Thread: 300TDi head gasket

Remember that there's actually 4x types of head gasket for the 300TDi. The sizing is based on the maximum protrusion of the piston above the face of the block.

As for type... Personally, I'd stick with the genuine part.

However, what I would question is why you'd want to change it. "If it 'aint broke, don't fix it!".

If you do a quick search, there was another thread a couple of weeks ago talking about changing the head gasket as preventative maintenance.

HTH

M

Hi

Im in the process of doing my head on a 300 tdi and I bought the updated head gasket genuine, its a complete steel gasket. I would think that this gasket would be better than any aftermarket gaskets.

FWIW, I was taught the main requirement(other than good material) in head gaskets is the "flatness" or "eveness" of the gasket.

Hi Good, I've just done a head gasket (need not want). It's a Question of How many K's as to doing a head gasket. If you have maintained the vehicle well, oil changes, coolant changes and driven not thrashed then the head gasket shouldn't be an issue unless you have heaps of k's and want to do other work. My 300tdi has 360k on clock. I've only had it last 20k and a lash cap went on second inlet valve. (poor valve clearances long period of time). I had the head checked over and ended up with new exhaust valve guides fitted and new set of injectors. HUGE improvement, but came at a cost.
As stated there are 4 different thickness's of head gaskets for these engines, if your replacing them get the right one.
Madmagpie05

So is there a time when you do the gasket?Is this a recommended thing?.Mine has alot of k's,it has got hot a couple of times,nothing bad just over half way and it doesn't use coolant and runs good so I'm not worried.I don't want to pull it apart for no reason. Pat

Pat, I asked this a week or two back.
You can read the discussion here change head gasket on Tdi @ 240k as a preventative ?

Rick you have just put the fear of god into every Tdi owner!!!!I like the blocked rad,blown hose etc idea for alot of the problems.I have had mine since new and have change the coolant every 12 months but mine still blocked the rad to 50% after 10 years so that is one thing that doesn't normaly get looked at till there is a problem. Pat

Originally Posted by PAT303

Rick you have just put the fear of god into every Tdi owner!!!!I like the blocked rad,blown hose etc idea for alot of the problems.I have had mine since new and have change the coolant every 12 months but mine still blocked the rad to 50% after 10 years so that is one thing that doesn't normaly get looked at till there is a problem. Pat

10 years for a radiator is pretty normal, but blocking is gradual so you get plenty of warning. Just make sure hoses etc are in good nick.

/Damien