Thread: This one slipped through!!!

Originally Posted by wardy1

Easy.... if a (non LR)mechanic ordered a new head gasket and got replacement dowells, he'd quite logically assume that they were the way to go and fit them....why wouldn't he, he got them as an original LR part afterall

Exactly.

Is there any evidence (yes evidence not opinions) that the steel dowels actually improve the situation.
I understood the reason the dowels were there was to hold the head gasket in place while you put the head on.
I know that the plastic dowels break when you overheat the engine and the steel ones don't.
Does it actually prevent the overheating damage from being done?

The problem arrises when the dowels distort or even shear off during an overheat, the head shifts,, causing the head gasket to loose its seal and thereby beginning the gas transfer to the cooling system etc...


JC

Originally Posted by Psimpson7

It's about $5 from LR for the steel ones.

Justin, theres no way it could have had head work earlier? It was definetely as it left the factory?

Rgds
Pete

Yes Pete, the original owner was known by the present owner,had since new, and judging by the sealant on bolts etc etc and no broken calmps/ clips etc it hasn't been apart...

JC

Originally Posted by wardy1

Easy.... if a (non LR)mechanic ordered a new head gasket and got replacement dowells, he'd quite logically assume that they were the way to go and fit them....why wouldn't he, he got them as an original LR part afterall

Fair point, and as long as we are speculating ... if the original part was steel, why would you replace it with plastic? You would think that right there might cause one to question the part itself.

Simon.

Originally Posted by justinc

The problem arrises when the dowels distort or even shear off during an overheat, the head shifts,, causing the head gasket to loose its seal and thereby beginning the gas transfer to the cooling system etc...


JC

my D2a..2003 also had broken plastic dowles
i didnt have any of the usuall, bubbles in the coolant, overheating, it wasnt making any oil, wasnt down on power...bla bla bla. but it was down on compression, 240 and 260psi/cyl, reco head, hew gaskets etc back to 320psi.

i didnt take the head off months ago due to the fact that general knowledge says steel dowles for the update d2's..

cheers phil

Well, 2 D2a's in 2 days and guess what; Plastic dowels aswell!!!!


This is a bit of a worry.


Current one in the shop is a late 2003, had a hose burst apparently and then started pressurising and using water after getting hot enough to cause the power drop and missfire.


....here we go again....


JC

Originally Posted by justinc

Well, 2 D2a's in 2 days and guess what; Plastic dowels aswell!!!!


This is a bit of a worry.


Current one in the shop is a late 2003, had a hose burst apparently and then started pressurising and using water after getting hot enough to cause the power drop and missfire.


....here we go again....


JC

may have to stick to the 300tdi then