-speed manual only. CarsGuide dates it to the 1992 update; 4X4 Australia says 1995. Belt-driven cam, so it needs timing-belt services. Head gaskets suffer if it's thrashed.
Early 1990s–1997 (Japan)	Safari (Y60) · TD42T	4.2 L turbo-diesel I6	—	Japan's Safari replaced the TD42 with the turbocharged TD42T. Wikipedia's Patrol article says 1991, its TD-engine article says 1993. Many have since been imported to the US under the 25-year rule.
1988–1994	Ford Maverick (Australia)	4.2 L petrol or diesel I6	As Patrol	A Button-plan rebadge in base, XL and XLT trims. Mechanically a GQ.

Fluids, capacities & service intervals

Assume nothing has been done unless there are receipts. On a GQ, the jobs that matter most are the cooling system, TD42 tappets, a timing belt on RD28T and RB30 engines, gear oils (with LSD oil in the rear), and the front swivels, which run in grease and quietly fill with diff oil when the inner seals fail. Capacities below are owner-reported figures from forum threads (grades quoted from Gregory's), so confirm them in a workshop manual for your engine.

ITEM	SPEC / CAPACITY	INTERVAL	NOTES & PARTS
Engine oil & filter(s)	4.2 six: ≈8.2 L (one 1990 GQ DX owner's fill; engine type not stated). Grades quoted range from Gregory's 20W-40 to 15W-40 diesel oil confirm in manual	Change now, then at short intervals for an old diesel confirm in manual	The TD42 uses two spin-on filters. HD Automotive's listing for the Ryco Z115 says two are required. TB42, RD28 and RB30 each take their own filter.Genuine Nissan oil filter, TD42 (GQ/GU/Maverick) · Patrolapart ↗Ryco Z115 oil filter, GQ TD42 (two required) · HD Automotive ↗Genuine Nissan oil filter, GQ TB42 · Patrolapart ↗Genuine Nissan oil filter, GQ/GU RD28 · Patrolapart ↗
Air filter	Engine-specific element: oval for TB42 (and GU TD42 NA), cylindrical for RD28, separate EFI element for TB42E	Inspect every service; replace when dirty, sooner on dusty roads	Check the airbox seals and the snorkel joints too. A dusty diesel intake is how TD42s die young.Genuine Nissan oval air filter, GQ TB42 / GU TD42 NA · Patrolapart ↗Genuine Nissan cylindrical air filter, GQ RD28 · Patrolapart ↗Genuine Nissan air filter, GQ TB42E EFI · Patrolapart ↗
Fuel filter	Diesel: engine-bay filter on the driver's side (TD42/RD28). EFI petrol: in-line filter under the bonnet	Replace now confirm interval in manual	Imported trucks may have sat for years. Drain water from the diesel filter and bleed the system afterward.Genuine Nissan fuel filter, GQ/GU TD42 / RD28 diesel · Patrolapart ↗Genuine Nissan fuel filter, GQ TB42E / GU TB48 · Patrolapart ↗
Valve clearances (TD42 tappets)	One forum member sets 0.35 mm at ambient temperature confirm intake/exhaust in manual	A forum member suggests about every 20,000 km	TDC on cylinder 1: adjust valves 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9. TDC on cylinder 6: adjust 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12. Fit a new rocker-cover gasket.Rocker cover gasket kit, TD42 · Patrolapart ↗
Glow plugs (diesel) / spark plugs (petrol)	TD42: genuine single-pole glow plugs. RD28: its own plugs. TB42: genuine plug set	Test glow plugs now; replace spark plugs now on petrol trucks	A slow cold start on a diesel is usually glow plugs or the glow-plug relay before it's anything worse.Genuine glow plug, TD42/TD42T/TD42Ti · Patrolapart ↗Genuine Nissan spark plug set, TB42/TB45 · Patrolapart ↗
Timing belt (RD28T and RB30 only)	Belt, tensioner and idler kit; TD42 and TB42 have gear-driven cams and no belt	Now if there are no receipts; ExplorOz owners report about 100,000 km confirm in manual	Replace the crank and cam seals while you're in there, and consider a new balancer bolt.Timing belt kit, RD28 · Patrolapart ↗Timing belt kit, RB30 · Patrolapart ↗
Coolant, thermostat, hoses & belts	TD42 thermostat: genuine 76°C, part 21200-58G04 · coolant type confirm in manual	Flush and refill now; hoses if they're original or soft	Overheating is the GQ's signature failure, and on automatics the transmission cooler is inside the radiator. Pressure-test the system and check the fan clutch.Genuine TD42 76° thermostat 21200-58G04 · HD Automotive ↗Gates radiator hose set, GQ TD42 · HD Automotive ↗Gates fan belt kit, GQ TD42 with A/C · HD Automotive ↗
Manual gearbox	75W-90 GL-4 · ≈3.9 L (Gregory's, quoted by owners)	Change now	Owners describe the big gearbox behind the 4.2-litre engines as very strong; listen for whine and check the shifter boot for splits that let in water.Genuine Nissan diff/gearbox/transfer fill plug, GQ/GU · Patrolapart ↗
Automatic transmission (RE4R03A)	ATF per manual confirm in manual	Drain-and-fill now if there's no record	Rebuilds reportedly cost around A$3,000. Fix any cooling problems first, because the trans cooler is inside the radiator, and check the cooler lines for leaks.
Transfer case	75W-90 GL-4 · ≈2.0–2.2 L (owner figures)	Change now	The front diff, gearbox and transfer case share one breather in the passenger guard. Make sure it isn't blocked.4-point diff/transmission breather kit, GQ/GU · Patrolapart ↗
Front differential	80W-90 GL-5 (Gregory's) · ≈5–5.4 L (owner figures)	Change now, and after deep water crossings	If the front diff has been losing oil, check the swivels: a failed inner axle seal pushes diff oil into the grease-filled swivel hub.
Rear differential (LSD)	LSD-rated gear oil; owners use 85W-140 LS · ≈2.5–3.0 L	Change now	Most GQs have a rear LSD. Use limited-slip oil or add a friction modifier if it chatters in corners. The stock rear breather vents near the fuel tank, so extend it.Diff centre gasket, H233 (GQ/GU) · Patrolapart ↗
Swivel hubs & front wheel bearings	Grease-lubricated CV and swivel bearings; kingpin preload set with shims	Inspect now; repack and reseal if there's any oil or play	Repack the wheel bearings with high-temperature grease. Greasy gunk on the swivel balls usually means a leaking inner axle seal, not a swivel seal.Swivel hub wiper seal kit, GQ Y60 · Patrolapart ↗Ultima front wheel bearing kit, GQ · HD Automotive ↗
Brake fluid, pads & hoses	Fluid type per the cap/manual confirm in manual; twin-piston front calipers on EFI TB42E trucks, single-piston on non-EFI ones (per Patrolapart pad listings)	Flush now	If the truck has been lifted, check that the brake lines were lengthened and the rear proportioning valve was adjusted.Genuine Nissan rear brake pads, GQ · Patrolapart ↗Bendix front pads, GQ twin-piston (DB1257) · HD Automotive ↗

Capability

Towing	2,800 kg (6,173 lb) braked / 750 kg (1,653 lb) unbraked 1997 Australian ST, 4.2 L petrol manual
Fuel tank	95 L (25.1 US gal) 1997 ST per CarExpert. Wikipedia gives 100 L for wagons, plus an optional 100 L second tank on the utility.
Curb weight	2,100 kg (4,630 lb) 1997 ST. A 1991 Japanese Granroad is 2,110 kg.
Turning circle	13.4 m (44 ft) kerb to kerb, 1997 ST
Wheelbase	2,400 mm (94.5 in) SWB / 2,970 mm (116.9 in) LWB

Wheels & tires

Factory tire	265/70R16 on 16x8 alloy (1997 Australian ST) · 31x10.50R15 (Japanese Safari Granroad, 1991) · 215/80R16 or 6.50R16LT on 16x6 steel (base and work models)
Bolt pattern	6x139.7 (6x5.5")
Center bore	110.1 mm
Lug thread	M12x1.25
Biggest tire · 2 in	33x12.50R15 or 285/75R16

Open the Nissan Patrol Y60 (GQ) in the tire fitment tool →

Common Nissan Patrol Y60 (GQ) repairs

Always confirm torque figures, fluids and capacities against the factory service manual for your VIN. See the disclaimer; some parts links are affiliate links.