Thread: Up date on TD5 headgasket change

They updated to steel dowels at some stage so i would use steel, bolts may have stretched causing the movement.

I am sure there is a bulletin from LR stating if it was factory fitted with plastic dowels, use only plastic dowels when reassembling. Steel dowels may cause head / block cracking.

I think it has been covered here before, try a search.

worth a read,,
What is a plastic head dowel?

I belive but im not totally sure that if you have the later fuel pressure regulator then you can use the steel dowls regardless of what you had in there but if you have the old regulator then there is the chance of the steel dowels causing problems.

Originally Posted by robert42

Hi to All, Two weeks back I asked about changing a head gasket on a TD5 and got a good lot of info, thank you . Ok the chap thats doing the job has come back from two weeks leave. Monday the head came off no real drammers. I smile , One thing he said was the head had just started floating. And I could see where the head had been moveing around. And could see where the gas was passing into the water jacket. Very small marks on the gasket. Now it has plastic dowls .99 disco,is it better to put plastic back or do I go to metal? only asking .One other thing has anyone tried to do a retension on the head bolts after 500 or so ks. Or do you leave well alone. It looked to me if that had of been done ,this may not have happened...So what Ive learned is ,If you start to use water dont wait, change the head gasket. Also fit a low water alarm they work!!!could save you heaps..
Thank you to all that gave advice....robert 42

Thanks for the ongoing Feedback, it is appreciated, Regards Frank.

When LR state that the steel dowels are not suitable for early engines, they mean THOSE steel dowels. You can always make your own, to the length of the plastic dowels. I made mine from an 8mm drill bit, having purchased new plastic ones to ascertain the correct length.

Originally Posted by robert42

...One thing he said was the head had just started floating. And I could see where the head had been moveing around. And could see where the gas was passing into the water jacket. Very small marks on the gasket...

Robert42,
How much movement was there of the head around on the gasket/block? Was it 0.5,1,2mm?

Thanks

Originally Posted by cjc_td5

Robert42,
How much movement was there of the head around on the gasket/block? Was it 0.5,1,2mm?

Thanks

One of my plastic dowels had at least a 2mm step in it.