Thread: Rebuilding a TD5

First cab off the rank with a short answer: a TD5 is just an engine. It should not be beyond someone with your skills and enthusiasm. As long as you are methodical, thorough and have the tools and specs. As to whether it's within your physical capabilities, only you can answer that, L. But, you do things that I would be loath to tackle.

No idea of engine shops over your way.

I've got bad blow by on mine. I use a provent 200 to catch most of the oily mist. Which it can have a bit sometimes. Still drives pretty good though. Have you taken the oil cap off the rocker cover to see how bad the blow by is?

Blowby can be caused by issues other than wear. How many kilometres on your engine?
Glazing of the bore, carbon build up in general can cause blowby and/or oil consumption.
In some cases getting rid of the carbon will rectify the issues.
FTC Decarbonizer - Diesel Engine Decarbonization Products is a brilliant product that does what it claims. It is not a bottle of magic that can rebuild a worn engine. Only you can decide if it is worth a try, or go directly to the rebuild option.

Originally Posted by SPROVER

I've got bad blow by on mine. I use a provent 200 to catch most of the oily mist. Which it can have a bit sometimes. Still drives pretty good though. Have you taken the oil cap off the rocker cover to see how bad the blow by is?

I'd second this.

Can you get a video with the engine hot and running?

Remove the oil filler cap and record what you see.

There is a small possiblity of the DCV (depression control valve) failing stuck, this will cause all the gaskets on a TD5 to leak irrespective of engine condition.

It's the elbow valve that joins the pipe from the top of the rocker cover to the intake pipe just before the turbo.

Cheers
James

I had a fair whack of blowby in my Td5, I was a bit surprised, and to be honest I thought I'd dusted the motor.

In the end, it turned out that one of the pistons was cracked. I had that piston replaced and now the motor has zero blowby according to the cap over the oil fill hole test and even paper over the oil fill hole test.

You were lucky the engine didn't scavenge the lube oil and run away, Simon.

Originally Posted by V8Ian

You were lucky the engine didn't scavenge the lube oil and run away, Simon.

Funny you should mention that! The cracked piston was found because the head had cracked around an injector port, so when the fuel pump was on it was spraying diesel into the engine oil in the head. The sump filled up with fuel in the oil, and I picked it up because it dropped its smoke out of the exhaust and had a very minor run on. The engine oil had blown through the breather, turbo, intercooler and back around into the intake. When the new head was being fitted they saw the cracked piston. You've a good point, because I thought there was an oil squirter underneath the piston for cooling as well???? (or did I just make that up???), I'm assuming the compression, combustion and turbo pressure kept the oil out and created the blow by.

Originally Posted by Epic_Dragon

Howdy folks how many of you have rebuilt a td5?
I had some sad news yesterday, I took my car to see our friendly local landie expert, trying to knuckle out some fresh oil leaks where I wasn't able to easily view. Thinking I'd have a list of gaskets to replace, it turns out any of that would be pointless as I have a cylinder unwell, excessive blowby (I've always watched this and it's not good recently ) so the pressure/gas build up is just pushing oil out where it can. I check oil every week and top up as necessary.
I live well below the poverty line thanks to disabilities, and my disco is my independence and only car I can drive. So I'm looking at options that will ensure a reliable motor for another half a million km, but also budget concious, that has least time of the road. I'm nursing the old girl around at the moment and all things considered, she's going pretty well.
I've rebuilt a v8 or two in my time, and Thinking of tackling this as much as I can as someone in a wheelchair. To keep costs down but unsure if its beyond my skill and physical limitations. A Td5 is a far different beast than the old v8S plus i wasn't a wheelie back then

I could drop a second hand one in but with not knowing how one might have been treated I think that could potentially cost more in long run.

Those who have rebuilt a td5, how difficult was it? How much muscle did you need, and how good has the motor been since?
I'm trying to make a plan of action in what to do and how to do it. I'll need new pistons and cylinders bored as well with the mileage my car has done. Are there any recommendations of parts and places in SA for machining?

I knew at some point I'd be needing to look at such options, thought I had a lot more time or just thought noo the old girl will go forever. And she is still going but unsure how long for
It's keeping me up at night, I'm so worried about it.

If this is the case, and it has been correctly diagnosed, then probably just keep doing what you are doing to keep it going, minus the stress:-), look for a short motor that has good cylinders in spec still showing the crosshatch ( I suspect if your engine has lots of blow by there's a good chance 1 or more cylinders will be worn beyond spec ) then rebuild the short motor with new rings, mains and big ends , until you are ready to do the swap.

A TD5 short motor should be inexpensive, maybe someone here has one?

You already have a new timing chain, sprockets etc which you can swap when you do the change over. The old girl will go for a long time, as is, but just leak oil.

They are not a complex build, and parts are not too expensive, you will be able to do it.