SUCK! My 2001 Nissan frontier died.... headgasket? Gearheads...

You didn't mention whether you topped off the radiator as well as the overflow tank. If the water level is below the coolant temperature sensor, it could skew the readings as well. Also bust out that meat thermometer to verify the temp.

 

kenmeister....

i do have a leakdown set that a buddy dropped off... but its a HF brand... and havent used it yet LOL

 

I was wondering the same. Was the radiator ever filled?

 

I topped off the radiator yesterday, it was low too.... (i obviously didnt pull the cap off after it was hot..and on the side of the road)

 

You don't necessarily need a accurate gauge to see if there is bubbles comming from the radiator. Just do that test first so that you can eliminate that possibility. Start with the major, and work you way down. Let me know if you need anything.

 

just curious, is this one of the supercharged ones?

 

Negative. Naturally Aspirated.

 

Until you fart...... don't forget, methane is a flammable gas!:lol::lol:

 

Check your grounds and the alt plug, You do any off roading or any rough driving? for both gauges to go at the same time that would be my guess check your fuel gauge to if it dropped or is more full then it should be. And a quick easy way to check the thermostat is but your hand on the upper and lower radiator hose if one is cooler its the thermostat. I would also check the fan clutch to if it overheats at low speed to.

 

No real offroading, but occasionally. I will check my grounds and alternator plug.

My first assumption was gauges, but the cottage cheese is tellin me a little moisture was in the oil.

 

Time to start wrenching! It's summer time and you're getting moisture in the oil. Don't wait for the oil to turn to chocolate shake. You could end up with bearing damage then......#-o

 

garr...
A buddy on another car forum said this

yeah... i have beer...err...some tasty non alcoholic beverage for your alchy intolerant self.... come wrench with me.

I can take a friday off, and a monday off and give myself 4 days to do it all.....

 

Crate motor might be faster than the heads, at least you wont have to check for warpage/cracks (heads) or weakness in the (alloy?) block. Bro throw some 20-50 in there and try not to overheat, there is no (lasting) quick fix so you may very well have to commit to spending a few g's or getting something else.

 

Sounds like the same problem the Toyota v-6's were having with the 3VZE....... Gotta flush the system everyonce in a while...... I can probably give you a hand this weekend(actually in town). Do you have any air tools? If not I can bring mine.

Let me know.

 

i should be able to do a leakdown tonight, to confirm what i think.

Ken - no air Have a small compressor, but not big-nuff for air tools. I will keep ya posted.

I gotta see what the parts damage to my wallet is gonna be. Wonder if the head(s) will need any machining.

Thanks guys.

 

You can do it without a valve job, but a re-surfacing will be in order if the plane is not level, a Large T-square will tell you but not before the harness, hoses, and intake are out of the way. What ever you do don't let the stick on the bottom of the distributor that drives the oil pump drop into the pan, but wait this is no F.O.R.D.:lol:

 

If it's leaking, I'll bring the air bottle with me to run the air tools.

If you are pulling the heads, you should have the heads pressure tested and have a valve job done. Dugans enignes off of limonite is a good machine shop for that type of work.

You'll owe me BIG! :lol:

 

put some stop leak in it and sell it

 

Could be the most economical choice yet!!!#-o

Note to self...... Never buy anything from billy1911!:lol:

 

definitely not like the toyota v6's. the vg33e is a pretty bulletproof motor. i mustve missed the part about the crap on the oil cap. i wonder if they upped the compression on the later year vg's and it was maybe detonating. dont ask me how i know about detonation eating headgaskets(boost and high compression and 91 octane pisswater dont mix). didnt have a problem with my pathfinder though.