New head gasket on Nissan Micra K11 1L 4Cyl DOHC?

[Hez]

Hi all!

Great site and content here, really useful so thanks a bunch! 🙂

Now, I have a Micra K11 with what I suspect to be a head gasket problem. The mileage on the car is about 165,000km. Some time about a year ago the radiator started leaking coolant, so I’ve replaced it with an aftermarket part (Saved about 50% on it). Filled it up with coolant, bled all the air out of it etc.

Come this winter I noticed it started to use coolant as the level in the radiator was dropping (but not in the expansion tank). I couldn’t find any external coolant leakage, but didn’t think much of it except topping it off with new coolant. I then decided to replace the coolant some months later as I mixed the colors.

After flushing the system and fitting a new thermostat and removing all the air from the system I noticed when I was revving the engine coolant foam was emerging from the spark plug well off cylinder #3. I thought that it isn’t supposed to happen, and fearing a head gasket issue I pulled off the oil filler cap and looked inside. Sure enough there were water droplets on it but not a sludge buildup. The oil on the dipstick looks clean as its not long ago I changed it. I looked at the exhaust and an excessive amount of water was dripping out at the end, in addition to some droplets following the other exhaust elements. I also think I could hear a misfire (Wouldn’t be a big surprise considering the spark plug is probably wet)

SO, am I correct in assuming this is a head gasket problem? If so, how difficult is it to replace it? I have the Haynes manual at hand, torque wrenches, 6point 1/2″ socket set covering most really and a weekend to do it at my employers garage.

Also, should I have the head examined for warping and/or cracking? What more should be examined, could it for instance develop a knocking issue because of this? I don’t think I drove too long with this problem.

Could the aftermarket radiator have caused this issue, or are head gaskets expected to fail after some time? Also, what is a reasonable amount of time to expect this to take for a “engine beginner”? Full week end sounds reasonable?

Thanks for any help you guys can give, this will be my first time venturing down into the engine (Most advanced I’ve done is probably changing the front wheel bearings..)

Hez 🙂

Topic

[Wayne]

I’d still do a compression, and/or leak-down test first to verify. All of those diagnostic vids are covered by Eric. As to how common it is on that car, can’t say, that’s about 104k miles here, so all else being equal it is a bit premature if it was fairly well maintained. But yes, they all do fail eventually depending upon overall care, abuse, engineering, and of course luck.

Haynes should be enough to get by doing this, taking your time over a weekend with all the tools, and parts handy already. But that is assuming only the head-gasket is to blame, or damaged. You may need to have the heads machined at the least if you have the means to check it’s clearances yourself. Otherwise you really should bring the heads somewhere to have it checked.

[Richie]

The K11 is a timing chain engine and there’s a little more involved in stripping it down than those with a belt, but its not a terribly difficult job for the confident DIYer.

I’d definately be having it machined if its been overheated for a while though, they are a soft head on those. Budget a weekend if you wanna tackle it, just to be on the safe side.

[EricTheCarGuy]

You don’t need to assume. You can test for a combustion leak. In fact I show a method in this video that I’ve found to be effective for years.

[Author]

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