Engine boggle extraordinaire!

[borristherat]

I have the 2 1/4 diesel engine fitted in my Land Rover. Normally it runs OK, a bit smoky when you first start it but runs fairly clean when it's warm.

Today I was driving along normally when suddenly there was a big old rattle, sounded like it came from the top end of the engine and thick white smoke from the exhaust and when I say thick I'm talking smoke grenade thick. So, I pulled over to find oil all over the top of the engine, looked like it had come from the breather. After a while I restarted and everything appeared fine, however, after a few miles the temperature got higher than normal, not over heating just to the top of the N. I continued home, parked on the drive, left it for a couple of hours, cleaned the oil from the top of the engine, went for another drive and everything seemed absolutely fine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Took it to the garage and he tested and said the head gasket was fine, 99% sure.

So, anybody, any ideas?!!! and if it's fcuked how easy are these engines to rebuild, do I buy a new engine or do I slap a 200 tdi or transit engine in it?

I would quite like to keep the old girl as original as possible so generally speaking are the old diesels reliable or not?

 

[tottot]

Could have droped a hot spot cover[for the indirect ignition chamber] into the head,the rattle would have been it being crushed by the piston before going out the exaust or worse.Head off to find out for sure.Go for 200 if replacement needed.

 

[borristherat]

Could have droped a hot spot cover[for the indirect ignition chamber] into the head,the rattle would have been it being crushed by the piston before going out the exaust or worse.Head off to find out for sure.Go for 200 if replacement needed.

whats a "hot spot cover"? and can i just carry on driving it without causing major damage? as i need my daily ratlstinkearhurtwallow fix.

 

[jamesmartin]

its a seperate chamber that sits in head injector sits above it and injects fuel into it as hot compressed air is squeezed into it ,burn starts within it it is seperate so that it can remain hot,they are made of very hard austenitic steel and eventually crack and can break up ,dropping onto piston but you would expect some smoke as that cylinder wouldnt have good fuel burn