Series 2 Head Gasket replacement

[Ruff Justice]

Hello everyone,
I am told my series 2 v8 discovery requires head gasket replacement due to oil leaks. Does anyone have any experience with this as to cost of the job head machining, valve stem seals etc. Does the engine need to come out to do this job. What would be a reasonable cost to complete the job.

[incisor]

front and center mr swift!

[PLR]

Hello everyone,
I am told my series 2 v8 discovery requires head gasket replacement due to oil leaks. Does anyone have any experience with this as to cost of the job head machining, valve stem seals etc. Does the engine need to come out to do this job. What would be a reasonable cost to complete the job.

G`day ,

not impossible but leaking oil is not normally a head gasket thing .

Coolant and compression loss are the norm .

[JBM770]

The most common cause of oil leaks around the heads is the rocker covers.
Give it a good claen down and watch for where the fresh oil comes from.
I'm sure changing the head gaskets is an expensive job and the shop is trying you out. I was quoted $400 in labour just to replace the rocker cover gaskets in an LR workshop.

James

[Ruff Justice]

Thanks for the replies so far. My wife deals with the mechanic(that could be a mistake). I'm not real mechanical but my limited knowledge as a young bloke was that was what a head gasket was....water leaks and over heating.
The vehicle has had oil leaks that have got progressively worse in the last 12 months.

The quote is Head Gasket replacement, head machining + valve stem seals.
Head Gaskets. Head bolts. Valley + end seals. Exhaust Gaskets. Flange studs and nots and rocker cover gaskets (if required). Engine out and 13 hours labour.............??????? Nearly 3 grand all up!

What would you make of that?

The vehicle doesn't run hot or use water.

Thanks in advance

[Ruff Justice]

BUMP

Can anyone help out please.??

[bee utey]

BUMP

Can anyone help out please.??

If it doesn't use water it probably doesn't need the heads machined. If it doesn't use oil it won't need valve stem seals. If the oil is leaking from the inlet manifold/valley cover that is a couple of hours for a competent mechanic. Say, $250.

First thing, clean the area where oil is seeping and keep an eye on it. If it's not actually dripping, put up with it. It's a Landy, after all.

Secondly find a mechanic that is sympathetic to your vehicle. Spending $3K on an oil leak is for Qantas sized stuff.

[PLR]

The vehicle has had oil leaks that have got progressively worse in the last 12 months.

The quote is Head Gasket replacement, head machining + valve stem seals.
Head Gaskets. Head bolts. Valley + end seals. Exhaust Gaskets. Flange studs and nots and rocker cover gaskets (if required). Engine out and 13 hours labour.............??????? Nearly 3 grand all up!

What would you make of that?

The vehicle doesn't run hot or use water.

Thanks in advance

G`day ,

i see your problem , it doesn`t make sense on the information you have .

The oil passes through the heads and gaskets to reach the overhead gear , to do this the oil goes through drillings at either end of the heads on each head .

The drillings are about 1/8 of an inch , they are located on the valley side ( inlet manifold but below ) , they are approx 10mm from the engine valley and at least 25mm from the combustion chambers and approx 40mm from the ends of the heads .

If the oil passage within the gasket was to leak the only place that it could really go is into the valley , inside the engine where the oil should be and unless there was some overhead lack of oil etc would be un-noticable and is very UNLIKELY .

With the infomation you have there would be NO REASON to take the engine out the work given is all engine in .

It is common to lose oil via rocker cover gaskets it is also common to lose oil via the valley cover end seals .

Out of interest how many Ks has it done ?

I`d suggest you need to find out why they feel the work is needed although the engine out part can`t make sense unless they need to do something at the crankshaft or a reason the engine and transmittion need seperating and wait for them to talk crankshaft/seperation don`t offer it .

I`d also suggest unless it`s the only option that a different business may be a better option or if possible at least lift the bonnet and get an opinion from another .

peter

[canblogerra]

Comments from everyone sound spot on to me. By the way, another site for oil leaks is the oil filter - especially on the TD5, it is practically impossible to tighten.

I suggest a spray can of engine degreaser and hose off is called for, then take a look a few k's later to see where it's coming from.

Good luck, though it sounds to me you don't need it - wish my car had your problems and not the ones it's had.

[Ruff Justice]

Thanks for those replies.

She has done 220 K's. We have had it since 40 K's

The oil is dripping down onto the front axle and it is using/losing about a litre every week.

I will give it a good degrease and work out exactly where it is coming from. I will perhaps try and attach a photo.

Thanks again

Glenn

[Ruff Justice]

I found an invoice where the location of the leaks has been specified by the mechanic. Noted as........."Extensive oil leaks @ Cylinder head gaskets and timing case & seal & gasket."

So........, does the proposed work I mentioned below at nearly 3 K fit the bill?

Thanks in advance

Glenn

[bee utey]

I found an invoice where the location of the leaks has been specified by the mechanic. Noted as........."Extensive oil leaks @ Cylinder head gaskets and timing case & seal & gasket."

So........, does the proposed work I mentioned below at nearly 3 K fit the bill?

Thanks in advance

Glenn

I would lay odds that most of the oil mentioned is coming from the valley gasket. ANY oil that leaks from the valley gasket will appear to come from the cylinder head area and run down the sides of the timing cover and down the front of the sump. So wetness away from the valley is not a sign of wholesale gasket replacement needed.

Not withstanding that the only oil leak for which you would remove the engine is the rear main seal and bearing cap. So the leaks you mention would not require engine removal. If you spray some cheapie degreaser around the front edges of the cylinder head area, then hose off, drive for 5mins, then half an hour, then look where the oil is freshly running down. Also engine oil cooler hoses and oil pressure switches are very prone to leak, they should be looked at too.

But don't bust a gut, try a Landy mechanic first.

[PLR]

I found an invoice where the location of the leaks has been specified by the mechanic. Noted as........."Extensive oil leaks @ Cylinder head gaskets and timing case & seal & gasket."

So........, does the proposed work I mentioned below at nearly 3 K fit the bill?

Thanks in advance

Glenn

G`day ,

if your asking , does the 3k suit their job .

On the information , for the un-needed work they want to do the figure maybe right but that depends what they charge an hour and the actual work and parts .

If your asking does the 3k suit your problem , on the information given , nothing like .

Another thing that doesn`t seem right is if they do the job properly a VRS ( valve regrind set ) will contain all the gaskets needed and more , what they have listed is basic .

I really think if your able , getting a second opinion is warranted .

[Ruff Justice]

Thanks guys

I'm going to get a second opinion and do the degrease on the weekend.
Unfortunately "bee utey" the quote is from a Landy mechanic!

Glenn

[It'sNotWorthComplaining!]

I had an oil leak onto there front diff, it was the oil pressure switch and later the oil pressure relief valve O ring.
Degrease the engine or put talc powder where you think it's leaking, fresh oil running over the talc will be easy to see.

[It'sNotWorthComplaining!]

Thanks guys

I'm going to get a second opinion and do the degrease on the weekend.
Unfortunately "bee utey" the quote is from a Landy mechanic!

Glenn
Find another landy mechanic, tell him it's only a land rover and not a range rover so the price should be lower

[Ruff Justice]

OK. Gave everything I could get to a good degrease. All the oil leakage seem to be coming from the front of the engine but I can't get in there to see exactly where from. Nothing seems to be coming from the rocker covers....I would be able to see that at the side,correct?? Laying under the motor you can see it dripping when the engine is running at two place.

One is from a bolt head on the housing that the oil filter is attached to. BUT it looks like the oil is coming from above that. The second spot is at the bottom of the sump and it appears to be coming from the area above the bottom fly wheel but I can't see exactly where. I figure it could be possible that there is one oil leak and it's dripping at two different spots and it's from the front of the motor.

So, how do you all think this adds up against the diagnosis and quote given??

[PLR]

OK. Gave everything I could get to a good degrease. All the oil leakage seem to be coming from the front of the engine but I can't get in there to see exactly where from. Nothing seems to be coming from the rocker covers....I would be able to see that at the side,correct?? Laying under the motor you can see it dripping when the engine is running at two place.

One is from a bolt head on the housing that the oil filter is attached to. BUT it looks like the oil is coming from above that. The second spot is at the bottom of the sump and it appears to be coming from the area above the bottom fly wheel but I can't see exactly where. I figure it could be possible that there is one oil leak and it's dripping at two different spots and it's from the front of the motor.

So, how do you all think this adds up against the diagnosis and quote given??

G`day ,

still the same answer , it doesn`t seem on the information that the head gaskets are a problem .
As the replacement of these and the head work ( that it would be correct to do with them off ) is a major part of the quote ?
The quote given could suit the work they want to do it just seems that the work doesn`t need doing .

This is a suggestion but what i`d do .

You need to use your fingers and have a rag the wipe them .

To locate your leaks wait untill the engine has cooled .

Feel along the undeneath side of the rocker covers , when i say feel i mean dab . So dab in a spot with a finger if it has oil on it wipe and dab search .
Search each way till you find the direction that the oil stops .
Do the same from underneath the car where you know the oil is found , reach up a bit higher each time and wipe for a clean finger each time untill there is no oil .
Then you can work out what`s there and where the oil may be comming from .

Because you say you say see it leak when the engine is running it should be fairly easy to locate with a dab test on a cold engine , it is harder to locate 1 where you need to take into account where the air pressure from momentum and fans etc is pushing the oil .

Rocket gaskets are the highest on the engine , unless oil is coming from breathers .

The cooler pipes running to the radiator are higher .

Valley ends would be next , then timing cover , pressure swich , oilfiter/cooler etc .

If at anytime it has had a rollmaster or dual chain timing set and the cover hasn`t been relieved when fitting , the chain can do its own but sometimes the timing cover will also crack and the oil leak is not easily found .

Cheers

[Ruff Justice]

Thankyou again Peter.

Second opinion on Friday.

In the mean time went and saw the mechanic who provided the quote. He says he won't take the engine out to do the job but as the cylinder head gasket is leaking, the head has to come off and therefore has to be machined and valve stem seals replaced. He couldn't show me where the oil leak was coming from other than to say it was behind all the fly wheels etc. He was basically saying all the work on his quote was required. Is there some sort of confusion with cylinder head gasket and head gasket???

Glenn

[bee utey]

Is there some sort of confusion with cylinder head gasket and head gasket???

Glenn

Same thing.

Look in the end if you trust your mechanic all the jobs mentioned will help extend the life of the engine. If you don't have this amount of money then go elsewhere and only have the minimum done to cope with the oil leaks. I will say it again, oil that appears to leak from the head gaskets may also be coming from the valley cover gasket. You either cough up or find someone else who is willing to do less work for a lesser cost.

[PLR]

Thankyou again Peter.

Second opinion on Friday.

In the mean time went and saw the mechanic who provided the quote. He says he won't take the engine out to do the job but as the cylinder head gasket is leaking, the head has to come off and therefore has to be machined and valve stem seals replaced. He couldn't show me where the oil leak was coming from other than to say it was behind all the fly wheels etc. He was basically saying all the work on his quote was required. Is there some sort of confusion with cylinder head gasket and head gasket???

Glenn


G`day Glenn ,

as said they`re the same thing and the other work quoted supports this so no confusion .

The design of these heads and blocks makes it almost impossible for them to leak oil alone without something else major being wrong .

If his reason for head removal is because of the oil leak only then it makes no sense to me .

If he said the gaskets need replacing because of a loss compression or a loss of coolant ETC then yes the heads need removing but not if it`s because of oil and speciall y not an oil leak .

A reason i`ve been interested in you problem is because we have a 3.9 that is leaking at the rear from above and at the filter and engine front .

Firsty i`ll replace the rocker cover gaskets because i can find oil along their under edges . then i`ll replace the inlet gasket and end seals if the leaking persists but i won`t replace the head gaskets and it`s done more Ks than yours and hasn`t been apart as yet .

Also have a 4.0 which is pressurizing the coolant system if worked hard , that i will have to replace the head gaskets in at some time but it leaks no oil and has less Ks than yours and has been apart before . When i have the heads off i`ll do most of what your man wants to do .

Have luck friday or at least hopfully they can explain better .

Cheers

[roverrescue]

Totally off topic but bee utey I just love this quote and wanna use it
"Spending $3K on an oil leak is for Qantas sized stuff."

;)

S

[Ruff Justice]

I sought an opinion from another Landrover mechanic. The problem seems to have been resolved in a little over two hours with the replacement of the timing case seal. Amazing contrast to original diagnosis and quote!

Thanks for the advise particularly PLR.

Cheers

Glenn