Now a head gasket

[CraigE]

Well here we go again, looks like another head gasket. Started car up today an plume of white smoke. Coolant level down a bit. Further investigation Pro Vent catch can, goop (water & oil), same in rocker. To make it worse oil around the exhaust from turbo manifold so maybe a turbo issue as well.
All in all a complete **** day.

[justinc]

Damn. Thats not good Craig. There is also the possibility of a crack in an exhaust or inlet port however that is actually a much worse scenario 😢😢

[CraigE]

Damn. Thats not good Craig. There is also the possibility of a crack in an exhaust or inlet port however that is actually a much worse scenario 😢😢
yeah hoping it is not that. Any easy way to check there is not a crack?

[justinc]

Head off I'm afraid anyway as there is an interface somewhere between the crankcase and cooling system. Could also be a bore porosity problem as the moisture in the crankcase can enter via the cylinder wall below the level of the piston, which will not cause any hydraulic lock.

[trout1105]

I wouldn't overthink this as this can drive you Nuts, Just get the head off and go from there.
Hopefully it is a simple case of a failed head gasket [thumbsupbig]

[cripesamighty]

I feel your pain Craig. Earlier this year doing a routine check in my D1, I found a thin layer of oil sitting on top of the coolant. Enter that sinking feeling..... :cry:

[trout1105]

My D2a is in the workshop now with problems with the head gaskets.[bawl]

[CraigE]

Head off I'm afraid anyway as there is an interface somewhere between the crankcase and cooling system. Could also be a bore porosity problem as the moisture in the crankcase can enter via the cylinder wall below the level of the piston, which will not cause any hydraulic lock.
Thanks Justin. Yeah head has too come off regardless, next break maybe.
I would assume a crack would be pretty easy to see?
Gasket may or may not show tell tale signs, that is an issue as not always clear.
How would you determine a porous head??
If a head what are the better options?
I see Turner Engineering have them for around 1125 GBP ready to go.
There gos the rest of my tax return if the case.

The only aftermarket I can seem to find are AMC, with Island 4x4 so far the cheapest at $1000 GBP with valves ready to go. Turner Engineering 1125 GBP (app $1925 AUD). SMS Diesel Australia $3300 AUD.
After some info on AMC heads if I have to go this path or other options if i need to. Waiting for a price from TRS.
Likely I will source from the UK as prices here just ridiculous.

[cripesamighty]

Craig, I went through a local Indie and got an AMC head. It should last longer than the original. Good luck!

[justinc]

AMC are the better choice 100%. Yes the prices here are silly. I won't supply overseas purchased bits though as there is NO, read NO, chance of getting any warranty back up. I learnt that the hard way...

Jc

[PAT303]

Craig,do yourself a favor and find out why the problem happened,you've done the HG twice now?,you don't want a third time. I've never done a Td5 HG, let me know what you are doing and I'll come done and give you a hand. Pat

[CraigE]

Craig,do yourself a favor and find out why the problem happened,you've done the HG twice now?,you don't want a third time. I've never done a Td5 HG, let me know what you are doing and I'll come done and give you a hand. Pat
Pat,
Have only done once and that was more precautionary due to plastic head dowels. Possibly I stuffed it up, but was 5 years ago. I am expecting to find a cracked head, so if not will be a bonus. No passing diesel only coolant. Had been using a little coolant for about 6 months but no smoke. Yesterday suddenly smoke. Will start in a fortnight when I get back after closing Ravey. Start new job on 24th. Might have to get it x rayed / crack tested. I suppose an excuse to fix the oil leak from the cam carrier.
Thanks for the offer of help, better ways to catch up though. LOL.
Cheers
Craig

[justinc]

Craig we've seen a few over the years with the steam train effect and they have had visible cracks in the inlet or exhaust ports via a torch and the naked eye. You can easily see the steam/ washed mark. The other possible problem is how did the coolant also enter the crankcase? That unfortunately may be a bigger problem. If you CANNOT see sny head cracks and if the head passes pressure testing then I'm afraid that the next suspect is a cylinder bore. I have had 2 tdis do this. Have had 1 td5 with a hole in the bore and it was high enough up thecwall to let water into the cylinder but not enough to hydraulic. Head off and the bore was so bsdly marked and pitted it was obvious where the coolant was going😯. If you can i woul drain the coolant out before you leave it sitting. Start it up momentarily after that to esure no moisture remains in the cylinder /s and then whip the head off when you get back and report😎.

Jc

[djam1]

Craig not saying this is the thing to do but Dazza was selling second hand TD5s for a couple of grand a while back.
Maybe this is an alternative he isn't that far from you.
I went for the AMC head and haven't looked back I don't think I would run a TD5 without the AMC head personally.
You mentioned a business in Adelaide I think you will find them critical of AMC possibly in an effort to get you to purchase a reco TD5 head from them.
Be careful

[CraigE]

Craig we've seen a few over the years with the steam train effect and they have had visible cracks in the inlet or exhaust ports via a torch and the naked eye. You can easily see the steam/ washed mark. The other possible problem is how did the coolant also enter the crankcase? That unfortunately may be a bigger problem. If you CANNOT see sny head cracks and if the head passes pressure testing then I'm afraid that the next suspect is a cylinder bore. I have had 2 tdis do this. Have had 1 td5 with a hole in the bore and it was high enough up thecwall to let water into the cylinder but not enough to hydraulic. Head off and the bore was so bsdly marked and pitted it was obvious where the coolant was going��. If you can i woul drain the coolant out before you leave it sitting. Start it up momentarily after that to esure no moisture remains in the cylinder /s and then whip the head off when you get back and report��.

Jc

Justin,
Will look a bit closer when I get home. Did not appear to be water or condensate in the sump, so maybe steam from the exhaust back into the provent via the turbo, who knows. Only appeared to be in the provent with a little around the rocker area.
Cheers
Craig

[CraigE]

Craig not saying this is the thing to do but Dazza was selling second hand TD5s for a couple of grand a while back.
Maybe this is an alternative he isn't that far from you.
I went for the AMC head and haven't looked back I don't think I would run a TD5 without the AMC head personally.
You mentioned a business in Adelaide I think you will find them critical of AMC possibly in an effort to get you to purchase a reco TD5 head from them.
Be careful
Will look at that option if it is not just a head.

[Nomad9]

Hi CraigE,
Just FYI I got an upgraded cylinder head kit from Turner Engineering in the UK and it was the "ducks nuts", everything supplied fitted and everything worked a treat. My mistake was getting caught with the import tax, if I had ordered the parts separately I could have avoided the tax. Turner Engineering have always been a great assistance to myself, good communication, reasonable prices and excellent after sales service, couldn't fault them.

I have also bought a 300 tdi engine rebuild kit and several other engine related parts, always great service.

Cheers Marty

[nismine01]

I have a 2000 TD5 head sitting here doing nothing. It has been reconditioned (head gasket leaking), faced, valves, crack tested etc, cost me $550 to do.

PM me if interested.

Mike

[EJB]

Just got my 2013 Defender back from Land Rover... blowing white smoke, loss of power and temperature up the symptoms...first attempt, it is the sensors they say...returned and managed 15km....second attempt...its the head....new head....and eight weeks later...and a trip home and.... more white smoke and loss of power, clearly not the head...two weeks later...new ERG valve and working a treat...three months to the day! Thank heavens for Land Rover assist and Land Rover goodwill... otherwise one would have been grounded.

[CraigE]

I have a 2000 TD5 head sitting here doing nothing. It has been reconditioned (head gasket leaking), faced, valves, crack tested etc, cost me $550 to do.

PM me if interested.

Mike

Thanks for the offer mike, I will let you know once the head is off and tested.
Cheers
Craig

[CraigE]

Hi CraigE,
Just FYI I got an upgraded cylinder head kit from Turner Engineering in the UK and it was the "ducks nuts", everything supplied fitted and everything worked a treat. My mistake was getting caught with the import tax, if I had ordered the parts separately I could have avoided the tax. Turner Engineering have always been a great assistance to myself, good communication, reasonable prices and excellent after sales service, couldn't fault them.

I have also bought a 300 tdi engine rebuild kit and several other engine related parts, always great service.

Cheers Marty
What was the import tax worth? I don't think any way of getting out of it being over 1100GBP. The limit is $1000 AUD isn't it?
The two place I will be looking at are Turners or Island. Island have them at 1000 GBP Turners 1125GBP dressed. Or the offer from Mike may be an option.
Cheers
Craig

[CraigE]

Just got my 2013 Defender back from Land Rover... blowing white smoke, loss of power and temperature up the symptoms...first attempt, it is the sensors they say...returned and managed 15km....second attempt...its the head....new head....and eight weeks later...and a trip home and.... more white smoke and loss of power, clearly not the head...two weeks later...new ERG valve and working a treat...three months to the day! Thank heavens for Land Rover assist and Land Rover goodwill... otherwise one would have been grounded.

No ERG valve on mine, removed years ago.
Cheers
Craig

[CraigE]

Well as an update nearly 100% sure it is a cracked head. Appears to be cracked internally into chambers. Cannot see any cracking in face of head, head gasket appears ok. Block appears ok.
Pics of what we found
131045
Exhaust #2
131046
Inlet #2
131047
#2 Piston - very clean due to coolant
131048
For comparison # 1 Exhaust
131049
For comparison #1 Inlet

[CraigE]

Well the head and bits and pieces have been dispatched from old blighty, should be here next week sometime so I can tackle when I get home on the 9th Nov.
Hopefully no more steam train.
If all good may do a turbo upgrade as well.
Old head will be going to the high school workshop as they have little in the way of diesel engines and parts to explain to students.

[rick130]

Bloody motor cars.
I sometimes wonder why I have a private vehicle when I have a company car!
Did you order from Turner's Craig?
I found them delivering brilliant service when I ordered my 300Tdi head, parts and injectors three years ago.

[CraigE]

Rick,
I ended up going with Island as 125GBP cheaper, freight was cheaper as well and they could also supply all the other bits I required in one hit. Will keep updated on how it go's. So far Island 4x4 have been great, responding quick to contacts. Ended up with all the gear I needed for 126 GBP. Hopefully it will all be good.


Bloody motor cars.
I sometimes wonder why I have a private vehicle when I have a company car!
Did you order from Turner's Craig?
I found them delivering brilliant service when I ordered my 300Tdi head, parts and injectors three years ago.

[CraigE]

Just been advised is at Perth airport, so just awaiting Customs and how much I need to pay.
Cheers
Craig

[trout1105]

Just been advised is at Perth airport, so just awaiting Customs and how much I need to pay.
Cheers
Craig

It's normally just under $50 ( If there is no import fees or GST owing) After you have filled out the various forms and then you wait an inordinate amount of time before they finally release your goods.
If you can keep the value of anything you order from overseas under the magic $1000 mark you rarely have a problem with customs.

[CraigE]

Well delivered to home today, no duties or taxes so good. Another week until I can get home and start fitting. So far can recommend, just over a week from order time.

[CraigE]

Well good news head is on.
Took a bit to fire up and for a minute did not think it would.
Seems to be running ok.
Only issue seems to be some minor smoke coming from back of turbo / exhaust flange area. Seems to be whitish/grey and only little bits at a time. None out of the exhaust tip at all though.
Did not have time to investigate properly as flew out for work next morning.
Thinking a few things may be possible.
Maybe excess fuel from taking so long to start in exhaust. Took about 15 minutes to fire using the same method as when running out of fuel.
Timing out, but not sure how as chain and sprocket were cable tied during operation.
MAF maybe us.
Turbo seals gone.
Injector seals possibly not sealed correct again.
Seems to be never ending lately, but at least she is running.
I am leaning towards it being a fueling issue, but not sure.
Will maybe try to capture some of it on paper to see if oily or watery.
Cheers
Craig

[Nomad9]

Hi Craig, are you sure what you are seeing isn’t just the exhaust drying out as it warms up? Surely you would see something coming out of the exhaust if the problem was in the gas stream? I hope it is just the exhaust drying out you have endured enough pain already.

Cheers Marty

[CraigE]

Hi Craig, are you sure what you are seeing isn’t just the exhaust drying out as it warms up? Surely you would see something coming out of the exhaust if the problem was in the gas stream? I hope it is just the exhaust drying out you have endured enough pain already.

Cheers Marty

Possibly, hoping something like that. Will check out when home again. Would have thought if something serious would be out the exhaust itself.
Sort of hoping while trying to do a restart a gut full of raw full may have gone out the exhaust port and just that burning off.

[Tins]

Possibly, hoping something like that. Will check out when home again. Would have thought if something serious would be out the exhaust itself.
Sort of hoping while trying to do a restart a gut full of raw full may have gone out the exhaust port and just that burning off.

Nothing like smoke after a rebuild to fright you up: Possibly just oily fingerprints etc?

[CraigE]

Finally some good news. Head seems to have settled now and no issues. Was a little smoke for a bit, possibly valves just seating. Have now done around 500kms with no issue. No oil leaks at this stage either.
Always something small though, indicators not working this morning so another minor task to track down.