Thread: While Head is Off

Not sure what engine it is but assuming its a TD5
It was likely due for a head gasket at 170 K or thereabouts do the gasket and the head if it is damaged and leave the rest alone.
They are not know to wear out at such low Ks you are probably only wasting money that said if you have had diesel in the oil it could be worn more than normal.
I have driven one that had done over 320K and was untouched all it really needed was a head job

Originally Posted by justfishing

Hello,
Looking at fitting a new head gasket as the signs are getting very obvious, still to much pressure in the hoses. I am thinking to do the rings not to keen to remove the engine has anyone done this while the motor is still in the car ?? once the head is off, it has done just over 200,000ks.
Ian

As Duane has said, there is no reason at all to touch the rings etc unless there has been water in the bores and pitting etc. These engines unfortunately seem to succumb to overheating or oil pump bolt failures before they wear out...

We work on many of them, actually LOTS, and haven't seen a worn out one yet.


JC

Agreed, but I think 170k is a bit young for a head gasket.
Mine's just ticked over 242k and has no indication of needing any attention, if I make it to 300k without it going then off comes the head anyway, but as JC says they're an extremely robust engine, they just have an Achilles heel or two

Head gaskets can leak in these at anytime, they just need to get hot and the dowels deform. Pre 2004 they all seem to have plastic dowels. I have removed a couple of 2003 heads to find plastic dowels...

i have 2 in at work at the moment with head gasket failures. Both 2001 models, 1 so bad that the circulation of coolant is almost non existent due to the pressure exerted by leaking compression gasses. When we fitted the pressure tester to the expansion tank and ran the engine, the gauge started to rise by itself even at a cold idle

Basically, there is so much compression gas getting into the cooling system that it is displacing the water as the engine is idling...After about 3 minutes the top hose is empty and the pressure gauge reads 8psi. The water pump has been removed and inspected as I was first suspect of it as there was almost no circulation. The vehicle arrived at work empty of water, I added 10 litres to it to perform a pressure test. I am hoping the head is OK and the block face is alright as the water consists of a brown muddy substance, looks like years without coolant or inhibitor.

JC

Originally Posted by justinc

Head gaskets can leak in these at anytime, they just need to get hot and the dowels deform. Pre 2004 they all seem to have plastic dowels. I have removed a couple of 2003 heads to find plastic dowels...

i have 2 in at work at the moment with head gasket failures. Both 2001 models, 1 so bad that the circulation of coolant is almost non existent due to the pressure exerted by leaking compression gasses. When we fitted the pressure tester to the expansion tank and ran the engine, the gauge started to rise by itself even at a cold idle

Basically, there is so much compression gas getting into the cooling system that it is displacing the water as the engine is idling...After about 3 minutes the top hose is empty and the pressure gauge reads 8psi. The water pump has been removed and inspected as I was first suspect of it as there was almost no circulation. The vehicle arrived at work empty of water, I added 10 litres to it to perform a pressure test. I am hoping the head is OK and the block face is alright as the water consists of a brown muddy substance, looks like years without coolant or inhibitor.

JC

Yikes.
I'm far too paranoid to let things get that bad
Obviously they can go whenever, but assuming you don't have any bad luck and look after it, pre-200k seems very unlucky to me.
Once I fit an engine monitor/low coolant alarm I'll be happy

Originally Posted by Disco Muppet

Yikes.
I'm far too paranoid to let things get that bad
Obviously they can go whenever, but assuming you don't have any bad luck and look after it, pre-200k seems very unlucky to me.
Once I fit an engine monitor/low coolant alarm I'll be happy

yup, if it were mine i would fit monitoring bits and enjoy the ride...170k is early for these i agree, but could be an anomally, like most things in the automotive world

jc

Hello,
Huge thanks to everybody, Sorry it is a TD5 2004 Classic, I will strip it out around the 25th as back to work on the mine again on the 27th so I can check the gasket holes, order everything then will be here on my return. I did my 300TDI when i was in up in Kal, I have quite a few other things to do to it, been too long in the making.
thanks
Ian

You should be able to see the punched holes without lifting the head. They are visible at the front right of the motor. You'll only see a small part of the punched hole but it's enough to determine which gasket is fitted.

cheers
Paul