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SD33T Radiator bubbling - Head Gasket Failed?

Tech Talk for Nissan owners.

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Posts: 81
Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2005 7:00 am
Location: Brisbane

SD33T Radiator bubbling - Head Gasket Failed?

Post by Rosey55 »

Hi Guys,

I fear the worst, I went to check my radiator water yesterday and when I removed the cap a loud sucking sound was heard. Radiator level was low, topped it up and white foam appeared (oil??), running the engine at idle I have bubbles forming and the level drops away every 15secs in a pile of glycol bubbles.

Is this an obvious head gasket failure? Anything else I should check?

Engine has done 250K and has never given me any troubles in the 5yrs I've owned it. It has always run a little on the hot side, I don't recall an occasion when its overheated to the point of boiling radiator.

If it needs doing, is it pretty straight forward job? anyone recommend a place to get gasket and expected price?

Thanks
70 series ute
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Joined: Mon Dec 30, 2002 3:08 pm
Location: Melbourne

Post by jtraf »

I did the head gasket on my MK a few years ago and the VRS kit cost me $300 trade......

If the radiator was low when you opened the cap and the beast has not overheated I would get a coolant system compression test to see if any heater or radiator lines are leaking. The bubbles may be due to the coolant being too low and now it has air in it....If the gasket has failed this will also bring it to your attention as the system will not hold pressure as well.

Things to wary of are

* once you pull the exhaust manifold off they are a bugger to get to seal again as they are a two piece unit....
*carefull pulling the turbo return line off

thats about it.
Posts: 2072
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Location: Hobart

Post by macca81 »

sounds like its a head gasket... poor bugger
[quote="Barnsey"]
Bronwyn Bishop does it for me.[/quote]
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Location: Cedar Grove

Post by rut rat »

Same thing happened in the gq. Noticed it was getting a bit hot and when I checked the water it had that oil film on it. Checked the oil and it was white. Turned out it had 2 minor cracks and 1 major crack in the head. Cost me $1300 to fix. Thats me taking it off and putting it back on.
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Location: Fairfield,Sydney

Post by pongo »

my SWB used to boil the water out after 3 hrs running flat out on the hway.

Never gave me any trouble, Just used to top it up and have a leak my self.

Radiator was blocked to the hilt. Never had i looked at in the 2 yrs i owned it, but always was wary. Always had heaps of grunt and was run hot a few times, etc


Have it looked at before you strip her down
Posts: 81
Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2005 7:00 am
Location: Brisbane

Post by Rosey55 »

just to close this one out for future people having to replace head gasket on the SD33T, I got quote for VRO (valve regrind??) kit, basically all top end gaskets required including head gasket from;

Repco: $430

a place on Beaudesert Rd (No. 670?) in Brisbane, $207

I wonder which one i'll be getting?
70 series ute
Posts: 3523
Joined: Fri Aug 27, 2004 12:27 am
Location: Fairfield,Sydney

Post by pongo »

Rosey55 wrote:just to close this one out for future people having to replace head gasket on the SD33T, I got quote for VRO (valve regrind??) kit, basically all top end gaskets required including head gasket from;

Repco: $430

a place on Beaudesert Rd (No. 670?) in Brisbane, $207

I wonder which one i'll be getting?
Buy a genuine one, Or at least make sure the 2 after markets are the same brand.

I bought a car that had a fresh rebuilt motor and had head gasket issues, They replaced it twice but then tried a genuine one and prob solved. Motor has run strong for 40k now no probs.


You do get what you pay for sometimes, and i think genuine was about $300
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