Thread: 300Tdi

Well I got around to lifting the head of my newly aquired 300Tdi Defenders aparently "worn out stuffed engine".
Happy to see that my initial expectation of blown head gasket was correct - leak from No 1 pot into the inlet pushrod hole. (engine was blowing loads of unburnt diesel smoke and fuming badly from the breather)
Compression test showed 2,3,4 at 340psi cold, and No 1 at 80psi.
Bores are std.+ .005in. wear.

So good - cleanup and new gaskets & bolts.

EXCEPT........
The inlet valves have been hitting the pistons

Bl*&#y hell! was my first response, Then I realised that the witness marks were under a layer of carbon. and the old gasket was the thickest available, (1.4mm?) so I think it may have been an old injury, but I will be inspecting the rockers and pushrods closely on assembly.

Going to have a strong coffee now.

Cheers,
Terry

Don't worry, probably broke a timing belt at some point...Rockers etc would've gone long before now or were replaced after the initial problem. Just bung it back together and enjoy They are a very forgiving engine.

JC