New Engine For My Nissan Bluebird Su12

[nipunas]

I have a nissan bluebird SU 12 diesel automatic 1990 model

I had problems with gearbox & engine heating up a lot even in a small run

i tried changing gear oil but problem continued

recently when i go to the garage, I got the sugestion to replace the engine & gearbox with a used new one .

My problem is even the used engine im gonna buy is old and I have no idea about the condition, & i heard that engine model (Nissan LD20) has not been manufactured after 1993.

Is it better to put another engine or to do a complete engine repaire.

Any body know about another model of engine(Newer model) which will suit my car

Thanks in advance

Nipuna

[The Don]

  nipunas said:

I have a nissan bluebird SU 12 diesel automatic 1990 model

I had problems with gearbox & engine heating up a lot even in a small run

i tried changing gear oil but problem continued

recently when i go to the garage, I got the sugestion to replace the engine & gearbox with a used new one .

My problem is even the used engine im gonna buy is old and I have no idea about the condition, & i heard that engine model (Nissan LD20) has not been manufactured after 1993.

Is it better to put another engine or to do a complete engine repaire.

Any body know about another model of engine(Newer model) which will suit my car

Thanks in advance

Nipuna

Hi Nipuna S,

I think the jury is split over whether it is better to do a complete engine repair vs replacing the engine with a good quality used one if you can find one. Both options have pros and cons.

The pro's of replacing the engine are that

1. Its sometimes the most simplest way of solving complex engine problems, and most of the time gives very good results

2. sometimes is cheaper than an engine repair

Cons

Very difficult to find the illusive "good quality used engines"

The pro's of engine repairs are

1. If done properly has the potential to give you more milleage than a used engine and solve the problem well.

Cons

finding a so called good place to do a good engine repair is very difficult, plus Sri Lanka doesnt have some of the sophisticated meassuring instruments used in boring etc. which sometimes means the repairs when done doesnt have the desired effects or doesnt last as long as its supposed to.

I think you should take your car to a good place and first get them to diagnose the problem as to why the car is overheating, maybe the problem isnt something that warrants a full engine repair.

Also if you do find a used engine in good condition for a reasonable price (mind you its fairly difficult to find diesel engines thesedays, as there is some problem importing them) but I think you might be in luck since I think the diesel vanette uses the same engine as yours but I am not sure at all.

I did an engine swap recently, and I am very satisfied with the results, because i spent quite a bit of money trying to repair the problem but unfortunately that didnt solve it, while as the engine swap solved it straight away and was a simple enough process,

good luck mate,

The Don

[aswe]

  nipunas said:

I have a nissan bluebird SU 12 diesel automatic 1990 model

I had problems with gearbox & engine heating up a lot even in a small run

i tried changing gear oil but problem continued

recently when i go to the garage, I got the sugestion to replace the engine & gearbox with a used new one .

My problem is even the used engine im gonna buy is old and I have no idea about the condition, & i heard that engine model (Nissan LD20) has not been manufactured after 1993.

Is it better to put another engine or to do a complete engine repaire.

Any body know about another model of engine(Newer model) which will suit my car

Thanks in advance

Nipuna

Nipuna

As posted the pros and cons and the issues are to find a good engine or/and to find a good mechanic.

My brother in law had the same problem for his camry and now he is very happy. I will advice you to take the car to a leading automobile traning institute whchi our camry got reparired. They are not just mechanics but they are doing every single thing according to the manufactures specification and with a meaning. If you really need a engine change they will advice you to do so. If not they will do a nice work with the existing engine. I did not disclose the place because I thought it violates the fourm's rule of advertising. My wife is also a meachnical engineer who does lot of repairs especially on some specialized vehicles where there are no garages for that. She sends all the normal vehicles like cars. cabs etc to this place. In fact I did my AC repair from them on my Civic and they did an excelent work.

After showing to them some times you may change the idea of chaning the engine or you will have to definely do it.

aswe

[nipunas]

Hi Don & aswe,

Thanks very much for your time taken to answering my problem .

Can you guys suggest a good place with relaiable michanics to go and do a better diagnosis done, a place specialise in deisel and with A/T. because im not all that happy with my currunt bas & his suggetions as he tends to change his solution to the problem day by day.

I even thought about going to A*W but as its a bit old car does it need the agents touch? heard they are bit expensive as well.

Nipuna

[dinosh]

  nipunas said:

Hi Don & aswe,

Thanks very much for your time taken to answering my problem .

Can you guys suggest a good place with relaiable michanics to go and do a better diagnosis done, a place specialise in deisel and with A/T. because im not all that happy with my currunt bas & his suggetions as he tends to change his solution to the problem day by day.

I even thought about going to A*W but as its a bit old car does it need the agents touch? heard they are bit expensive as well.

Nipuna

Macho,

the agents will definitly do a good job but for a higher price. If you are willing to spend on it go for the agents.

[nipunas]

HI..

CAn you guys suggest me a affordable and reliable place to go apart from the agents

Thanks,

Nipuna

[aswe]

  nipunas said:

HI..

CAn you guys suggest me a affordable and reliable place to go apart from the agents

Thanks,

Nipuna

Machang

You go to the German Automobile training institute at Ratmalana. They will do a nice job do an unbelievalbe price. It is a government place where u find government rates. If u need any more details let me know. But the place is bit painful if u are trying a complete job. I mean you will have to find the parts and give them to do the work. Some times the duration may be bit longer than you spend at the agent. But it is really worth to the price and what you get for that.

aswe

[nipunas]

  aswe said:

Machang

You go to the German Automobile training institute at Ratmalana. They will do a nice job do an unbelievalbe price. It is a government place where u find government rates. If u need any more details let me know. But the place is bit painful if u are trying a complete job. I mean you will have to find the parts and give them to do the work. Some times the duration may be bit longer than you spend at the agent. But it is really worth to the price and what you get for that.

aswe

machang aswe,

Do they repaire as a part of on job training or they have a seperate qulified poeple for that?

Nipuna

[The Don]

Hi German Tech is a good place actually, the instructors will do the work, while as they will demonstrate it to the students, and when it comes to diesels sometimes the students do some of the work too, under supervision of course. The downside is they tend to take a bit of time to finish the work. (I know cos 2 of my good buddies are frm German tech dudes, i must say these 2 know a thing or 2 about automobiles so the place is quite good).

Personally I would not go to the agents for something like this, for what they charge for rebuilding an engine you can probably replace the engine with used ones twice. I remember once a doctor sunny belonging to a friend of mine was taken there, they did an ok job (though for some odd reason doctor sunnys after a bit of time no matter what you do still seem to loose its ride quality) and charged them about 140K for the engine rebuilt and other services, I am sure they did a good job though.

I think guys with diesel cars should comment on this, cos its a totally different ball game. Is your car a rear wheel drive and do any of the Nissan vans share you engine ?.

Regards,

The Don

[nipunas]

  The Don said:

Hi German Tech is a good place actually, the instructors will do the work, while as they will demonstrate it to the students, and when it comes to diesels sometimes the students do some of the work too, under supervision of course. The downside is they tend to take a bit of time to finish the work. (I know cos 2 of my good buddies are frm German tech dudes, i must say these 2 know a thing or 2 about automobiles so the place is quite good).

Personally I would not go to the agents for something like this, for what they charge for rebuilding an engine you can probably replace the engine with used ones twice. I remember once a doctor sunny belonging to a friend of mine was taken there, they did an ok job (though for some odd reason doctor sunnys after a bit of time no matter what you do still seem to loose its ride quality) and charged them about 140K for the engine rebuilt and other services, I am sure they did a good job though.

I think guys with diesel cars should comment on this, cos its a totally different ball game. Is your car a rear wheel drive and do any of the Nissan vans share you engine ?.

Regards,

The Don

Hi Don,

I contacted a good old friend of mine who's been a student of German tech some time back and he too gave a very good recommendation about the place. Im planing to pay a visit to the place end of this week or early next week(They only open on week days I heard, and can hardly find any free time on weekdays )

SU12 is a frontweel drive and it does shares some parts and the engine(LD20) with Nissan Vanette but all pre 1993-1994 models which makes it very hard to find the parts, and even in the used car part sales you can rarely find a Part for SU12 as there are very few cars in Srilanka(I sepent about a month trying to find 4 doors with Power Shutter..& mirror but coulnd find it)

Cheers,

Nipuna

[The Don]

  nipunas said:

Hi Don,

I contacted a good old friend of mine who's been a student of German tech some time back and he too gave a very good recommendation about the place. Im planing to pay a visit to the place end of this week or early next week(They only open on week days I heard, and can hardly find any free time on weekdays )

SU12 is a frontweel drive and it does shares some parts and the engine(LD20) with Nissan Vanette but all pre 1993-1994 models which makes it very hard to find the parts, and even in the used car part sales you can rarely find a Part for SU12 as there are very few cars in Srilanka(I sepent about a month trying to find 4 doors with Power Shutter..& mirror but coulnd find it)

Cheers,

Nipuna

Well Nipuna, that means you should be able to get a new engine minus the gearbox for your car, if it shares the vanette engine should you decide to go down that route,

Regards,

The Don