Anyone had problems with specific head gaskets?

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
I

ianrobbo

New Member
Posts
31
Location
West Sussex
I've just changed my head gasket, now the problem is even worse. Huge amounts of water in No.1 cylinder.

Thinking it may be a cracked head, so have found a second hand one.

Before I swap the head over though, has anyone had any problems with Britparts head gaskets? Should I even bother, and go for a Land Rover one instead?

I know for my Saab the scantech HG's are very cheap, but quality is nowhere near as good as the Saab OE ones. Thought maybe there might be a similar issue here.
 
ianrobbo said:
I've just changed my head gasket, now the problem is even worse. Huge amounts of water in No.1 cylinder.

Thinking it may be a cracked head, so have found a second hand one.

Before I swap the head over though, has anyone had any problems with Britparts head gaskets? Should I even bother, and go for a Land Rover one instead?

I know for my Saab the scantech HG's are very cheap, but quality is nowhere near as good as the Saab OE ones. Thought maybe there might be a similar issue here.
Click to expand...

Britpart aren't known as ****part for nothing.:eek::eek::eek:
 
ianrobbo said:
I've just changed my head gasket, now the problem is even worse. Huge amounts of water in No.1 cylinder.

Thinking it may be a cracked head, so have found a second hand one.

Before I swap the head over though, has anyone had any problems with Britparts head gaskets? Should I even bother, and go for a Land Rover one instead?

I know for my Saab the scantech HG's are very cheap, but quality is nowhere near as good as the Saab OE ones. Thought maybe there might be a similar issue here.
Click to expand...
Use an OEM gasket and do the job once. Or keep on buying spit and carboard gaskets and keep on replacing them every five minutes.
Of course the above assumes that your block and head are flat otherwise you will never get a decent seal.
 
Bear in mind that there are different thicknesses (four I think from memory). Did you use the correct one?
And remember to use metal dowels. Cracked heads are common on this engine, so you may be right about the head. Next step is to have your head pressure tested by a specialist. If you do change it remember to keep the injectors in the correct order. If you have the head skimmed (LR say you can't, but others say you can) you will need to use a different thickness of gasket. You must also use new bolts. Plenty of info on here if you search hard enough.
 
Did you not get the head pressure tested and skimmed?

I got a head fitting kit from Turner Engineering. Remember you will need far more than just the head gasket itself

T
 
Hedgehog70 said:
Did you not get the head pressure tested and skimmed?

I got a head fitting kit from Turner Engineering. Remember you will need far more than just the head gasket itself

T
Click to expand...

It was Turner Engineering themselves who told me they no longer bother pressure testing Td5 heads - They reckon that if there's any doubt, they're knackered.

Anyhow, one second hand head later, and all is now good. Running better than it ever has (since we've owned it anyway).

Difficult to see a specific issue on the old head, but the corrosion on the head in the #1 cylinder area tells you that it's had water going into that cylinder for quite some time. I filled the inlet port up with diesel, and it actually seems to seep through the metal - so I'm pretty sure it's a porous casting. Also, however hard I try, I can't clean up the corrosion on that face - another indication that its porous.
 
Haven't heard of a porous one before, but they tend to crack around the exhaust valves. Unfortunately Turners are about right!
 
When they crack on #1 it is usually visible to the naked eye. Mine all looked good, but there was no way I was going to do all that work without getting a 2nd opinion in the form of a 24 hour pressure test.

Glad you are sorted

T
 
PASTMASTER said:
Bear in mind that there are different thicknesses (four I think from memory). Did you use the correct one?
And remember to use metal dowels. Cracked heads are common on this engine, so you may be right about the head. Next step is to have your head pressure tested by a specialist. If you do change it remember to keep the injectors in the correct order. If you have the head skimmed (LR say you can't, but others say you can) you will need to use a different thickness of gasket. You must also use new bolts. Plenty of info on here if you search hard enough.
Click to expand...
you use the same thickness gasket regardless of having the head skimmed
 
Indeed. Head Gasket thickness is relative to piston height hence why you should always replace it like for like

T
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

A
P38A Head Gasket Kit & ARP Bolts ?
2
Replies
23
Views
1K
enjoi
enjoi
N
AMC Head - compatible with 10P?
Replies
7
Views
1K
NigeC
N
xDParis64
Head Gasket / Cylinder Gone??
Replies
16
Views
1K
andyfreelandy
andyfreelandy
D
P38 4.6l gems blown head gasket
Replies
19
Views
2K
pwood999
pwood999
xDParis64
Hello Again! (SOLVED, Engine replacement)
2 3
Replies
56
Views
4K
xDParis64
xDParis64
Back
Top