Head Cracked already

[JPBM]

Hello folks,

Last year, I was tossing up between a Defender and a Patrol. After heavy researching, I made my mind that Patrols are much more reliable for Aussie land.

So I went to a car shop in Adelaide Hills and I got a Nissan Patrol GU IV 2006 from NT fleet (107 kms). I always admired the Patrols anyway, read a lot about them and was really happy and confident to get a second hand one till the notorius issue happened with me a week ago.

The rig was getting warmer and warmer every time I went for a drive so decided to go to the local mechanic for a quick check- up. And yes bang! the Head is cracked and I got a bill of $2500 for it. I have to say I got really disappointed with it considering the low ks and supposedly very good service of Gov cars.

My question is: After the new Head replacement, Can I be confident to go around Australia on it without problems? or time for an update already?

Someone please cheer me up!

Thanks all,
JP

[the evil twin]

Gov Fleet doesn't mean anything these days.

Dunno if it will cheer you up or not but we (a Gov't Dept that shall remain nameless) get our vehicles serviced at Automasters and in the last 12 months have blown up 2 Rangers and a Navara.
Depending on the use the vehicles get replaced between 80 K's or 4 years.
To me that means the ones that haven't blown up before they reach end of lease are about to do so.

[dom14]

Gov Fleet doesn't mean anything these days.

Dunno if it will cheer you up or not but we (a Gov't Dept that shall remain nameless) get our vehicles serviced at Automasters and in the last 12 months have blown up 2 Rangers and a Navara.
Depending on the use the vehicles get replaced between 80 K's or 4 years.
To me that means the ones that haven't blown up before they reach end of lease are about to do so.

That sounds pretty bad. The engine's top end is done before 100k?
Rangers and Navaras are that bad or they are driven too hard?

[dom14]

Hello folks,

Last year, I was tossing up between a Defender and a Patrol. After heavy researching, I made my mind that Patrols are much more reliable for Aussie land.

So I went to a car shop in Adelaide Hills and I got a Nissan Patrol GU IV 2006 from NT fleet (107 kms). I always admired the Patrols anyway, read a lot about them and was really happy and confident to get a second hand one till the notorius issue happened with me a week ago.

The rig was getting warmer and warmer every time I went for a drive so decided to go to the local mechanic for a quick check- up. And yes bang! the Head is cracked and I got a bill of $2500 for it. I have to say I got really disappointed with it considering the low ks and supposedly very good service of Gov cars.

My question is: After the new Head replacement, Can I be confident to go around Australia on it without problems? or time for an update already?

Someone please cheer me up!

Thanks all,
JP

Turbo diesel?
No warranty?

Your question can't be answered without a crystal ball. :)
Head going back on 100k odometer is not good news in my book, but I dunno whether it's normal for that cylinder head.

Do not drive if water is leaking into the combustion chambers.

[the evil twin]

That sounds pretty bad. The engine's top end is done before 100k?
Rangers and Navaras are that bad or they are driven too hard?

Gov't Fleet vehicles were once over-serviced now I would suggest the opposite.
3rd Party Servicing entities don't get the Manuf service campaigns or tech advisorys the Dealers do and they also only do Log Book IE they don't look at things that the Dealer service guys get a 'feel' may need inspection.
I'll admit some dealers are rubbish as well tho.

One of the Rangers was cooked when a coolant hose that was being inspected/replaced by Dealers due to chafing let go, the other failed due to suspected oil pressure issues.
The Navara either cracked the head or blew the head gasket and ran out of coolant

[JPBM]

Hey Dom14,

Turbo Diesel 3.0 Tdi. The car Yard gave 3 months warranty. Apparently is normal this issue in Patrols.

Thanks for replying my post.

Cheers,
JP

[dom14]

Hey Dom14,

Turbo Diesel 3.0 Tdi. The car Yard gave 3 months warranty. Apparently is normal this issue in Patrols.

Thanks for replying my post.

Cheers,
JP

Obviously the head let go after three months?

Cylinder head jobs aren't rocket science, but may be time consuming for a first time doer.

If yours only have blown head gasket, then the cylinder head job is lot cheaper.
Yeah, the mechanics charge around $2500 'cos of the labour involved.

You simply gonna have to get it done & hope for the better.

Ask the mechanic the reason for head gasket/head failure, 'cos it can be some other issue in
the cooling system, like radiator, cooling hose, water pump, etc etc.
Fixing the head and head gasket won't fix the issue in such cases.

[mudski]

Hey Dom14,

Turbo Diesel 3.0 Tdi. The car Yard gave 3 months warranty. Apparently is normal this issue in Patrols.

Thanks for replying my post.

Cheers,
JP

While its not unheard of, I would definitely NOT say its normal. Even the well known "grenade" issues I would say its not normal. But the issue still does exist.

[happygu]

Be thankful that the bill was that cheap for a head replacement .... I have heard much higher prices

[dom14]

Be thankful that the bill was that cheap for a head replacement .... I have heard much higher prices

Not sure how $2500 job can be cheap. It's a fair price. The head should be around $1000 for an exchange one, and the rest it labour.

[JPBM]

in fact, it was $1900 brand new head + $600 labour.

[dom14]

in fact, it was $1900 brand new head + $600 labour.

Yeah, I've heard that for these engines a brand new head is preferred over rebuilt ones.
Something about reconditioned head failure rate being high, but I don't know the truth behind it.

I would say the mechanic's getting the brand new head lot cheaper than $1900.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Nissan-ZD30-ZD30T-COMMON-RAIL-Patrol-Navara-complete-cylinder-head/112366767052?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%2 6asc%3D20140106155344%26meid%3Df1a896cdaf95418e8dc 6e141a99244d7%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26 sd%3D322579212502

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Nissan-ZD30DDTI-CRD-3-0Ltr-Turbo-Diesel-Cylinder-Head-see-notes-/191601038049?hash=item2c9c4fd2e1:g:c2YAAOSwl8NVe3c f

You're not likely to see the real invoice from the cylinder head supplier.