Nissan Patrol (EU)

Coolant capacity & service interval

Nissan Patrol (EU) coolant capacity ranges from 10,8 to 12,9 liters. Service intervals occur every 40000 km or 48 months. The data covers 6 configurations.

The configuration chart below lists fill volumes and service intervals for each engine and trim variant.

TypeSpecifications
Patrol R 3.0 2WD, 260 (1990-1991)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 10,8 liter
  • Change 40000 km/ 48 months
Patrol R 3.0 4WD, 260 (1990-1991)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 10,8 liter
  • Change 40000 km/ 48 months
Patrol R 3.3 TD, 160 (1983-1990)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 12,9 liter
  • Change 40000 km/ 48 months
Patrol R 2.8 2WD, 160 (1981-1993)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 10,8 liter
  • Change 40000 km/ 48 months
Patrol R 2.8 4WD, 160 (1981-1993)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 10,8 liter
  • Change 40000 km/ 48 months
Patrol R 3.3 D, 160 (1981-1990)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 12,9 liter
  • Change 40000 km/ 48 months

Additional Notes

  • The Nissan Patrol (EU) R 2.8 petrol variants, both 2WD and 4WD rated at 160 PS, share an identical cooling system capacity of 10.8 liters across the full 1981-1993 model year span.
  • The R 3.0 variants rated at 260 PS, available in both 2WD and 4WD configurations for 1990-1991, also carry a 10.8-liter cooling system capacity, placing them on equal footing with the smaller-displacement 2.8 petrol engines in terms of coolant volume.
  • The diesel variants tell a different story. The R 3.3 D and R 3.3 TD, both rated at 160 PS, require 12.9 liters of coolant, a capacity roughly 19 percent greater than the petrol-engined models. Diesel engines typically generate more heat under load and often feature larger cooling jackets, which accounts for the higher fill volume.
  • The R 3.3 TD turbodiesel, produced from 1983-1990, shares the same 12.9-liter cooling system capacity as the naturally aspirated R 3.3 D from 1981-1990, despite the addition of forced induction. A turbocharger adds heat to the intake charge and exhaust side, yet the cooling system volume remains unchanged between the two diesel variants.
  • All six configurations across the Patrol (EU) R series carry the same coolant change interval under normal use conditions: 40,000 km or 48 months, whichever comes first. The dual-trigger format, combining a distance threshold with a time limit, reflects the degradation of coolant additives over time regardless of mileage accumulated.
  • The 48-month time limit on coolant changes spans four years, which is consistent with conventional silicate-based coolant formulations common to vehicles of the 1980s and early 1990s. Such formulations lose corrosion inhibitor effectiveness within that window even when mileage remains low.
  • The 10.8-liter capacity listed for the petrol models represents a full cooling system service fill, encompassing the engine block, cylinder head passages, radiator, heater core circuit, and expansion reservoir. A figure of this magnitude is typical for a large-displacement inline engine in a body-on-frame utility vehicle of that era.

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