200tdi head gasket blowing oil.. fix/cost?

[manic]

Hi there,

I finally got my defender shipped over to Melbourne form the UK. Happy days.. mostly! Today it went to get its roadworthy and it was quickly pointed out to me - there is oil spitting onto the bulkhead/firewall from the back of the engine block.

I am almost skint from bringing my beloved rover over and I just got slapped when cash flow is at an all time low.

I have an idea of costs in the UK but the garage I have gone to here in melbourne mumbled $1000-2000 to replace the headgasket. Now thats a whole lot more that I would have expected in the UK either way you look at it.

With that kind of outlay I may have to cancel her maiden christmas trip to fraiser island and rest the old girl in a garage till I can afford to fix her up.

Im hoping someone here will tell me that it should cost less or that it is easy enough for someone who has never disasembled a motor to DIY!?

:(

[onlytb]

never pays to undercut head problems (unless you've done before) but find a good mechanic (couple quotes maybe) and steer away from stealer/dealers. :)

[Homestar]

Wouldn't have thought it would cost that much, but I suppose it depends on what has actually caused the problem. If it just a straight head gasket swap, it's not a hard job, but probably not something you should begin your DIY mechanicing career with...

What part of Melbourne are you in - someone here maybe able to recommend a repairer that isn't going to take you to the cleaners.

Cheers - Gav

[manic]

Im bayside, highett area. I've been getting a few quotes. One solid at $1650 but still hoping for less. Recommendations appreciated.

The motor has done around 200,000km and the gaskets are known to go on the 200tdi at this kind of milage. The gearing in the transfer box was raised to disco ratios, fuel pump tweaked for more power and a new radiator and uprated intercooler fitted before it was shipped. It was driven about 300k mostly on moterways after the mods to get it to the ship... so I think it let go during this short period.

Looks like I have got it early, not observed high temps, coolant or oil loss when using it in the UK and I check my levels weekly! Hopefully the head will look good and a new gasket serves me many more miles.

[manic]

Finally found a more reasonable price from a garage in frankston.. $650 to replace gasket... $850 - $900 if skim needed..... still looking, evaluating... the landys xmas may not be ruined just yet.

[Homestar]

Hope it goes well for you - sorry but I'm not from down there, so don't know any Mechanics down that way. Keep us updated - hope your Christmas plans turn out ok.:)

[jddisco200tdi]

Just thought I would point out AFAIW 200 Tdi heads are no longer available new, so hopefully yours is still ok.

Peninsula Rangie in Frankston is a mechanic you colud try.

HTH

John D - Defender 110 2.4

[manic]

head off... inspected... cracked! Major downer... looking for options but right now looks like the maiden xmas voyage is off and if an expesive head is to be sourced from the UK the landy will probably be garaged till next summer.

Unless anyone knows of a 200tdi head, a place that works miracles on cracked ones or someone who can make 300tdi heads fit?

:(

[Blknight.aus]

if its only a crack to the outside and the combustion chambers are ok, chemical wash the head and the have it welded or in a pinch ally soldered.

once thats done check the head for true, machine it if its not and put it back together.

[Fender Bender]

There was a lady on here yesterday(don't know location) but she had a 93-94 disco with gearbox problems that may have been a 200tdi. She was wanting to know best way of wrecking as she couldn't afford to fix

[manic]

crack is in the valve seat... i've been told it cant be welded.

the lady on here yesterday is not an easy lead to follow.. username to pm?

Unless a cheap working head comes my way the car will be garaged now into the new year.

Next years options are
- recon head from uk
- 300tdi conversion


Out of curiosity, what happens if you run the engine for 5000k when theres a crack like this between the valves?

[Hymie]

I'm after a 200Tdi head myself. Rare as rocking horse manure they are. Oh they are available at $1800, but I can get a whole donk for $2200.
Even EBay in Pomgolia (UK) has dried up.

[Blknight.aus]

crack is in the valve seat... i've been told it cant be welded.

the lady on here yesterday is not an easy lead to follow.. username to pm?

Unless a cheap working head comes my way the car will be garaged now into the new year.

Next years options are
- recon head from uk
- 300tdi conversion


Out of curiosity, what happens if you run the engine for 5000k when theres a crack like this between the valves?


if you're lucky nothing.

you might want to consider the following repair method BUT you're going to want an ally welders whose skill set is reputed as at least "God like" or better

strip the head
Gouge out around the crack to expose fresh metal
Chemical wash
weld up
machine back
new valve seats
K line valve stems
harden the face
recheck for true
rebuild head
install

Ive done a few rice boy engines that way with good results doing everything but the gouge out wash and weld up myself (leave that to the welder)

[manic]

Blknight.aus - thats something I would consider if I had access to someone who could confidently do it. Unfortunately I ran out of options and the head is as good as back on... so it will remain until I sort out a good replacement.

The problem now is that I have to drive up to queensland in my girlfriends sisters hippy camper van and that thing is hanging on to life - I don't think she has looked after it at all... so will be running the gauntlet with it.


So question is what happens if you are unlucky when running on cracks between valves like shown? I wouldn't mind driving with low power and if the head is damaged further it wouldn't matter with a replacement in the works. If it means engine could go bang, leaving me stuck in the wilderness then I think I will go with the hippy van. Same goes if it risks costly damages to other components other than the head.

[Blknight.aus]

head totally destroyed, bent rocker shaft, snapped rocker towers, tidal waves, bent valves, stripped lash adjusters, solar flares, el nino, bent push rods, pitted cam shafts, loss of compression, global warming, cracked pistons, scored bores, engine sezuire, demonic uprising, zombies, bent rods, cracked layshafts, poor fuel economy, rise in sales of hyclones, Armageddon, cracked block, snapped crankshaft, thrown harmonic balancer, blown rocker cover gaskets, Ice ages, engine fires, spontaneous line dancing outbreaks, bag pipe players, vacuum pump failure, lift pump failure, split fuel lines, filter failure, contaminated oil, sequels to twilight, coolant loss, sparkly vampires, justin bieber musicals, scored bearings, ring gear failure, elections, alternator failure, cooling system contamination, split header tanks, exhaust pipe corrosion, bad spelling, shocky rubber deteriation, unusual knocking, oil consumption, a beegees reunion tour, a flat battery , alternator over charging, the radio loosing its presets, scratched paintwork, the remotes batteries being stolen by the kids for their toys then run flat, headlight misalignment, the trailer light indicator light flashing because youve put the wrong wattage bulbs in, LED lights on trailers towed by D3/4s blinking eratically, house fires, scallops thinking maybe he can fix that, coffee going cold, alternator undercharging, snapped serpentine belts, timing belts jumping teeth, twisted cam shafts, rim rock, automatic transmission over heats, CDL failure, twisted propshafts, wallet rapings, forgetting to put sugar in the coffee, omiting line breaks, reapeating points in lists, brain freeze, brain farts, forgetting to check the toilet paper level before going then realising nope not enough, repeating things in lists, david hasselhofs, toyotas, blackouts, flat tyres, overtightened wheelnuts, rear main seal failures, fractured flywheels, mimes, repeating points in lists, coming back from the loo only to find out its your shout and youve just missed the 5 minute 2:1 special, pestilance, plague, sloth, greed, envy, ADD, ADHD, OCD, head gasket failure, front main seal failure, oil contamination of the timing belt, P gasket failure, The distributor drive peg snapping, oil pump bolt loss, midget uprisings, windows security holes, really boring tv programming, pirates, ninjas, AULRO DOS attacks.

you know the usual end of the world type stuff that you just cant handle without a really good cup of coffee and a tim tam.

[sheerluck]

:Rolling:

Roughly speaking Dave, if those outcomes were all to happen, how much to fix it? Two cups of coffee and a pack of Tim Tams perhaps?:D

[Blknight.aus]

are the tim tams the triple choc ones?

[sheerluck]

are the tim tams the triple choc ones?

Nooooo. Dark chocolate mint......my favourite. A pack of those can vanish in 30 seconds or less.

I am always impressed/worried when someone can manage to get Justin Bieber, Twilight and toilet paper level in one post. ;)

[Blknight.aus]

heres the scary part, I cut that list back...

[sheerluck]

heres the scary part, I cut that list back...

I knew it!

I wondered why I couldn't see Glee and High School Musical. Something had to cause them!

[Blknight.aus]

ok back on track...

the end result of running with a head in that condition

apart from poor power from that pot from lack of compression and oil consumption includes.

oil contamination, crank case over pressurization, excess ring wear, valve damage, head damage, potentially damage to the piston and bores. operated for prolonged periods you then get knock on effects from those symptoms, Give it long enough and it will eventually crack the head completely.

[eddy]

Give Freda at Turner Eng in the UK a call....they may be able to help you out if you have no luck in Oz.

[manic]

Wow comprehensive list.... thank you for your valuable time..

All pretty minor then... rover on!

[Blknight.aus]

yes, minor, in the same way that hitler was having a minor disagreement with the jewish community.

[onesilop]

Is yours a green 90? if so I was at Peninsula Rangie when you were picking it up. That is one sweet ride if it is....