GQ_TUFF posted:

That is the plan, was just wondering what other people have experienced in this situation.

Cheers Stefan

GQ_TUFF posted:

cheers for the advive Eric, new radiator 3 weeks ago, new coolant as well, so thats why I am thinking the big one...will get it checked ASAP

GQ_TUFF posted:

G'day Andrew,
Was just having another look at the car and giving it a rev ect no bubbles.
But have being loosing coolant at about 1-2 lt every 200-300kms and its going out the overflow .....but I must add only at 100km/h plus speeds. Never around town so thats what has me puzzled. If there was cracked head or gasket surley it would be pressurising the coolant at all speeds???? Or maybe because the revs are higher for longer at those speeds thats why it does it. It just seems that these newer cars are crap.....I read all about others problems and my own and wonder sometimes, never had radiators and possible heads go on my older cars at 130000km. Should just be run in I reckon.

Cheers Stefan

GQ_TUFF posted:

sorry forgot to add.....you say very little coolant loss after chemi weld........are you talking in liters or 100's of ml.

Member - andrew B (Kununurra) posted:

Yep, I'm in exactly the same boat at the moment, ....just read your other follow up. It was a bit wierd, I have had a cracked head before, and also a head gasket on a seperate occasion. both blew plenty of bubbles. Had the test done and it wasn't co2, still had a few bubbles but there wasn't many, so did the bodgey and put the chemiweld in.

I was putting about 2 litres or so in every 200 k for the last 800k of driving the car back form perth, but some of that may have been due to the loss when I took the cap off. I just drove 200k out to work, and checked the radiator a few days later and it was almost full, checked it a few days later and it was full (very hot day, bit of expansion)

My experiences with the modern engine has really put me off them. The trouble is the rotton things cost so much to replace. I've been looking at 4 options- buy a second hand 4.2 ($17,000- 25,000), convert the 2.8 to 4.2 or 6.5 ($12,000 - 25,000), or Go into hock and trade up to the last of the 4.2's and buy new($45,000).

All options are expensive, and not what I need right now. I don't do a lot of k's, but I could do without being nervous every time I go for a trip into an isolated spot.

At this stage it still runs, and the low coolant alarm works OK, so I might save the pennies for a while and hope it hangs in there. The trouble is, when its going ok, you feel like getting your money's worth out of your last repair, then when something happens it has no resale with engine problems, so you get it fixed.

This is my 3rd (and last!) step in this cycle.........I am hoping it gets along OK and I maybe trade it or evern find a doner vehicle cheap to 4.2 it, or spend the coin and 6.5 it........we shouldn't have to be in this situation with what I would consider fairly young diesels....

to be continued.....

Cheers Andrew

GQ_TUFF posted:

I will get it tested asap and go from there, got the feeling it will be a trade in if its a head issue, will wait and see....would be really handy if the big tree next door fell on it as the NRMA will buy it off me for $24000.....;)!! LOL

Cheers Stefan

Member - Glenn D (NSW) posted:

Hows it going guys ,

When I had a cracked head last year , it was cracked from the water jacket into the inlet runner .

This didnt cause any bubbles in the coolant , cause the area isnt as pressurised compared to the combustion chamber. Just a constant loss of coolant .

Couldnt tell this for sure till I got the head taken off and pressure tested at a head specialist. They would have been able to repair it no worries exept the crack was at a really tight spot , 2 inlet pots do a 180 deg spiral between inlet manifold and combustion chamber , and the crack was right down the back .

Bit of an expensive exercise , bare head fron Nissan cost $1400, but at least I can trust my vehicle again ( as much as you can trust a 3 lt any way )

Glenn.

GQ_TUFF posted:

Cheers for that just had anouther look at different revs and now no bubbles......of to the shop we go I think. No max of the credit card here.....one bottle of chemi weld and a trade in price!!!! ;)

Stefan