Thread: 300 tdi head gasket again!!!!

Ok used old bolts ( will replace this time) used hylomar gasket jointing compound by ACL is a blue compound ( not the brown aviation gasket compound that is sticky ) Checked the head out with straight edge all looked fine!

From reading through this web site figured you can't skim the head so figured if it was fukd then i was up for a new one which i may be up for now by the sounds of it.

Thanks for feed back , anyone have a reputable mob in Brisvegas general area i can have check the head out for softness etc?

So far not cost me alot other than my time, so thats cheap! Might be more expensive this time but!

Land Rover say the 300Tdi head can not be skimmed.

But it can be. When the head is skimmed, you should also ensure that the distance from head surface to top of valves is within specs and grind valves/seats if necessary (otherwise valves may hit pistons).

If you read the UK forums, many there don't repair 300Tdi heads as they can get new heads cheap enough, but here is a different matter.

Any place that does non-destructive testing should have hardness testers. I don't know your area, but there should be a few listed in the yellow pages.

My 97 disco did a timing belt @ 205000 ish kms shortly after i bought it, even though "it had just been done"

I ripped the head off at the same time because of a small oil leak at the front and had it fully machined for under $500. Came up as good as gold

Originally Posted by codboy

Thanks for feed back , anyone have a reputable mob in Brisvegas general area i can have check the head out for softness etc?

M R Automotive......good to deal with and worse case they have a 300tdi head sitting on there shelf

Thanks weeds will call M R this arvo ,thanks again to all for your tips and expierences!

Codboy, please don't tell me you used an ACL head gasket???

The ONLY head gaskets that are suitable for these are Elring ones, which are OE anyway. I have had a 100% failure rate with ACL gaskets for Tdi's. I agree they'll probably work OK with a falcon or commodore etc, but forget it with the Tdi.
It happened twice to me, and A friend of mine who also owns a workshop did a 300Tdi head gasket replacement 3 times in 5000km, and after pulling the engine and checking everything, found the common denominator was the gasket itself. The fire rings were split on all of them. After this he fitted an Elring gasket and all has been well now for 4 years or so. ACL actually paid him out for the 3 gasket jobs as their gasket had failed everytime.


JC

Originally Posted by rick130

Why this bit Dave ?

its a personal habit. If youve had to apply any goops to other seals (thermostat gasket housings/turbos/coolant pipes/hoses) it gives them time to set.

some pregooped laminate style head gaskets or the ones with the pre applied rubber seals for the coolant/oil galleries require some time to "set" in place.


it also gives you a break from the vehicle so that before you try to run it up your nice and fresh for the final "lookover" before you crank it over and includes things like

"have all my bolts got the right number of paint dots on them from the torquing sequence?"

"did I put the right amount and type of oil/coolant in?"

"did I forget to bolt something up?"

"Did I leave a spanner somewhere Id rather it not be when I crank it over?"


24 hours might be overkill overnight would usually be enough.