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Well, that's what i thought. Having decided to spend a little more to buy from a dealer, imagine my surprise when i was told i had to spend nearly $2000 more on it!!

Firstly, any help/advice greatly appreciated! I bought a Nissan Stagea RS4 Neo (2000) Series 2 about 2 months ago from a dealer in Melb. After driving it back from Victoria, and in Adelaide since, on the 2/08 i took it to a radiator specialist because i noticed that collant from the overflow bottle was constantly disappearing after even a days drive, i kept topping it up. There weren't any leaks on the ground where it is parked, oil cap had no milky residue. Anyway, the radiator guy told me i had to replace my top tank, but even more of a problem was my head gasket was on the way out. A week later, i took the car to Boostworx in Adelaide to have a leak test done. It was confirmed that I have a warped head gasket. Now.... I contacted Vic Consumer Affairs last Fri (10/08) regarding the compulsory 3 month warranty that came with the car, and they told me the dealer who sold me the car should cover the repairs. He (the dealer) is trying to say that the warped gasket was caused by the engine running hot, or that i have been driving the car hard. The car has no mods, and my wife drives it 90% of the time. I''m sure the radiator guy told me that the top tank leak was caused by the gasket problem, and even on the receipt stated that the work he did wasn't covered by their warranty due to the gasket problem, and that the same thing might happen again. The dealer is saying that his mechanic told him that Skyline gaskets never fail unless they've been thrashed or driven while hot. So basically he's trying to put the blame on me by saying i drove the car without coolant. Anyway, i'll be out of pocket over $1600-$2000 if Vic Consumer Affairs can't do anything for the head gasket fix and was wondering which might have come first... gasket problem then top tank problem? Or the other way around. I'm a very careful driver and always keep an eye on the temp gauge. Thanks very much.

A lot of the time they price it up there so they don't get tire kickers.

I suppose it comes down to personal taste. Will the yellow be "cool" for awhile then too "loud" after you've had it longer? Both look the goods, and poersonally, I would go the white, only because it has the sunroofs. If you have kids, even more reason.

Id rather see it as constructive critisism.

Gee that was hard to read... thanks!

Well, the coolant seems to be keeping in the overflow bottle now since the first drop after the top tank change. Must have been an air pocket after all. Did an oil change too, and oil is very clean, no bubbles in the radiator... getting a second opinion this Fri about blown gasket. I filled mine to about 1cm over the max line too, don't think there's much adverse affect

Hi, I've been bitten by the service bug. Just did my oil/oil filter last weekend and O2 sensor the weekend before. This weekend, I plan to change the spark plugs. Now I know theres a thread here with pics and instructions (http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/in...showtopic=42819) but does that apply for RB25DET NEO engines as well? And also, what would you recommend for the S2 Stagea running 9psi boost? I'll probably change them every 2nd oil change (10000kns) Thanks.

Am I the only one thinking... so much money... so little taste.

I like that!

Cool, thanks guys.

Can I just confirm that the oil filter i put on the Series 2 today is Valvoline Z145A and seemed to fit alright. Is it?

I used Valvoline Z145A. I might try stuffing rags and newspaper etc next time. It's more the oil in the engine bay that got me.

Now that would make sense!

Yeah i had a tray, but didn't quite expect another cup or so pissing out when i removed the filter. Also because the filter is in sideways that's why. Just wished it didn't get all over my nice clean engine (f^*k the garage floor!) :laughing-smiley-014:

Well, I'm doing my first oil/oil filter change, and managed fairly well until i removed my oil filter, and oil just PISSED everywhere from the filter. I'd had the oil draining for about 30 mins, do i have to drain longer? Now i have about a cup of old oil over my garage floor... S2 Stage (RB25DET NEO)

Bump

I love it... left a Commonwhore at the lights today spinning away in the wet as i booted off. :laughing-smiley-014:

Done, will keep an eye over the next few days.

Well after driving around for a day, the coolant in the overflow bottle has dropped again. Nearly 3/4 of the bottle GONE. This is after spending $400 odd on the top tank replacement. Again, no other signs of head gasket problem.

Everytime i drive i keep a close eye on the temp gauge, has not budge from mid level. car has been running perfectly, and still is. I really hope it isn't a head gasket, the $$ to get it fixed is coming straight out of the exhaust fund

It was "only" the top tank that had to be replaced. All up it cost just over $400 with Tectaloy V-Plus coolant. The car is getting tuned at Boostworx next Fri so might get Shaun to have a look at it then. What i don't understand is, shouldn't there be other signs of blown gasket like milky oil(?), bubbling radiator, rough idling etc? None of which have i seen... in fact the oil is amazingly clean, and the temp gauge has not had a look above half way. So....

Good to hear they're not ripping me off. They've been really helpful so far. $3000 quote was for absolute worst case scenario, including the top radiator etc. Is it worth getting someone else to have a look at it down the track? It's something that I definitely can't afford at the moment. Or can I leave it until my rad starts leaking somewhere else? Is it normal to have a top rad replaced after 85000kms? Or is it just my bad luck? EDIT: Does what he said sound right? i.e. beginnings of gasket leak causing over-pressure in the radiator. What are the chances of the rad leaking elsewhere after i get the top rad replaced? I suppose i'll find out huh...

S2 Stagea RB25DET NEO Over the past few weeks I've had to top up coolant every 2 days. So I took it to a radiator specialist this morning to have a look at. They found that the leak was coming from my top tank which they've had to replaced. Along with a test, full flush, tectaloy v plus, parts and labour it is costing me about $410. First question, am I being ripped here? Seems a bit steep doesn't it? Second question... they reckon this is from early signs of a head gasket problem, causing too much pressure etc etc. I can't remember exactly. They also quoted me (worse case scenario $'s) for a complete head gasket fix/rebuild and the top tank replaced... $3000! I've told them to go ahead with the top radiator and if the problem returns i.e. I get another leak from the "extra pressure caused by the gasket"... i'll have to have it looked at. edit: If the problem persist i.e. i still keep losing coolant, i will have to have the gasket looked at. One thing i noticed after picking up the car is that on the receipt it says their work isn't guaranteed because of the gasket problem which i didn't get them to fix. I don't have any other signs of gasket leaking like milky oil, bubbly radiator etc. What else could it be?

Yeah, definitely doing turbo back exhaust first.