Thread: Is my TD5 head soft?

I would take the head to a reputable engine re builder and get them to test the head for you (hardness) . If it was hot in would also get them to check that it was straight,it might need skimming.

Jo, the heads are surfaced hardened, so if you have had a head gasket failure, after checking and confirming there is a warp as advised by Bazzel, then they can be ground down to make it flat again.

I have heard of up to 12 thousands of an inch being removed with no problems down the track. If your head is ground then you must use land rovers thickest head gasket in the reassembly. I believe they come in three different size thickness. My TD5 engine had 9 thou off at 125000 km and it's still going at over 400000 now. You must also use the steel head location pins! Never put the plastic ones back in. I made mine but now understand that you can buy factory steel replacements.

Hi Toad and Bazzle, are you saying that even if it has got hot and softened that after skimming head it can still be used?

The parts supplier was saying no point doing it unless using new head.
Toad did your head overheat at 125k?

I haven't stripped it down yet as is still running and will just sell as is if the head will be doubtful. Not worth it to put new head on.

I had a TD5 head that went soft due to repeated overheating whilst I argued with LR as to who was going to pay for the head gasket replacement. In the final overheating the vehicle was driven slowly for some 30 kms at night with the needle still high in the red and no temperature warning light on. It had never been so hot that the needle dropped to the bottom of the gauge. The new gasket, correctly fitted by myself along with new bolts, lasted less than the 50 km drive to town because the bolts didn't stay tight and re-torquing them achieved nothing.

The hardness test is quick and simple so get it done.

I still am unsure of the chance that the head is not soft. It got so hot that the engine started to lose power and the wife stopped before it seized, temp needle just at point between white and red.

I don't want to pull it down and find the head is soft as repair would be more than vehicle is worth.

I am assuming it can't be rehardened?

So is there anyone willing to give me a % on chance of head still being hard.

Or does anyone want a cheap disco to go? in Eden NSW

Cheers jo

Sorry I cant answer your question but this might help
http://www.acl.com.au/web/acl00056.n...d?OpenDocument

Reduced engine power is ecm controlled and triggered when the coolant temp gets too high, but it does not necessarily mean that the head has gone soft. Needle at the bottom of the red isn't too bad. Mine was high in the red for a long time, running with reduced coolant volume as it had pumped it out when I hadn't fully tightened the cap on the plastic bottle after a top-up. Mine would have overheated many times so was an extreme case of persistant overheating.