300 tdi might have a head gasket issue

Bit of history first bought the disco 2 years ago and it had just had its head done by a firm in scunthorpe. 1 year ago the head gasket went. so i had it replaced. garage cheack head and said was perfectly flat and block was ok

Now I think it might have gone again.
2 days ago on a short drive it started to get hotter than normal.But not in to the red and the heater started blowing cold. So i pulled up. let things cool down and check water level it took about 2 litres of water even though checked 2 days before and was ok

So after topping up and letting tick over i carried on driving but within a mile temp went upagain and it blew the top rad hose. But nothing out the coolant filler cap ( so hose could have been weak)

AA came to the rescue repaired hose and removed the middle of thermostat to it would flow incase stat had stuck.

drove home ok temp very cool as expected.

Ive fitted a new top hose and thermostat. refilled the coolant after a few runs around the block topped up to the level.

but on a 24mile round trip im loosing about a litre of water. Im getting now and then the odd puff of white smoke on tickover for about 5 seconds then it clears and no smoke of any kind at all.( does not happen all the time.)
even tonight left it ticking over at work for 15 mins and no smoke.

Every trip to and from work im checking and the water level in the header tank is dropping to half way down the level marker ( after its cooled down)
letting it tick over on drive with filler cap off no bubbles. and the new water/antifreeze mix is still looking clean

Im getting loads of heat from the blower. temp does not go above half way even up steep hill doing 50.
everything seems and runs fine. Oil levels ok. and is the right colour no cream colour deposits on the filler cap on in the oil looks normal.

so im presuming ive got a leaky headgasket

Well if you don't, you soon will have if you keep driving it while its over heating!

At the very least you have a water leak under pressure. So wont happen if you've got the cap off.... Leaks causing overheating... Get the coolant system pressure tested

Have you made sure you bled the system properly?

I had the very symptoms you describe after mine overheated due to a leak in one of the heater matrix pipes, kept losing water after refilling the coolant, eventually when I bothered to bleed it properly it loses no water

Water level will drop slightly when cooling. Are you topping up when hot or cold?

Could be leak from somewhere else like P gasket or a core plug.

My 300 Disco used a little water (not as much as yours) and I never did find a leak.

Doesn't look like a head gasket but could be wrong

At moment its not overheating just loosing water. Inside carpets all dry . No leaks from core plugs

One week on its still loosing water somewhere. No sign of any leaks any where. Temp is running fine..
Nothing in the oil.
So either some one is nicking my water. Or its the headgasket leaking.

Have you had it pressure tested... I wouldn't go ripping head off unless you have. You need to find where the waters going before you can fix it. If its not the head and you change it you've got the same problem still..

Well the head is off and its fooked .

Its got a leak between the water jacket and no2 exhaust port


The port is full of water

The valve area doesn't look steam cleaned like they normally do when the gasket is gone You sure heads not cracked or is that what you mean?

When i took exhaust manifold off no2 exhaust port was full of water . Every thing else was bone dry .
Id made sure every thing was dry so i could trace any leaks

Head is cracked inside the exhaust port

Well,
you don't have anything else to do now but skimm the head,put new gasket and after that have a very good check on places where water can come out (hose,etc) and evaporate straight away so you can't see where it is.
I suggest you to spray some diesel on all suspect joints and after that just put some talcum powder -will stick on the diesel and remain white.
When water steams out, will modify aspect and you will notice that.
Hope helps you out !

piratebike said:

Well,
you don't have anything else to do now but skimm the head,put new gasket and after that have a very good check on places where water can come out (hose,etc) and evaporate straight away so you can't see where it is.
I suggest you to spray some diesel on all suspect joints and after that just put some talcum powder -will stick on the diesel and remain white.
When water steams out, will modify aspect and you will notice that.
Hope helps you out !

Click to expand...

Did u not see the knackered picture of the head? Second hand head is what he needs.