Thread: 200TDI cylinder head issue

Originally Posted by Graz

Due to the continuing problem with the water being displaced to the expansion tank and replaced by air and setting the coolant sensor off (this seems to happen after about 80 K's then I bleed it off and again top up the engine coolant) I yanked the head off again today and had it pressure tested and found no problems. Coundn't see any evidence of leakage on the head, block or gasket but am in the process of re-installing the head along with a slightly fatter gasket and new bolts.
The question is my workshop manual advises follow the three stages of torque down and thats it whereas the information supplied with the new gasket advises to do the initial three stage torque down i.e. 30 ftlb followed by 60deg and then another 60 deg then advises to start and heat soak to 80 deg C and then slacken off the bolts, relax the installation and then retorque. I assume that means go thru the three torque steps again.
So as to the manual and the data supplied by the gasket manufacturer, which is correct??
Thanks
PS. would it be likely that as the result of fitting the low coolant sensor that it is detecting a problem that was always there prior to the modification and was never an issue as it wasn't detected?????

the manufactures spec for the manufactururers head gasket is correct. (harleys gaskets require the same treatments as an example)

the workshop manual is correct for a genuine unit.

yep when you re go the head bolt tensions you have to retension the bolts the same way... Heres the kicker.

you may not be able to retension your head bolts.... some head bolts are a one use only item.

yes it is possable that your low coolant sensor is picking up a pre-existing condition that you havent found previously. But that said the coolant level should alway be at or above the cool/min line on the tank.

Thanks Dave. I'll go the way of the gasket manufacturer and do the double torque up. I'm on rec leave so have plenty of time

Originally Posted by Graz

Thanks Dave. I'll go the way of the gasket manufacturer and do the double torque up. I'm on rec leave so have plenty of time

When you say "then slacken off the bolts," you don't mean all of them at once, do you, do one at a time in sequence, Regards Frank.