is it a BLOWN HEAD GASKET or CRACKED HEAD

[NiftyNev]

Yeah, First thing I will do is get the coolant tested, obviously the most painless and cheap option. I am just trying to get prepared for worst case scenario as I have a very limited time back at home, and need the ute back running properly ASAP. It has never overheated, but once the temp climbed a little higher than I am used to. To me, with moderate mechanical experience, not great, but enough to have done a few engine rebuilds and have them run again, with no spare bolts left, it more adds up to hydraulic lock on start than anything else. But as I said, I am more than willing to look at other things people may suggest that are easier first, such as Tony's suggestion.
But the old girl definitely struggles to hold 5th gear up a moderate hill where it used to when I first got her a 5 or so years ago.

Ok, so say I get the coolant tested, and it shows gas, head has to come off: Is there any specialist tools that I need sockets etc that a normal fairly extensive tool kits/workshop wouldn't have? (Apart from far too many Saab and Peugeot tools, but we won't go there, I am trying to forget about those cars.... )

Are there any gotcha's that I really need to look out for, or hints on known issues taking everything off that is not in the maint. manual? I just have the downloaded Nissan service manual for reference.

Where would you get your parts from? Gasket kit? I am away from the workshop lappy I use with the manual so does anyone have apart number for the kit for the ZD30 direct injection? Is there variants that I need to look out for?

135 questions, but don't feel obligated to answer them all, just some would be nice

 

[NiftyNev]

Selfish I know.. but.. Bump.

 

[Old.Tony]

Sorry, I don't know if there are specialist tools required so I thought I'd leave the question to someone who HAS removed one of these heads before. I've done petrol engines - God only knows how many times I've rebuilt a Volkswagen engine and even learned how to NOT have left-over parts (hiding them under the carpet doesn't always work). But I don't know if there are specialist tools required - just the obvious stuff, like a torque wrench.

 

[corey6810]

yea the intake was covered in soot and oil but before the head cracked it was a great motor run really well had good response but our str has 270,000kms but has a complete service history from the 1st service to the very last

Hi my zd30 navara has just shit itself everyone keeps telling me it injector pump but my intake was covered in soot and oil I'm no mechanic and still learning about these motors but I think it had way more oil and soot in the intake than it prob should have I had overheating problems which was the VISCUS hub and water pump so changed them aswell as getting radiator flushed and new thermostat my engine has done 430,000 and has only just started having problems the last few months I also noticed around the back of head and rocker cover there's alot of oil to the point it's built up nice and thick I just done a 800ks trip and about a week or so later I was low on fuel so put $30 in and few hours later I lost a lil power then came good went back to work for a few more hours then started up to go and was running rougher than usual so let it warm up a bit and didn't change much 5 min after start up she lost a lil power then came good drove a bit further done it again so I continued home and as I was inreasing speed she spat a big cloud of black smoke then was smoking as I was driving also lost a bit of power again then she spat another cloud of black smoke so pulled over checked for leakes and anything of like hoses and so on everything seemed fine tryed to start and was running rougher and rougher until it wouldn't idle does anyone think this is head or head gasket also I can get it to fire if I spray shit down intake will run while I'm spraying start ya bastard in but not as smooth as it used to

 

[pistol-W]

Hi my zd30 navara has just shit itself everyone keeps telling me it injector pump but my intake was covered in soot and oil I'm no mechanic and still learning about these motors but I think it had way more oil and soot in the intake than it prob should have I had overheating problems which was the VISCUS hub and water pump so changed them aswell as getting radiator flushed and new thermostat my engine has done 430,000 and has only just started having problems the last few months I also noticed around the back of head and rocker cover there's alot of oil to the point it's built up nice and thick I just done a 800ks trip and about a week or so later I was low on fuel so put $30 in and few hours later I lost a lil power then came good went back to work for a few more hours then started up to go and was running rougher than usual so let it warm up a bit and didn't change much 5 min after start up she lost a lil power then came good drove a bit further done it again so I continued home and as I was inreasing speed she spat a big cloud of black smoke then was smoking as I was driving also lost a bit of power again then she spat another cloud of black smoke so pulled over checked for leakes and anything of like hoses and so on everything seemed fine tryed to start and was running rougher and rougher until it wouldn't idle does anyone think this is head or head gasket also I can get it to fire if I spray shit down intake will run while I'm spraying start ya bastard in but not as smooth as it used to

Compression teat, check water with a tester.. shows if carbon ect is in system, have a look at the turbo & of course check pipes....

 

[Old.Tony]

but my intake was covered in soot and oil

This is natural. Soot comes from the EGR system, and oil from the PCV.

You could block the EGR to remove the soot (this is illegal but hard to detect) and put a catch can in to trap some of the oil. Neither are a "sure" sign that there's a problem with the engine, although excessive oil usually indicates excessive blowby = worn/misaligned piston rings or scored/damaged bore, and excessive soot usually comes from excessive fueling (which may be reduced air = possible turbo issue, but may also be sensor/filter issue too).