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Nissan Patrol: TB45E petrol head gasket failure

TB45E petrol head gasket failure is a common engine fault on the Nissan Patrol on the 1997–2007 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $2,500 to $5,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 48 documented faults on the Nissan Patrol.

Vehicle
Nissan Patrol
Engine
TB45-E
Years
1997–2007
Fuel
petrol
System
Engine

This page covers the Nissan Patrol as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Nissan Patrol faults48 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

A removed multi-layer steel head gasket held up, showing staining around the cylinder bore.Example of the part — not this vehicle

A used multi-layer head gasket. Discolouration between a cylinder and a water gallery is the tell.

John Furman · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

What goes wrong

The 4.5L TB45E inline six petrol engine used in GU Patrols shares the same head gasket vulnerability as the earlier TB42 in Y60 models. The alloy head over cast-iron block combination warps and fails after overheating events. The TB45E is a larger, heavier engine and overheating can occur from thermostat failure, radiator blockage, or water pump wear. Head gasket failure is well-documented in AU and NZ TB45E GU Patrols with unknown or poor cooling system maintenance histories.

What you would notice

  • White exhaust smoke on startup or sustained under load
  • Coolant loss without visible external leak
  • Milky residue on oil filler cap or dipstick
  • Overheating warning or temperature gauge rising unexpectedly
  • Rough idle or misfiring after the engine reaches operating temperature

How to check it

Where to look. Top of engine — cylinder head gasket on the TB45E inline six

  1. Check oil cap and dipstick for white emulsion.

  2. Cold-start the engine and watch exhaust for white smoke.

  3. Request block tester (combustion gas detector) check on the coolant reservoir.

  4. Inspect radiator condition — blocked radiators are a common upstream cause.

  5. If a workshop inspection is possible: Have a cooling system pressure test done.

Parts involved: Head gasket.

What it costs to put right

$2,500 to $5,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

  • “Has the engine ever overheated?”
  • “When was the cooling system last serviced — thermostat, coolant, water pump?”
  • “Has the head gasket been replaced, and is there workshop documentation?”
  • “Has a cooling system pressure test been done recently?”

Now check the Nissan Patrol you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Nissan Patrol buyer questions

Is tb45e petrol head gasket failure serious on a Nissan Patrol?

We rate it critical and common on the Nissan Patrol. The 4.5L TB45E inline six petrol engine used in GU Patrols shares the same head gasket vulnerability as the earlier TB42 in Y60 models. The alloy head over cast-iron block combination warps and fails after overheating events. The TB45E is a larger, heavier engine and overheating can occur from thermostat failure, radiator blockage, or water pump wear. Head gasket failure is well-documented in AU and NZ TB45E GU Patrols with unknown or poor cooling system maintenance histories.

How much does it cost to fix on a Nissan Patrol?

$2,500 to $5,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Nissan Patrol years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 1997–2007 Nissan Patrol. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Check oil cap and dipstick for white emulsion. Cold-start the engine and watch exhaust for white smoke. Request block tester (combustion gas detector) check on the coolant reservoir. Inspect radiator condition — blocked radiators are a common upstream cause. If a workshop inspection is possible: Have a cooling system pressure test done. Look here: Top of engine — cylinder head gasket on the TB45E inline six