Be aware of ACL crap

[lro11]

If you are planning to do a head gasket any time soon stay away from ACL gaskets this is what happened to mine after 1500k.
Very frustrating to have to do it all over again because of a faulty gasket and no warranty really adds to the aggravation.
I changed to a duraseal gasket.

[workingonit]

What were your symptoms when failing as it seems to be between pistons rather than out to the side? No scouring of the cylinder?

[clubagreenie]

That's the first sub 100,000km failure of an ACL gasket I've seen. And I've used them in hundreds of applications from std street to 20:1+ comp racing.

[bee utey]

Don't worry, with the closing down of aussie Falcon production ACL will soon be history. Sometime next year, I believe.

[lro11]

What were your symptoms when failing as it seems to be between pistons rather than out to the side? No scouring of the cylinder?
The problem showed up when driving at high revs on the highway the compression was going into the water jacket and pushing coolant out the cap.

[460cixy]

Don't worry, with the closing down of aussie Falcon production ACL will soon be history. Sometime next year, I believe.

I heard from my local parts supplier that there all ready gone. Bloody shame good gaskets and never had any dramas with there rings and bearings

Just went to there website looks like there in receivership

[kreecha]

That looks like 300TDI, is that right?

[lro11]

That looks like 300TDI, is that right?
Yep

[Didge]

That's a shame that another company bites the dust and more people are out of work. Lucky the rich miners are keeping the books unrealistically balanced for the government eh

[justinc]

seems like nothing has improved re tdi gaskets. i agree never had any issues with their stuff on any other application, but there is a serious design/ materials flaw with the tdi range of head gaskets. 8 years ago i had 3 go in a row, 2 for me and one for another local mech. none got to 1500km, we both claimed costs through the supplier and were helped out so can't fault their warranty department. very sad to hear of their closure, yet again local co going the way of others:(

jc

[kreecha]

To help put a funny spin on things I have a sad story of my own relating to 300TDI HG's at the moment;

My sob story... (at this point intime I can't help but laugh)

Tuesday 2 weeks ago I had all of my parts ready to do my HG just because I wanted the practice, and I don't know the state of the engine due to the checkered past of my Disco. So here we go, checked the HG holes, yep 2 hole. Right ready to go.

Got the head off. Found an extra little hole in the HG hidden under the head. Damn three-hole HG!!!!

OK so being Darwin nothing comes quickly, but I ordered a 3-hole head gasket the next day with express postage. Who I dealt with didn't have genuine but only MLS. So I ordered one of those.

HG arrived the following Wednesday (Express post to Darwin I have consequently been informed by Oz Post only needs to arrive in 7 working days!). I fitted it that night. It leaked. Spitting oil out above the engine number. I was unhappy. So I rang around to some very helpful 300TDI guru's, and it appears MLS is best suited to decked block's, and fresh immaculately flat head's only. DAMN!! Oh and no-one is sure about the oil coming out only guess is that the head gasket may not have the oil hole in it for the rocker lube circuit.

So the next morning (thursday last week), I ordered a VRS and HG kit, Elring make, from a different vendor. Happily it arrived Monday afternoon.

UNHAPPILY, the VRS kit was the only thing in the box, and there was NO HG!!!

So I rang the vendor. The excuse; Oh I could have been on drugs that day.... I was very displeased to say the least. This vendor is reknowned for quality and workmanship in the QLD area. And now I am awaiting the delivery of my HG, while my wife remains stranded at home with no car.

Silly HG's!

[lro11]

I have a spare 3 hole gasket but it's sadly an ACL

[rainman]

I have a spare 3 hole gasket but it's sadly an ACL

I just read this thread from start to end (admittedly with some Cabernet Sauvignon) and I just have to say: ROTFL! :Rolling::Rolling::Rolling::Rolling::Rolling:

James.