MajorCommonEngine

Nissan Patrol: ZD30DDTi turbo oil feed banjo bolt blockage causing turbo failure

ZD30DDTi turbo oil feed banjo bolt blockage causing turbo failure is a common engine fault on the Nissan Patrol on the 1997–2013 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $1,800 to $4,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 48 documented faults on the Nissan Patrol.

Vehicle: Nissan Patrol
Engine: ZD30-DDTI
Years: 1997–2013
Fuel: diesel
System: Engine

This page covers the Nissan Patrol as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Nissan Patrol faults48 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Turbocharger yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The turbocharger oil feed banjo bolt on the ZD30 engine has a small internal mesh filter that blocks with carbon sludge if oil changes are infrequent. Blockage restricts oil flow to the turbo centre bearing, causing premature bearing failure. Symptoms include shaft play, compressor wheel contact with housing, and blue smoke from the exhaust. Turbo replacement is required and the root cause (banjo bolt blockage) must be cleared or the new turbo fails in the same way. Widely documented AU/NZ issue alongside the broader ZD30 oil maintenance concern.

What you would notice

Blue smoke from exhaust under acceleration or deceleration
Whining or grinding noise from turbo at boost
Loss of boost pressure and reduced power
Excessive shaft play felt by wiggling the compressor wheel by hand
Oil in the intercooler or boost pipes

How to check it

Where to look. Top of engine — turbocharger oil feed banjo bolt and turbocharger centre bearing

Check for oily residue inside the intake hose and intercooler.
Ask about oil change frequency.
Inspect the turbo oil feed line banjo bolt for any restriction or sludge.
Check for blue smoke on a hard throttle blip.
If a workshop inspection is possible: Remove the turbo inlet hose and wiggle the compressor wheel — any radial play indicates bearing wear.

Parts involved: Turbocharger.

What it costs to put right

$1,800 to $4,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“What oil change interval was used — every how many kilometres?”
“Has the turbo ever been replaced or rebuilt?”
“Has the turbo oil feed banjo bolt ever been cleaned or replaced?”
“Any blue smoke or loss of boost noticed?”

Now check the Nissan Patrol you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Nissan Patrol buyer questions

Is zd30ddti turbo oil feed banjo bolt blockage causing turbo failure serious on a Nissan Patrol?

We rate it major and common on the Nissan Patrol. The turbocharger oil feed banjo bolt on the ZD30 engine has a small internal mesh filter that blocks with carbon sludge if oil changes are infrequent. Blockage restricts oil flow to the turbo centre bearing, causing premature bearing failure. Symptoms include shaft play, compressor wheel contact with housing, and blue smoke from the exhaust. Turbo replacement is required and the root cause (banjo bolt blockage) must be cleared or the new turbo fails in the same way. Widely documented AU/NZ issue alongside the broader ZD30 oil maintenance concern.

How much does it cost to fix on a Nissan Patrol?

$1,800 to $4,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Nissan Patrol years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 1997–2013 Nissan Patrol. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Check for oily residue inside the intake hose and intercooler. Ask about oil change frequency. Inspect the turbo oil feed line banjo bolt for any restriction or sludge. Check for blue smoke on a hard throttle blip. If a workshop inspection is possible: Remove the turbo inlet hose and wiggle the compressor wheel — any radial play indicates bearing wear. Look here: Top of engine — turbocharger oil feed banjo bolt and turbocharger centre bearing