Overheat coolant - SD25 D21 1987 Nissan

#121

I would try and find another shop to give you a comparable estimate for the work that the other shop performed. That will at least get you some idea of whether they're in the ballpark.

I would agree with Al, it seems very fishy that they only ground the three valves/seats, and the cost associated seems very high. For what they charged it seems you could have had completely new valves and seats installed, on all four cylinders.

Anyway, I would have liked to see the head before you installed it, but if you forgot to install something you will have to pull it again and get another head gasket.

steve a

#122

That does sound very strange. If they were doing a valve job they should have worked all of the valves and seats, then notfied you if any didn't 'grind' to spec - giving you the option to have them replaced for extra $$$.

We encounter quite a few 'oval' valves and seats, but most will grind to spec (we are the only shop in denver that grinds our own valves). Only if the valve is bent or otherwise damaged do we have to replace. Your description would give me cause for concern.

A believeable invoice should read valve seat grind x 8 and valve grind x 8 to start. Then replace any seats or valves that need it at your discretion.

Very fishy...

#123

get another head gasket.

youre kidding, right? just torquing it down once, without turning over the motor.. new head gasket? i already broke the bank on this, and have waited and waited.....

I would try and find another shop to give you a comparable estimate for the work that the other shop performed. That will at least get you some idea of whether they're in the ballpark.

there are no other shops where i live... its pretty sparse here. but i can call a shop in another town for a comparison

#124

after oil wrote:
get another head gasket.
youre kidding, right? just torquing it down once, without turning over the motor.. new head gasket? i already broke the bank on this, and have waited and waited.....

If you tightened to spec it doesn't matter whether you turned it over or not, you cannot use it again. I'm not sure about the head bolts for the SD, some manufacturers allow you to reuse head bolts a certain number of times, some don't.

after oil wrote:
I would try and find another shop to give you a comparable estimate for the work that the other shop performed. That will at least get you some idea of whether they're in the ballpark.
there are no other shops where i live... its pretty sparse here. but i can call a shop in another town for a comparison

At least you'll get some idea of what the costs should be for your market. Did they tell you what the costs for the valve work would be when you dropped it off? It just seems awfully high.

steve a

#125

Did they tell you what the costs for the valve work would be when you dropped it off? It just seems awfully high.

i asked them were they gonna re-seal the valves... they said sure. they never said that there was a cost seperate from resurfacing. i assumed that $60 was the cost for all the work on the head. they knew i had never pulled a head before

#126

the head gasket mistake, we call education tax in the shop,.....cheap if you compare what the bill would be in a shop, to date.

but i feel for ya, these trucks can be frusterating.

#127

glenlloyd wrote:If you tightened to spec it doesn't matter whether you turned it over or not, you cannot use it again.

That's what the "book" says, but in dire straits one can try to reuse the old head gasket. I did it succesfully on my diesel Ford Escort. I had an emergency and there was no head gasket available on the islands, but the car had to drive the next day. I got a Copper Spray-A-Gasket from Napa, put a couple of layers on both sides of the old gasket and reinstalled it. This was a year ago, and the car is still driving fine without any loss of power or leaks. I am sure this is more of an exception than the rule, and I don't know how long it's going to last and I don't recommend it but as a last resort.

#128

Zoltan wrote:I am sure this is more of an exception than the rule, and I don't know how long it's going to last and I don't recommend it but as a last resort.

It's not good shop practice, because of the high failure rate -- warranty repair costs $$$ to a shop. But sometimes you do what you have to.

#129

Zoltan wrote:
glenlloyd wrote:If you tightened to spec it doesn't matter whether you turned it over or not, you cannot use it again.
That's what the "book" says, but in dire straits one can try to reuse the old head gasket. I did it succesfully on my diesel Ford Escort. I had an emergency and there was no head gasket available on the islands, but the car had to drive the next day. I got a Copper Spray-A-Gasket from Napa, put a couple of layers on both sides of the old gasket and reinstalled it. This was a year ago, and the car is still driving fine without any loss of power or leaks. I am sure this is more of an exception than the rule, and I don't know how long it's going to last and I don't recommend it but as a last resort.

A compressed gasket is still an expended gasket. If I had no other option I would consider the spray alternative, but one of my goals is to NOT have to go back in to do repeat work, and a job not done right is a job that likely will have to be done again. A head gasket replacement on the same engine is not something I like to think about doing twice!

Perhaps the head gasket can be purchased alone without the balance of the items I assume he got in the set. If that were the case it might be less costly. Again I don't know if head bolts can be reused in the case of the SD.

Also...once the head was resurfaced I assume that the piston-out-of-deck height was checked so the appropriate head gasket was purchased?

steve a

#130

I don't know that the SD engines have service head gaskets, as do the LD engines.

NAPA sells the NGA 3734 for US$50:

They're calling it a "steel" gasket, not a composition gasket. They list only the one, unlike the three different thicknesses that the LD requires. It's an agricultural engine

I think I'd try to reuse a non-composition gasket that hadn't been fired.

#131

A compressed gasket is still an expended gasket.

I don't know how long it's going to last

you cannot use it again.

the very best thing i have heard in a long time, i heard here on this dear website "theres never enough time to do it right, but there is always enough time to do it again"

i shall try to learn that. however:

I think I'd try to reuse a non-composition gasket that hadn't been fired.

that's what i got, steel.
so far the shop hasnt found just a head gasket, only a set. i still have time to back out of getting a new gasket and just carrying on.

your thoughts?

btw

Also...once the head was resurfaced I assume that the piston-out-of-deck height was checked so the appropriate head gasket was purchased?

nope

#132

my local napa could not find a gasket with that number. i dont usually shop there becuase, nice as they are, theyre shop boys and dont know much...

#133

You might email them the URL I gave above (click on the text of NAPA, it takes you to NAPA's online store). It shows as a good number on both the NAPA ProLink site, and the retail site.

Ah, I'll just give it again:

NAPA NGA 3734. The space between "NGA" and "3734" is necessary.

Note that that is an SD22 gasket. I am assuming it's the same as your SD25, but I do not know that to be true.

#134

Note that that is an SD22 gasket. I am assuming it's the same as your SD25, but I do not know that to be true.

ahaa

is item number the same as part number?

it looks the same at first glance, but then i guess they all do. the napa boy couldnt even the sd25 in any of his books.

i hope there will be a huge debate regarding the re-use of a steel head gasket

#135

the crack:

click photo for closeup/. look between the valve seats.

and still no discussion regarding the re-use of steel head gasket?

NissanDiesel Forums

Overheat coolant - SD25 D21 1987 Nissan

Who is online