The 1999 Skyline with RB25DET or RB26DETT is a legendary platform with bulletproof bottom ends but notorious for aging turbo, oiling, and cooling systems that demand preventive maintenance. Most problems stem from deferred service or aggressive modifications rather than fundamental design flaws.
RB26DETT Oil Pump Failure & Crank Collar Walking
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: oil pressure drop at idle, metallic rattling from timing cover, catastrophic engine failure if ignored
Fix: Front cover removal, aftermarket oil pump upgrade, crank collar pinning or replacement. 10-14 hours labor plus parts. Often done with timing belt service.
Estimated cost: $2,000-3,500
Turbocharger Failure (Ceramic Turbines on Stock Units)
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 100,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: blue smoke on startup, boost creep or inconsistent boost, rattling/grinding from turbo on spool, loss of power
Fix: OEM ceramic turbines are fragile. Replacement with steel-wheel aftermarket units or OEM rebuilds. 8-12 hours labor for twins on RB26, slightly less for single on RB25.
Estimated cost: $2,500-5,000
Head Gasket Failure & Cylinder Head Warping
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 90,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: coolant loss with no visible leaks, white smoke from exhaust, overheating, milky oil or bubbling overflow tank
Fix: Head removal, resurfacing, ARP studs, MLS gasket upgrade. RB26 requires both heads. 16-22 hours labor. Often find corroded coolant passages.
Estimated cost: $3,500-6,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Failure (ATTESA Models)
Common · medium severityTypical onset: not mileage-driven
Symptoms: transmission fluid leaking from front cooler lines, burnt ATF smell, transmission overheating, harsh shifts
Fix: Steel hardlines rust through at bends. Replace with braided stainless lines and refresh cooler. 3-5 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $600-1,200
Hydraulic Lifter Tick & Camshaft Wear
Common · low severityTypical onset: 70,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: valve train ticking especially cold start, ticking that persists after warmup, loss of top-end power on RB26
Fix: Caused by sludge or old oil. Minor cases fix with detergent flush; severe requires all lifters replaced and cam inspection. 8-12 hours labor if heads stay on, 18+ if cams worn and heads come off.
Estimated cost: $800-3,000
Harmonic Balancer Separation (RB26DETT)
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 100,000+ mi
Symptoms: vibration at idle, visible wobble on crank pulley, serpentine belt tracking issues, engine roughness
Fix: Rubber ring delaminates from hub. Replace with ATI or Fluidampr unit. 3-4 hours labor, requires accessory removal.
Estimated cost: $700-1,200
Fuel Pump & Filter Clogging (Ethanol Fuel Regions)
Common · medium severityTypical onset: not mileage-driven
Symptoms: fuel starvation under boost, surging at highway speeds, lean AFR readings, hard starting after sitting
Fix: OEM fuel system not ethanol-compatible. Replace in-tank filter, pump, and inline filter. Tank cleaning recommended. 4-6 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $600-1,400
Absolutely buy one if the service history is documented and you budget $2-4K for deferred maintenance; skip it if the owner modified it heavily without supporting mods or can't prove oil changes.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.