300td head gasket failure - with photos

**Jim621** · 31st October 2010, 11:47 AM

Hi All,

Just bought a 300tdi disco with suspect head gasket or cracked head.
Symptoms were overheating in 5 mins of driving and gases in the coolant.

The previous owner (only had it for a month) had the head gasket replaced by his mechanic father inlaw, but the problem persisted.

I have taken the head off and have taken some photos, it shows leaking between cyliners 2 and 3 and also leaking into the coolant passages.

What are peoples diagnosis to the cause? overheating leading to a warped head?
My next step is to find a straight rule and check the head warp.
Then i plan to take it to a landrover mechanic and get him to check for cracks.
Can the head be machined and the valves recessed accordingly?

Also i have just noticed in the photos the wear marks on the cyliner walls. You can see the honing crosshatching marks and then the distinct vertical wear marks. Eeek

Is this complete rebuild stuff?
supposedly the engine was rebuilt 30,000kms ago but am yet to see any paperwork from the owner, he is getting it for me but im not holding my breath.

Photos below:

thanks, Steve.

**bee utey** · 31st October 2010, 12:01 PM

Ooh, I think this poor baby has been cooked to the point of seizing. Sounds like new head, rebore and pistons at least.

**groucho** · 31st October 2010, 02:32 PM

It looks like it's been hot and grabbed a piston. Somebody has been at it with a hone as they are not a factory crosshatch pattern. A full stripdown wouldbe in order. Better get the block deck checked also.......

klappers · 31st October 2010, 02:37 PM

Originally Posted by bee utey

Ooh, I think this poor baby has been cooked to the point of seizing. Sounds like new head, rebore and pistons at least.

Originally Posted by groucho

It looks like it's been hot and grabbed a piston. Somebody has been at it with a hone as they are not a factory crosshatch pattern. A full stripdown wouldbe in order. Better get the block deck checked also.......

x3.

That does not look good at all

**dolphint** · 31st October 2010, 03:12 PM

I think it's a bodge job

...that so called rebuild 30k ago was most likely a back yard attempt to fix an overheated engine, hence the warped head with newish head gasket and the honing marks that look like it was done with a cheep honing tool in an electric drill

i hope you didn't pay too much for it...and... I hope I'm wrong. Good luck, it's all fixable with a few $$$

**pistolpete** · 31st October 2010, 05:26 PM

thats the same gasket i blew..

though i did block damage too

**Taz** · 31st October 2010, 06:27 PM

Yes whilst you can machine the head and recess the values, if the engine has had a good heat soak it may have made the head soft. So ask to have it hardness tested before doing anywork on it... otherwise a new head as already mentioned. They are a great engine and well worth saving if it suits your needs.

It'sNotWorthComplaining! · 31st October 2010, 07:35 PM

Originally Posted by dolphint

and the honing marks that look like it was done with a cheep honing tool in an electric drill

Gee your pretty kind, even a cheap drill honer doesn't leave marks like that.
I reckon a hand holding a piece of sand paper did that

**Jim621** · 31st October 2010, 07:44 PM

Thanks for the comments everyone.
I was assuming the engine had a cracked head so its a good outcome there..... unfortunate about the rest of it.

The head is warped ~16 thou along its length and ~12 thou across the width.

The head gasket has 3 holes for the head gasket thickness marking, does this mean i cant mill the head as its already the thickest gasket?

I wasnt too pleased when i saw the scratching on the bores, but it is what it is.
I didnt pay much for the car, and dont plan to spend much on it either.

My plan at the moment is to get the head skimmed and valve recessed - and hardness checked, Thanks Taz.
Then drop the sump pan, remove the pistons to do a hone to try and clean up the bores - dodgy i know, but i want to fix it up as cheap as possible.

What are your thoughts?
does anyone know how much i should expect to pay to get the head skimmed and valves recessed?

thanks, Steve

**justinc** · 31st October 2010, 07:49 PM

That head should'nt ever have been refitted. Unless you'd had a few overheats to the point of stopping, then Obviously it is a bodge for sale job IMHO

Definately a bottom end overhaul req, check head for softness etc, and then it'll be fine.

It is an easy job with these 1950's technology engines

JC

Edit: You won't hone those marks out and there is the damage to the pistons to consider too. AND Those figures for warpage suggest a new head is req. Max I would machine off a Tdi head in a standard UNMACHINED previously condition is 10 to 12 thou. Any more, and you risk going too close to the end of the hard facing.

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