Patrol go bang! Problem with new motor

[TOY80ST]

Turns out it was a leaky head gasket in no. 6 pot. Minute amounts of coolant slowly leaking in over some time & turned piston oval shaped. Diagnosis terminal, mechanic looking for reco motor as we speak. Hey Mr. bank manager how the $%&^ are ya, how they hangin'. We need to have a chat. 

Sad news there Noel. Say hi to the bank manager for me. I had the same dealings with him last year.

[Bird]

Damn
http://www.qldmotorrecyclers.com.au/Page/engines



http://www.brisbanemotorimports.com.au/engines/diesel-engines/nissan/rd28
PATROL GQ RD28 ENGINE
Product Code: NIS-ED-RD28
Type: PATROL GQ RD28 ENGINE
Model: Patrol replaces RD28T
CC: 2825cc
Year: 95-97
Description: Nissan Engine
Price: $3,650.00


if your going into debt, take the opportunity but not everyone can...
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Nissan-Patrol-GU-ST-2000-INTERCOOLED-DIESEL-2-8-ltr-manual-/270835144431?pt=AU_Cars&hash=item3f0f0856ef

[noel_w]

Damn

Thanks Lost
I'm staying clear of 2nd hand imports, there seems to be (excuse the pun) a flood of them since the Tsunami and there doesn't seem to be much price difference anyway between them and a reco. That BMI link you supplied, I have already quizzed them, it's a non turbo engine & a fair bit of difference apparently to update to turbo which defeats the purpose. I'd hate to drive a normally aspirated 2.8 GQ, the turbo one is slow enough. They have my motor RD28TD for $5500 http://www.brisbanemotorimports.com.au/engines/diesel-engines/nissan/rd28-t which is the same price for a reco motor. Why buy a 2nd hand motor, history unknown, for the same price as a reco. Thanks for lookin for me though. My browser history will probably fill my hdd soon after this little effort.
A GU would be nice but if I do that it would have to be a 4.2D.

[Bird]

Why buy a 2nd hand motor, history unknown, for the same price as a reco.

couldnt agree more.

A GU would be nice but if I do that it would have to be a 4.2D.

couldnt agree more... or a duramax

[Barry G]

Reminds me of listening to two blokes chatting at Harry's Hut about how good the track in was for their new 4WDs.  We were walking on the same track and they were bragging away until they rounded the corner and saw our stock EL Falcon wagon parked next to their new 4wds.  Sometimes it best not to say anything.

Remember having this EXACT effect on a bloke heading down to Talbotville from Grant over 21 years ago, as me anb my BIL were heading back from Talbotville in my beat up 1967 VW Beetle!  Still can ROFL thinking about it.  HA!

[noel_w]

OK guys, an update.
Mechanic has sourced a reco motor in Mexico City, apperently they are a sought after item - have no idea why . Can't get it up to God's Own Country till Thursday next week as apparently there is a half-assed donkey race down there soon. One day Public Holiday & the place shuts for a week go figure.

Another few days after that & it should be fitted. Can't wait to have my baby back again.

[Bird]

Mechanic has sourced a reco motor in Mexico City, apperently they are a sought after item

is that sarcasm?

Good to see it wont be off road for too long

[noel_w]

is that sarcasm?

Glad you recognised it!!!

[Bird]

Glad you recognised it!!!

I missed this

[Mallory Black]

Hi mate
interesting that it's No 6.
I'm not sure with the diesels but in the 1980's I made a lot of money on 4 & 6 cyl nissans (the SOHC L6 & L4 motors) doing their head gaskets at around 60-80k
cause of the problem?   dealers were not re-tensioning the head at the 1st service. over time that small coolant leak ate the gasket and surrounding metal.

Has a bit to do with how the coolant circulates and where the hottest parts of the motor are

[noel_w]

over time that small coolant leak ate the gasket and surrounding metal

Sounds like the exact same problem.

[TheOtherLeft]

Sounds like the exact same problem.

How does coolant eat the gasket and surrounding metal? Is coolant slightly corrosive???

[noel_w]

Probably a case of dissimilar metals (alloy head and cast iron block? & head gasket ) and the coolant is acting as a conduit for electolysis. My guess, a question for the scientists out there.

[singo-26]

It would be a lack of coolant causing corrosion. Coolant is generally a corrosion inhibitor.

[Mallory Black]

Guys..
what I meant was, coolant is fine when it's just coolant, but where there's a head gasket leak that is where contaminants gets mixed in - anything such as combustion blow by, oils etc. This causes an acidic reaction between that, the coolant and the alloy and the gasket starts to disappear and the cylinder head metal becomes pitted (which is my old school expression of the leak eating the head), it just gets down hill & worse.

Even some coolants don't mix eg: Toyota (red) coolant and regular (green) coolant together becomes mega corosive, that can wreck a head gasket or radiator and worse.

I don't know if it's a known problem with the 2.8 but cars that have a known head tension problem like the older dattos and later Saab Turbos (same boat) it pays to check the tension of the head bolts at major services.
Re-tensioning head bolts is only a no-no with engines that have the head bolt threads that go all the way into the water jackets, old holden red & blue motors, stuff from that vintage.


off topic - Even had a later engine, commodore ecotec V6 that had to have stud sealant on the water pump bolts, next time you look at a commi V6 that's had a new water pump and often you will see a little stain coming out between one of the bolts and the pump body. Yep you get inside one of those and it's very old school, even the bolts are UNC not metric.

[Mallory Black]

example of what I meant about the commodore water pump. just for any one interested
hey Noel, be sure to plonk in a new thermostat, and water pump and maybe new silicone in the fan hub. Oh and don't forget flush the old coolant out of the heater core

[singo-26]

Mallory i dont want to pick what you said, But from experience no coolants mix. It cost me a head in my patrol ZD30. A mechanic replaced the radiator, Drained my coolant (Castrol), Refilled the new radiator with my coolant then topped it up with whatever they had.Within 2000 klms the radiator was 70% blocked and the car was overheating under load. Their first response was that it was probably a fuel problem and needs the pump rebuilt at a cost of about $3k, Then they ran like hell when I turned up with the cracked head. The reaction caused a chalky residue, Of which I have a sample here somewhere.

[Mallory Black]

some coolants can mix but yes it's a lottery. Some coolants should only be used for a specific engine type because it's been formulated to protect the metals that you find in that engine
My radiator guy has an inhibitor that neutralises incompatible coolants but it's just an inhibitor, it has no anti-freeze characteristics
anyway, back to the GU
so how goes it Noel?

[noel_w]

Waiting on delivery of the replacement reco motor. Decided to bite the bullet and keep the old girl as there isn't much around to replace it that doesn't cost a bomb. Might be slow & noisy but I like her.
Looks like it might be a couple of weeks before I get her back, until then I have to crawl down into the Falcon - not good for the old knees & back.

[noel_w]

New motor arrived at the mechanics today, saw it in the flesh this morning.
Can't wait to get the old girl going again.

[jnik]

New motor arrived at the mechanics today, saw it in the flesh this morning.
Can't wait to get the old girl going again.

After past experience, that's the way I would have gone too.

In Canada we had a VW camper that had engine trouble - I took it to the local (recommended, non-dealer, German) VW mechanic and asked him to source a reco for it ... "Nah! I'll pull it apart and just get the bits you need" ... bill at the end (months later): C$3,500 (decent recos were available for around US$1,200 at the time).

[fishfinder]

Being in the engine rebuilding game for many years make sure you get the fuel system and cooling system serviced with documented proof it was done as well as looking at replacing clutch / or transmission service as if any problems you will find there will be warranty void if not done.

[Mallory Black]

ditto that

[noel_w]

Thanks guys
I'll bring that up with the mechanic. He has already mentioned he has to do certain things to validate the warranty.
The Fuel pump was reconditioned about 10K ago, new clutch about 5K ago so guessing they will be OK if I show him receipts etc.

[noel_w]

OK, got the old girl back again today. First impression is there isn't the grunt the old one had. Still running in though so I guess wait & see. It's a hell of a lot quieter though which is a gain I guess. Sure is nice to be able to see the road again after driving a foulcan for a couple of weeks.