Thread: 300Tdi head gasket oil leak

It is possible as early 300TDI came out with a normal head gasket where as the later ones got a steel shim instead which is less likely to blow.

I havnt heard of one leaking oil because of the head gasket though Im sure that it would be possible, they do have a lot of issues with the PCV cyclone thingy on the drivers side of the head as well as the rocker cover gaskets leak.

double check the rocker cover gasket first.

If it does happen to be the head gasket, I found this useful article that shows how to remove the 300tdi head.

300TDI cylinder head removal - LR4x4 - The Land Rover Forum

Mine is leaking oil from somewhere there too, I should really get motivated like you and do something about it.

Cheers

Darren

It's definitely between the head and block.
It had a very leaky rocker cover when I bought it and that has been fixed, the head is clean. The sides and back of the motor was covered in oil. I think it is also leaking at the vac pump, possibly the lift pump and I'm sure the hose that runs down from the rocker to what I think is the the top of the oil filter housing.

Tony

Could also be the Manifold gasket mine was leaking alot till I changed it. Its a ongoing battle leaks on a 300tdi Iam slowly getting rid of mine, I now have to fix the last one Injector Pump .
Goodluck Azza...

Originally Posted by TonyC

It's definitely between the head and block.
It had a very leaky rocker cover when I bought it and that has been fixed, the head is clean. The sides and back of the motor was covered in oil. I think it is also leaking at the vac pump, possibly the lift pump and I'm sure the hose that runs down from the rocker to what I think is the the top of the oil filter housing.

Tony

Do yourself a favour and change the O ring in the cyclone thing as it can run down the bottom of the head if it's leaking from there.

Sounds to be the wrong side to be manifold gaskets.

Really it is most likely that O ring which is the problem and as it only costs a few cents you have nothing to lose.

Originally Posted by mcrover

Do yourself a favour and change the O ring in the cyclone thing as it can run down the bottom of the head if it's leaking from there.

Sounds to be the wrong side to be manifold gaskets.

Really it is most likely that O ring which is the problem and as it only costs a few cents you have nothing to lose.

I'll do that.
But the the oil that's concerning me is at the back of the motor, not on the side near the back, but the far end of no. four cylinder, the firewall end of the motor, under the pipe that runs from the air cleaner to the turbo.

Tony

Well the leak was coming from round the left hand rear head bolt, I could see the odd little bubble coming out.

I've taken the head off and can see no obvious reason why it was leaking, so a few questions before the head goes back on.

1) The no.1 inlet valve has a small amount of carbon built up on and around it, nothing else does, any idea why? Leaking stem seal?

2) Should the head be machined or just checked for flatness?

3) Should the head be pressure or crack tested?

4) Should i worry about checking the block and if so what sort of straight edge will I need, a piece of steel bar or RHS with one side machined? or does it need to be more accurate then that?

Thanks for all the input.

Tony