Thread: D2a TD5 Need advice, when should I replace my head?

Hi Islandnomad,

Porous what did the mechanic mean by that???? at 155,000K the head should have plenty of life left maybe just a head gasket soonish. I replaced my head finally with a Turner head at about 370,000K after just one head gasket in it's lifetime. The Turner heads are great and well worth the money and I think more cost effective than getting a head reworked if they have done a lot of K's. I would if you have help and the gear fit it yourself it's not too hard and there are plenty of tutorials on doing the job, if not I'm sure that someone else can give a guide on the cost. The Turner head will be fine if it's stored in it's packing in a dry environment, I'd put it under my bed

Nick

Originally Posted by Islandnomad

..... my mechanic changed the copper washers etc then tested the head and told me that my head is porous. He has advised using a special oil to reduce porosity and the mixing of oil and diesel (I think), as well as changing the oil at least every 5000kms and more often if I can afford it.

No oil will reduce the porosity if this indeed the case.
If the head is porous change it.
Any dilution of the oil from is reducing the capability of the oil to lubricate and protect the entire engine.
There is no such oil that can sustain dilution and continue to perform as required.
The end result will be any combination of premature excessive wear on bearings, crankshaft and camshaft journals, cylinder, piston and valve wear, to a runaway with complete destruction of engine and possibly more.

It's a typical D2 problem apparently Pippin, there are others that can explain this issue better than me, I'm at the limit of my knowledge now really.


I hear you Strangy

Islandnomad,

I understand the issues with D2 heads, I replaced mine as diesel was entering the coolant because of a crack. I think a mechanic using the term porous is being a bit vague and not very helpful, but Strangy is correct if it is allowing diesel into the oil replace it.

Nick

Pippin its me being vague not my mechanic. I'm just not describing it properly, I'm no mechanic. You waited till 350000 to change it wow, is the rest of the motor ok?

I always thought it was the pre 2002/3 engines that had that issue, ie the 10p units, not the latter?


Cheers

Before you jump to a new head, what exactly are the symptoms?
eg by how much is the oil level rising?
Have you had a used oil analysis done to determine how much dilution is occurring?

Cheers
Simon

Simon,
Well I don't exactly have any symptoms. I don't really check the oil level for gain. I can though. I certainly haven't done an oil analysis. As I said its been tested, the head at No 3 or 4 cylinder does have a leak/crack/or is porous. The engine works absolutely fine though, no starting problems starts first time every time very reliable. No power issues. I've read on here that a symptom is that the motor runs on for a while after being turned off, that isn't happening, not yet anyway. I'm due for an oil change I can check for volume gain after I get that done if that's what I'm supposed to be doing. I think the special oil being used is to stop wear to some parts somewhere, not sure really.