 | Home > Tdi > Possible 300 Tdi Head. |
 
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| barbel jim Member Since: 12 Dec 2012 Location: Northants Posts: 1423   
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Why the head ? Couldn’t it just be the head gasket ??
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8th Jun 2021 8:20pm |
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| L110CDL Member Since: 31 Oct 2015 Location: Devon Posts: 10782 
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My indy is thinking more to the head than a head gasket at the moment as when working her harder the crack would open up more so using more water or would the same apply to the head gasket as well ? 1996 Golf Blue 300Tdi 110 Pick up.
Keeper. Clayton. |
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8th Jun 2021 8:44pm |
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| Retroanaconda Member Since: 04 Jan 2012 Location: Scotland Posts: 2656 
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My 200Tdi developed symptoms of minor water loss a number of years ago, there were no external leaks or other signs until one day it struggled to turn over - but only ever very rarely and it would go second time as normal. I believe what was happening was the head was cracked between the water jacket and one of the inlet or exhaust ports, and if the engine happened to stop at the right point in the cycle a tiny amount of water would enter the cylinder and then inhibit movement on the next start attempt.
I fitted another head which solved it, I did mean to get the old one tester to confirm the diagnosis but haven’t got round to it yet! No idea if it can even be fixed, but given how rare the heads are getting these days I’ve since acquired another spare. |
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8th Jun 2021 8:54pm |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20444
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Perhaps the gasket is tested along with the pressure test? Perhaps not I’m not an expert but I’d assume the gasket would be included with the pressure test in situ.
As you probably know, white smoke is normally lean and black smoke rich. White can include water though as steam as you say. I’d be inclined to think you may have a slow water leak, but not the in the engine. Hairline crack in radiator, hose losing pressure, water pump leaking. Usually you can find traces of coolant somewhere even if dried up, and usually in the most difficult to see places. The harder she works, the hotter she will be and that as you know builds pressure in the system. A hairline crack in something could lose pressure, and auxiliary items can still be very hot and the coolant if in small quantities burn off hence you don’t notice an actual leak. I had this with the water pump, it would not leak at all when cold but once up to temp leak like a sieve. Which was feather problematic as you can imagine! I tracked it down to the water pump and even then I only knew due to coolant traces dried on.. it had to be hot and leaking to see it wet at all.. Even when I finally went to replace it, I couldn’t see a problem with it but it was the gasket on it that it was coming from. So there was a pressure leak there under pressure when hot. Replaced it with a Borg and Beck one for a good price and NOT Genuine and it’s been perfect ever since. Excellent for such good value as well. It developed after really cold freezing weather, which we had back in early spring this year. That maybe something to do with it? It is probably due to extremes of temperature and expansion and contraction due to temperature changes. I would pressure test the water system, unless this has already been done the whole system? Heater matrix leaks is possible too but I only have a limited scope of knowledge and don’t profess to be an expert. Maybe a few ideas to think about though. No Guts, No Glory. 🇬🇧🏴🏴🏴🇮🇪🇺🇸⛽️🛢️⚙️🧰💪 |
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8th Jun 2021 9:00pm |
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| L110CDL Member Since: 31 Oct 2015 Location: Devon Posts: 10782
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^ ^ ^
Thank you Steve for your thoughts 
I can't find any water leak what so ever, hot or cold but as you mentioned, if the water did leak out from around the water pump, it would hit the block and evaporate so food for thought and i'm not sure if he did a water pressure test, will find out on that one 1996 Golf Blue 300Tdi 110 Pick up.
Keeper. Clayton. |
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8th Jun 2021 9:19pm |
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| L110CDL Member Since: 31 Oct 2015 Location: Devon Posts: 10782
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Thank you Retroanaconda, that sounds about right but not had any aqua locking yet, had that badly on the last engine head  1996 Golf Blue 300Tdi 110 Pick up.
Keeper. Clayton. |
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8th Jun 2021 9:21pm |
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| Mo Murphy Member Since: 01 Jun 2008 Location: Letchworth Garden City, Herts Posts: 2244 
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I does sound like head or head gasket. The only real way to confirm is substitution. Personally, despite the cost, I'd buy a new head and an Ehlring head gasket and get it fitted. A second hand head may be just the same as the original.
Whilst you save for the head scour every bit of the cooling system for anti freeze residue on a regular basis in the hope that the water loss is a previously undiscovered coolant leak. Mo The Land Rover 90 - Many are called, few are chosen. 50 Shades of Pennine Grey |
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9th Jun 2021 6:58am |
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| barbel jim Member Since: 12 Dec 2012 Location: Northants Posts: 1423
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If you’ve got a coolant leak you should be able to smell it burning of the hot engine. Had it a few times on various vehicles. I’d still suspect the head gasket first. More of a common failure, but you won’t know for sure until you split it.
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9th Jun 2021 8:49am |
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| sako243 Member Since: 08 Jul 2014 Location: Wales Posts: 1223  
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I've got a known good spare head here Clayton... Don't want to part with it but I could loan it to you if you wanted to try swapping it over.
My father had a similar issue on his Shogun and the hairline crack was found in the head with duck oil and confirmed using penetrating fluid (like for testing welds). Think they pressure tested it and didn't notice anything. Ed 82 Hotspur Sandringham 6x6 95 Defender 110 300Tdi |
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9th Jun 2021 5:46pm |
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| L110CDL Member Since: 31 Oct 2015 Location: Devon Posts: 10782
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^ ^ ^
 Thank you for the offer Ed but i will decline as the way Millie is going through heads at the moment and i'm not sure you will get it back in the same condition
Again, thank you so much for the offer 1996 Golf Blue 300Tdi 110 Pick up.
Keeper. Clayton. |
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9th Jun 2021 7:58pm |
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| L110CDL Member Since: 31 Oct 2015 Location: Devon Posts: 10782
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Yes i will start saving for a new head and my indy only uses Ehlring head gaskets 
I do check on a regular basis under the bonnet for any signs of leaks and smells as i'm filling the header tank up at least once or twice in the day, depending on what work Millie has done 1996 Golf Blue 300Tdi 110 Pick up.
Keeper. Clayton. |
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9th Jun 2021 8:02pm |
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| sako243 Member Since: 08 Jul 2014 Location: Wales Posts: 1223
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What about adding some hydra fluorescein to the header tank and then checking with a UV light. Not sure whether it evaporates off as well though but might be worth a shot.
I assume the head and block have been checked for straightness? Although the head gasket should account for a fair amount. Ed 82 Hotspur Sandringham 6x6 95 Defender 110 300Tdi |
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9th Jun 2021 8:10pm |
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| sako243 Member Since: 08 Jul 2014 Location: Wales Posts: 1223
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In all likelihood it won't be used as I seem to have cured most of the issues on the 110 now and there's hopefully a V8 not too far off. Could be a you break it you buy it scenario. Also got a complete block with timing cover etc., but a snapped crank. There's also the short block from another engine (again with a snapped crank). Ed 82 Hotspur Sandringham 6x6 95 Defender 110 300Tdi |
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9th Jun 2021 8:12pm |
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| L110CDL Member Since: 31 Oct 2015 Location: Devon Posts: 10782
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Hopefully when you have got the V8 in the 110, then i could buy the head off of you
 1996 Golf Blue 300Tdi 110 Pick up.
Keeper. Clayton. |
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9th Jun 2021 8:30pm |
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