Thread: Am I about to have a TD5 headgasket issue

Originally Posted by Psimpson7

Just to add, we will be doing it ourselves. 'Dranged' (another Justin) on here is happy to give me an hand so thats really good of him. I have built plenty of engines over the years just never a TD5 so it will be an interesting experience.

Luckily being a Defender everything is easy to get too, and it also doesnt have aircon so its really simple.

Just going to work out all the parts I need over the weekend.

(if anyone has a list of part numbers they could post that would be great)

Will try and get loads of pics to show the process

Cheers
Pete

This is a good opportunity for a DIY tutorial Pete! Just think, you could be filming while Justin does all the work
I'll post up all the part numbers on Monday when I'm back at work.
Do you have a competent machinist nearby?
JC

Lol what a great idea!

Other Justin was saying he has one down by him so it looks like it hopefully.

I take it we need to get the absoloute minimum removed?

Part list would be awesome Justin

Rgds
Pete

Originally Posted by mike 90 RR

I would have to agree with you under normal circumstances of engine temperaments ..... However ..... The "key" to this being a problem with this car is


He has identified something abnormal going on with the way the cap is leaking water .... AND it happened after he lost a radiator and I suspect he over heated it

Mike

Good point about abnormal behaviour Mike.

One of the things I was taught MANY years ago was to ask lots of questions of customers when they are either booking in or dropping off the vehicle. The 5 to 10 minutes of question and answer time about 'have you noticed any different smells(Coolant into the cabin when heater on), sounds(Tapping, groaning, screaching etc), leaks, (It is a Landy afterall) loss of performance..etc etc ' is critical for me to do my job correctly. Treat it EXACTLY like a Dr's appointment. The more info you can give the service manager or preferably the person ACTUALLY working on your vehicle the better. It is worse with motor vehicles,as they, unlike a patient, can't tell you 'where it hurts' in order for you to find and rectify faults

Had a Td5 customer who mentioned a slipping fan belt noise when under acceleration...Manifolds studs thought I..(as we all know what THAT sounds like don't we, Td5 owners) and as their other half had said 'don't worry its only a fan belt, get it looked at in 4 months time at the service' it was a much more expensive job...Rule is Boys, if the wife hears any unusual noise while driving around, get it looked at. It might not be something 'simple'. The world is full of 'I told you so's'..

Sooo...

Anyone not interested in what you have to say when dropping of your vehicle for even a routine check obviously doesn't want to fix it in the first place...

JC

Originally Posted by Psimpson7

Lol what a great idea!

Other Justin was saying he has one down by him so it looks like it hopefully.

I take it we need to get the absoloute minimum removed?

Part list would be awesome Justin

Rgds
Pete

When sending to a machinist, remove ALL the lash adjusters and followers, the posts for the injector clamps(Ask me how I know about THEM) any brackets external, fuel block along with oring and gauze screen, any sensor that might get broken, as they will.. Studs etc can stay, cam box and rocker shaft dowels must also be removed as they will get lost also.
Tell them to take the absolute MINIMUM off to clean the face only. This is another reason to do this job BEFORE it overheats, as warpage over 10 thou on a Td5 head usually means throwaway (Thats .25mm )

If in doubt, mark or take photos before dissassembly.

Parts list coming up on Monday sometime

Enjoy!

JC

Originally Posted by justinc

Hi Chris,

Anything over the caps' rated pressure of 15psi is coming from either extremely high engine temps, or a headgasket failure pressurising the system.

I have even replaced caps on these in the past thinking they were possibly failing, but alas, no.

There is an air pocket about half the capacity of the bottle to take up the expansion and contraction of the coolant without splitting the bottle etc.

That it is why you only check and fill the coolant to the cold fill line when cold.

Since Pete's Defender isn't overheating then with other anecdotal evidence, I am suggesting he thinks about replacing the head gasket before it ruins the rest of his engine...

JC

I agree with Justin. I had similar symptoms with my Disco (300Tdi) and ignored the coolant being blown past the cap until I had more evidence to verify the head gasket was blown. Sure enough, within 6 months it started blowing out heaps of coolant, overheating and the heater stopped working.

I don't think you'll regret changing the head gasket now Pete. You'll prevent more damage when it does let go.


Paul

Not a Landrover engine, but you will get the idea...............ignore coolant loss at your peril................

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sgkmd...eature=related

Originally Posted by mike 90 RR

I would have to agree with you under normal circumstances of engine temperaments ..... However ..... The "key" to this being a problem with this car is


He has identified something abnormal going on with the way the cap is leaking water .... AND it happened after he lost a radiator and I suspect he over heated it

Mike

Yeah i didnt take into account any previous history but rad replacement sets off the alarm bells.

Originally Posted by Psimpson7

Picture first:



Car has done 98000km.

I have had evidence of coolant on the header tank as per the above picture twice in the last month or so.

I cleaned it off the first time to keep an eye on it. Cap is tight.

Engine doenst seem to use any water (so the evidence on the tank is basically all that escapes)

I just dont know when it is happening.

Doesnt seem to be any excess pressure in the tank that I can tell, when I take the cap off.

Any one got any ideas?

Should I try a new cap first.

Rgds
Peter

I've seen that on TD5s that have been "leaning hard" during an offroad trip.