300tdi overheating...

right, breif history..
Picked up a 94' disco tdi 300 for my business to collect/deliver cars to my bodyshop. Drove the disco away and everything seemed fine for 100 or so miles, then got to the m6 toll booth and as i pulled out notised the temp shoot way up to the red, so stopped, popped the bonnet and water had come out of the expansion cap, let it cool put more water in, set off, same again, heater blowing hot then cold then hot, if i left it idling it would remain cool, but as soon as i increased the revs (motorway) it went sky high again. Bought a new expansion tank cap and thermostat and filled and bled the system, but dont seem to be able to bleed it fully, any suggestions? Also when it was getting hot i was getting a ticking kinda noise as the revs increased, but only under load? Big/little ends maybe?

come on, someones gota say it...... Head gasket...!

maybe head gasket, one of the signs is "mayonnaise" looking stuff when you check the oil. sounds like you may have some sort of blow back that also would explain the ticking noise which could be vavles.

if you drop the bottom hose that should get rid of most of the water.

Sorry, cant be much more help really, there's a lot more knowledgable types on here. Personally, I'd take it to a recommended landy indi, before you do more damage.

brand new radiator had been fitted, so im going to fit a new timing belt, waterpump and head gasket, its all so easy to work on

discobiscuits said:

brand new radiator had been fitted, so im going to fit a new timing belt, waterpump and head gasket, its all so easy to work on

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Was the tacho already fitted in your disco or are you having to spend a grand getting it fitted?

tacho? Im only going to be within a 50mile radius of the bodyshop...

Have managed to get this fixed, the head gasket was blown, had the head skimmed 10 thou off fitted a 1.6mm head gasket, valve stem seals, re-ground the valves, new timing belt kit etc. And she runs like new now.
It did manage to bend all 8 push rods first though, the brand new timing belt tensioner seized up and the timing belt ended up jammed behind it and the idler pulley! Luckily thats all it bent!

Ive got some pictures of the mess it made, ill bung then up when i get a minute