head problems on 300 tdi

Hi all Help needed!!

I have had a lot of work done on my 300 discovey in the last 2 months and when it went for mot we found the head gasket had gone on number 4. so it was replaced two weeks ago the head was bent so a second hand head was fitted of a discovery that was being broken the head was ok. i have done about 400 miles now and yesterday i was out and i was not getting any heat inside so when i got home i had a look at the header tank and the water was bubbleing so i changed the thurmostat and had no joy them i saw water peeing out of the header tank at the side so took it of and tryed to seal it, refitted it this morning and when out. only did about 3 miles and loads of white smoke was comeing out the back this stopped when i releasd the pressure in the header tank and still have no heat inside. got home and filled the street with white smock and water peeing out the side of the header tank. WHATS GOING ON..HELP!!

did you get the new/ second hand head skimmed first before fitting it ????

The second hand head came of a good engine that was working fine so didnt skim it.

did you also fit new stretch bolts !
and do you know hwo the head was removed ie which bolts were removed first as there is a sequence to removing them correctly .............. i would hazzard a guess its gone again worth skimming before refitting

Dose this mean the head gasket has gone again?

In a word......yes

headbolts can be used a max 5 times but if they were on the vehicle you have no way of knowing.....plus heads must be removed in reverse order of fitting.

Yes, classic HGF. What type of gasket did you use? Who did the work?

I am in the process of doing mine too buddy, I am not a mechanic myself but you can pay up to 500 big ones just to get the head skimmed and pressure tested with the labour and gaskets included... so it really pays to do it yourself. just like I was advised, get a torque wrench and get some wrenches. start reading up bud....

squidly said:

I am not a mechanic myself but you can pay up to 500 big ones just to get the head skimmed

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HWO MUCH !!
i got my head skimmed locally for £35 plus vat and it was done same day , if they charging that much best walk away rather sharpish !!

I did find a better place to do it, 40 for the skim and 40 for the pressure test..
they are in woolwich, if anyone wants there number let me know.

and good old machine mart does a torque wrench for 20 odd quid some ok wrenches for common use. (sounds like my girlfriend...)

With a gasket around 18 quid? some oily hands and some patience I reckon your back in buisness.
good luck with this.

we are talking about labour etc.. I did walk away though.., was violently ill on side walk and decided to go home for a bit of self loving to make me feel better!

Self loving.....so thats what they call it these days !

£20 pressure test, £20 skim.
bradford engine units, bradford.
elring or payen head gasket £15-£30 depending on where you go.
and read rave manual.