Thread: 300tdi - Excessive boost blows head gasket?

Having just replaced my head gasket, I was wondering if the cause could be associated with excessive turbo boost...
I recently descovered that my waste gate actuator had a hole in it. This resulted in the waste gate not openning and next to no boost in low to mid range revs then bang - about 25psi :!: :!:
I was driving like this for about 5months before I got a turbo guage and found the problem.
I'm woundering if this excessive charge into the cylinders could have caused leakage past the head gasket?
I've since replaced the actuator and I now have the waste gate openning at 17psi - but if this is going to blow gaskets then perhaps I should got back the stock 15psi.
Any thoughts appreciated.
Cheers,
Taz.

Thanks Philip,
Thats another one the ******* who rebuilt my engine are responsible for. When they were installing the exhaust manifold they managed to use the actuator body to short out the terminals of the starter motor (about 3cm away) which blew a 5mm hole in the actuator can. :x