Thread: Wastegate sticking and cooking motor

Not in a pink fit, unless the engine is also overfuelling to the max.

The fuel pump will NOT deliver enough fuel to 'cook' an engine unless someone has played with the main fuel setting, so I'd say it is a furphy.

The 300Tdi requires excellent cooling system condition, I'd say THAT is more likely a suspect.

JC

My father has had the disco for over three years and I know he has never had the fuel pump adjusted or anthing played with other than having the timing belt replaced two years ago. I did see two tdi discos with the heads off being rebuilt but I would have thought if the damage was related to the turbo it would have either had no power or been going like a rocket. I will have to find out more info from the old man. I know touch wood that I have had my tdi for eight years and have yet to do a head even when it had a sticking thermostat

Yes, as I said neglected cooling systems and high KM/ age are the prime culprit for Tdi head and engine failures. Followed by unauthorised tampering of fuelling in an attempt to achieve stratospheric power outputs...

The only other reason I can think of could be that the block face has some irregularities, but that would usually have shown up earlier on I would've thought.

Hope all gets sorted soon.

JC

My experience may be related. After a certain nameless landrover mechanic Nth of the river here in Perth rebuild my engine twice (a story for another day), I discovered a hole in the rear of the steel waste gate actuator several months later. The hole was around 4-5mm in diameter and showed signs of heat rings around the edges. I'm almost certain it was caused by the mechanic re-installing the exhaust manifold without disconnecting the battery as the starter motor terminals are really easy to short-out with the waste gate actuator during re-installation, thus blowing a hole in the actuator.

The hole in the waste gate actuator effectively dis-abled it. I installed a turbo gauge after hearing a slight whistling sound and I discovered that at high rpms the boost was off-the scale (25psi). After replacing the actuator, a few weeks later my head gasket went; which, could have easily led to a cooked motor (luckily - not in my case).

Thanks, His solution is to buy anothe TDI disco with a rebuilt motor and tinker with the old one, fix it and move on. It is sad because it was only last Christmas when he spent nearly $3k on the head and rebuild at a LR specialist after it dropped a hose. It had a new waterpump, radiator, hoses and head done so maintenance was not an issue. Since my parents have moved 100km from there he has taken it to another LR specialist closer to their current home

Originally Posted by Taz

My experience may be related. After a certain nameless landrover mechanic Nth of the river here in Perth rebuild my engine twice (a story for another day), I discovered a hole in the rear of the steel waste gate actuator several months later. The hole was around 4-5mm in diameter and showed signs of heat rings around the edges. I'm almost certain it was caused by the mechanic re-installing the exhaust manifold without disconnecting the battery as the starter motor terminals are really easy to short-out with the waste gate actuator during re-installation, thus blowing a hole in the actuator.

The hole in the waste gate actuator effectively dis-abled it. I installed a turbo gauge after hearing a slight whistling sound and I discovered that at high rpms the boost was off-the scale (25psi). After replacing the actuator, a few weeks later my head gasket went; which, could have easily led to a cooked motor (luckily - not in my case).

Good point to add there Taz. This could be a product of the 'chicken and egg' syndrome, High boost pressures can't 'cook' an engine, but as you say could very easily lead to the failure of a head gasket fire ring, which inturn could then empty the cooling system in pretty short order, causing a terminal failure.


JC

I think you have it there JC. We went down and got it started today and after a bit of smoke it settled down pretty well. Drove around for half an hour then a bit of water started to spit out of the tail pipe. hopefully it will just be a head gasket replacement.

They had another TDI come in with head problems today so maybe it could be something to check.

On a side note I kow of three TDI owners who have had the injector pumps begin to leak from everwhere possible in the last eight weeks.

i have just had my injector pump done due to a leak from under the top housing, on top of changing the head due to a head gasket