Thread: 300tdi Head gasket???

Originally Posted by Tank

If the head surface is level and doesn't need machining and the valves are OK, the HG job could be done in a day. As far as leaving it for another time, the longer you leave it the more damage will be done, compression gasses are hot and can melt the head away where the gas is escaping from and no amount of machining will help, do the job as soon as practible or you will be looking at major money repairs, regards Frank.

Hi All

A fresh head gasket change is on the horizon for me, as I treat the head gasket as a wearing part.
The alloy heads when looked after do have a long life time.
To prevent corrosion, I change the coolant every two years, ideally with 50% coolant to 50% demineralised water.
I do a head gasket change at 100,000 Klm intervals regardless now, and with new bolts, Yes, you can get away with using the old bolts, but they lose a lot of their stretch and this becomes evident when you take them out whilst doing the job, you soon notice which ones have held their tension!
Check the rest of the system especially, hoses, radiator core, pressure cap etc.
I could go on, but as they say prevention is better than a cure.

Cheers Arthur

Just a thought, If it was rings would it be blowing blue smoke?, only ask because she doesn't burn any oil just loses a bit through leaks.
Since fitting the provent, oil consumption has dropped to virtually nothing, where as before it was blowing a bit through the intake.