Nissan Patrol Technical Manual – What an ASE Tech Sees in 16 Pages

If you are rebuilding an Nissan Patrol Technical Manual for the RD28 or RD28T, the first thing you need is the factory dimensions. Not guesswork. Not a Chilton’s page that says “within spec.” You need the numbers the Nissan engineer wrote down. That is exactly what this 16-page document gives you. I have torqued head bolts on these straight-six diesels more times than I can count, and I will tell you right now: if you use aftermarket specs for valve guide clearance or piston height, you are gambling with a coolant leak or a bent valve. This manual is the original print – no reprints, no third-party translation garbage. Just the numbers from the OEM.

Cylinder Head and Valve Specs (Page 1)

Page 1 lays out the valve dimensions for intake and exhaust: head diameter, stem diameter, total length, and head thickness. For the RD28, intake valve head diameter is 39.0–39.2 mm, exhaust 32.0–32.2 mm. Stem diameter is 6.988–6.980 mm intake, 6.945–6.960 exhaust. Valve-to-guide clearance with 15 mm lift is 0.02–0.05 mm nominal, max 0.1 mm. That 0.1 mm limit is where you stop and replace the guide – period. The manual also lists the inner and outer valve spring specs: free length 43.2 mm outer, 38.2 mm inner, with load values at 26.7 kg and 23.2 kg respectively. If your spring measures shorter than that, it is done. No “maybe.”

Crankshaft and Bearing Selection (Page 2)

Page 2 covers the crankshaft. Seven main bearings. Nominal axial play 0.05–0.18 mm, max 0.30. Radial play nominal 0.036–0.063, max 0.12. The journal diameters are listed with oversize grades 0, 1, 2 – you match the bearing shell color to the journal mark. For example, caliber 0 bearing is colorless (RD28) or black (RD28T) with thickness 1.493–1.496 mm. The manual includes a pairing table for bearing caps and rod journals. That table saves you from picking the wrong bearing and wiping a rod. The crankshaft ovality limit is 0.005 mm, taper limit 0.005. You can measure that with a decent micrometer – not a dial caliper. If you cannot hold those numbers, the crank needs grinding or replacement.

Head Gasket Selection by Piston Height

One detail that catches most beginners is the head gasket selection table. For the RD28, gasket thickness varies from 1.12 mm to 1.28 mm based on the average piston height above the deck. If the piston protrusion is less than 0.49 mm, you use a one-notch gasket (1.12 mm). Between 0.49 and 0.575 mm, two-notch (1.20 mm). Above 0.575 mm, three-notch (1.28 mm). The RD28T has a different set of values – 1.42, 1.50, and 1.64 mm. The manual gives you the notch count for each. If you guess the gasket thickness, you change the compression ratio and risk pre-ignition or a blown gasket. This is the kind of spec that aftermarket PDFs often omit or round off. OEM documentation does not round off.

Audience Fit: Who Really Needs This Manual?

Home garage enthusiasts who are tearing down a Patrol engine for the first time will find this manual useful – but only if you already know how to use a micrometer and a dial bore gauge. This is not a step-by-step rebuild guide. It is a spec sheet. You need the matching workshop manual for procedures. The Nissan Patrol ZD30DDTi 2008 Training Manual gives you the full training course for the ZD30, and the Nissan Patrol 260 1987 Workshop Manual covers the older models. This particular 16-page technical manual is for the RD28/RD28T, and it pairs well with the NISSAN PATROL Technical Manual – September 2004 if you need the later updates. For a beginner, I would say: buy this, but only after you have read the factory workshop manual. Otherwise you will stare at the numbers and not know where to measure.

That is the difference between a spec sheet and a guide. This manual is the spec sheet – and it is the only one you should trust for dimensions.

Source Validity: OEM Print vs Aftermarket Copies

This file is a direct scan of the Nissan factory technical manual. You can see the Spanish text – the original file name is NISSAN_PATROL_Technical_Manual_es-22813017799.pdf. That is the OEM document, not a reproduction. Aftermarket manuals often transcribe the numbers into English but introduce typos. I have seen one that listed the RD28 intake valve head diameter as 39.0–32.2 mm – mixing intake and exhaust columns. That kind of error sends you chasing a parts counter for the wrong valve. The Automotive Industry Overview notes that factory documentation is the only source for certified dimensions. The Manual Transmission section in this manual? There is none – this is purely engine. But if you need transmission specs, get the correct OEM manual. Do not settle for generic.

Does this manual include torque specifications?

No. Torque specs are not in this 16-page document. It provides dimensions for component selection. You need the separate factory workshop manual for torque values.

Is the manual in English?

The original file is in Spanish. The numbers are universal. If you need English text, verify with a translator. For torque values, you’ll need the separate workshop manual. The table headers are clear – “Admisión” is intake, “Escape” is exhaust. Most numbers are self-explanatory. If you are not comfortable with Spanish, consider getting the English-language factory workshop manual instead. This technical manual is a supplement, not a standalone guide for someone who cannot interpret the headings.

Which engines are covered?

RD28 and RD28T naturally aspirated and turbocharged inline-six diesel engines. The manual distinguishes between the two with separate columns in the tables.

Can I use this for the ZD30 engine?

No. The ZD30 is a different engine family. For that, refer to the separate Nissan Patrol ZD30DDTi training manual. This 16-page manual is specific to the RD28 series.

You need this manual if you are fitting valves, selecting bearings, or choosing a head gasket for an RD28 or RD28T. The alternative is to trust a copy-paste document that might have the wrong decimal point. Download the Factory Manual from AutoRepairManuals and put the printout on your bench next to your feeler gauges. It will not tell you how to rebuild the engine, but it will tell you exactly what the engine needs to be within factory spec.