Thread: 300tdi pushrod damage - cause?

Remove the timing cover and check the belt... There's something very wrong if its knocking.. The marks on the push rods, do they correspond with the valves that were missing caps? Looks like something has fallen down the push rod holes but not managed to fall right thru... I'd be checking the timing, refitting the push rods, setting them back up correctly, and then turning it over by hand. As for the oil pressure... Not sure there... tho, as I type I do remember a story of a new cam shaft being fitted to an engine, and one of the journals on the cam was larger than the bearing it was being slid into.... so much so that it pushed said bearing out.. If this had happened, there'd be no bearing to restrict the oil supplied to it, so it would be like a massive internal oil leak = low oil pressure. Might also be worth dropping the sump and having a good look in there with an led torch.. checking big end play, camshaft, oil pump and drive, and for bits sat in the sump... Yeah, it's a bit of work, but worth it if you save the engine! Good luck!

Push rod not seated in lifter correctly ???

long shot but is the wear on the push rod at the head gasket height?

Originally Posted by Sitec

Remove the timing cover and check the belt... There's something very wrong if its knocking.. The marks on the push rods, do they correspond with the valves that were missing caps? Looks like something has fallen down the push rod holes but not managed to fall right thru... I'd be checking the timing, refitting the push rods, setting them back up correctly, and then turning it over by hand. As for the oil pressure... Not sure there... tho, as I type I do remember a story of a new cam shaft being fitted to an engine, and one of the journals on the cam was larger than the bearing it was being slid into.... so much so that it pushed said bearing out.. If this had happened, there'd be no bearing to restrict the oil supplied to it, so it would be like a massive internal oil leak = low oil pressure. Might also be worth dropping the sump and having a good look in there with an led torch.. checking big end play, camshaft, oil pump and drive, and for bits sat in the sump... Yeah, it's a bit of work, but worth it if you save the engine! Good luck!

Thanks mate,

I had my money on one of the rogue lash caps trying to fit down there. There are 5 missing and not a hint of any in the rocker area.

The caps are replaced now with new ones and a replacement rod put in its place however the knock is still there.

Worrying also is when rotating the engine my hand no 4 and another (didn't write it down ) is clicking - jumping about 3-5mm in a down motion, like its hanging.

The scoring does seem around the same level as where the head gasket would sit.

Originally Posted by 30t of coolness

Push rod not seated in lifter correctly ???

Easy to do, when assembling my tdi with new head i slid a pushrod down and it sort of jammed as it wasnt seated properly. I re seated it and them made sure the rest were seated correctly before rotating the crank a few times then did the clearances.

I would not be operating that engine until I had sorted the problem. Valve caps do shatter and disappear, though they often cause no problem apart from a clatter! Low oil could be worn bearings, worn pump,or as something as drastic as Sitec said. Just replacing the caps and hoping it is fixed is not really fixing it, there is a reason for the problem.
Cheers Scott

You have to start at the beginning.
Don't run the engine until every part is accounted for and the timing checked.
Drain the sump and remove it and look up unto the engine. Where was the work performed at a workshop?
I would get the spare parts manual and visually check the cylinder hear to make sure all the parts are in the right place. If you rush you'll probably be sorry later.
We have a saying "follow the footprints", you should consider all the work done on your engine compromised and needing to be checked.( that means stripped down and reassembled ) you could end up with serious and expensive engine damage. If you can't do it your self you may have to pay someone to do it, or take it back to the ........ who did the job the first time.
A little off subject but workmanship and engine damage related.
My car had the cam belt broken because the spot welded flange came of the crankshaft pulley, just 2000 kms after 200,000 km belt change. After i gave the instruction in writing to change all the belt pulleys , especially he crankshaft pulley. ( and was charged for a full pulley kit), Its a known defect. The result result; my young son was driving the car & just kept going , broken push rods, damaged cam followers. the car had to be tilt trucked to a landrover works shop ( another one) After the $2500 repair job, (including new integral flanged crankshaft pulley), I returned to the LR specialist garage in a small country town north of Melbourne, They were very indignant at the suggestion the broken belt was caused by them, "we never change the crankshaft pulley, there's no need", and said why didn't you bring it back to us? Like my engine has gone like a sewing machine for for 200,000 kms, it comes there for service & a month later it's F...D.

I'd rather pay someone who knows what he's doing than let an idiot fix my car for free. Just my though for the day cheers siimo But we're not allowed to slag off people on the forum

Originally Posted by redrovertdi

long shot but is the wear on the push rod at the head gasket height?

Good point, well presented...

Has the head gasket been fitted incorrectly??!!??

M