Disco 300Tdi Head Gasket Tomorrow - Any Tips?
Discussion
Ruby developed an interesting 'puffing' noise on the way home tonight 
After a good look it would appear she's blowing exhaust gasses out onto the bulk head from the NSR corner of the cylinder head! Double
Although access is poor, looking with a mirror there doesn't appear to be any cracks and to my finger tips it feels like it's blowing from under the gasket?
So it seems I'll be tackling that tomorrow and cadging a lift to the local factors to get a gasket (I hope! lol)
Looking through the Haynes book it seems fairly strait forward? But as ever Mr Haynes and his crew aren't totally infallable!
Are there any time saving tips from the real world? (Like do I really need to take the bonnet off?), or any pit falls to be aware of that they may have failed to mention?
Thanks for any advice in advance
Mr Magoo
After a good look it would appear she's blowing exhaust gasses out onto the bulk head from the NSR corner of the cylinder head! Double
Although access is poor, looking with a mirror there doesn't appear to be any cracks and to my finger tips it feels like it's blowing from under the gasket?
So it seems I'll be tackling that tomorrow and cadging a lift to the local factors to get a gasket (I hope! lol)
Looking through the Haynes book it seems fairly strait forward? But as ever Mr Haynes and his crew aren't totally infallable!
Are there any time saving tips from the real world? (Like do I really need to take the bonnet off?), or any pit falls to be aware of that they may have failed to mention?Thanks for any advice in advance
Mr Magoo
300TDI head gasket is a doddle!
HTH
M
- Firstly... Ger the right size gasket. There are 4x thicknesses, indicated by a little tab with up-to 3x holes punched in it.
- Together with the head gasket, get a new inlet & exhaust gasket, oil filter & oil (you're going to have to do an oil change after).
- Make a cardboard template to hold the push rods in, when you take them out. That way they won't get mixed up and go back where they came from. Do something similar to make sure the caps go back in the same place too.
- Before starting, drain down the cooling system.
- When re-torquing, remember that 60 degrees is the same as one flat on the bolt...
HTH
M
paintman said:
This any help?
http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php?showtopic=8151
Awesome thanks for the quick tips! Yeah the thread link was very helpful matey http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php?showtopic=8151
Did mine in a day, just swapped the gasket even though the head wasn't perfectly flat. Didn't bother with any other new gaskets re setting tappets or changing the oil after! Worked fine and even saw it the other day still going strong with the person I sold it to driving it. Watch for the little caps on the tops of the push rods or rockers, easy to loose them.
All done! About 9 and a bit hours working time which wasn't so bad concidering I was working on the drive in the rain under a tarpalin! Oh the joys
All the tips were spot on! Thanks guys - best tip I came up with: Put the push rods back in before the valve caps! - It's a moment of pure panic when number 6 drops off the top of the valve and rolls down the push rod tube!
Along with a moment of pure relief when the magnet you have it just small enought to thread down and pick it up.
An incredible bit of luck meant that it had actually dropped on it's side and sat in the little dished recess for the push rod! I had visions of me having to pull the engine apart to find it!
ETA:
The head gasket had failed right next to the exhaust valve, blown around the head dowel and out the back of the head? Strange thing is that the head looks fairly new? Probably less than 5yrs old? It appeared strait and true but it struck me as an odd failure? How common are poor quality head gaskets?
All the tips were spot on! Thanks guys - best tip I came up with: Put the push rods back in before the valve caps! - It's a moment of pure panic when number 6 drops off the top of the valve and rolls down the push rod tube!
Along with a moment of pure relief when the magnet you have it just small enought to thread down and pick it up. An incredible bit of luck meant that it had actually dropped on it's side and sat in the little dished recess for the push rod! I had visions of me having to pull the engine apart to find it!
ETA:
The head gasket had failed right next to the exhaust valve, blown around the head dowel and out the back of the head? Strange thing is that the head looks fairly new? Probably less than 5yrs old? It appeared strait and true but it struck me as an odd failure? How common are poor quality head gaskets?
Edited by Ben Magoo on Sunday 4th March 21:56
I'd love to have got a decent head gasket, sadly it went Saturday night, we needed the car Monday and with only one factors open on Sunday - the £20 gasket they stocked was the only choice I had
The offending item:
420650_10150596967497308_580672307_9201286_1321451275_n by Ben Magee Photography, on Flickr
The offending item:
420650_10150596967497308_580672307_9201286_1321451275_n by Ben Magee Photography, on Flickr
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