Condition of head ...

Hi All,

I have a 300TDI that has at a guess been blowing out of the back of no.4 for at least 2-300 miles ... I've bought a replacement engine, however it's high mileage and it's an auto unit which I'd need to strip and re-time etc, so I'm starting to have second thoughts and thinking about using what's in there.

I thought this one would be scrap after so long blowing (thought it would of erroded a channel) but it seems generally in good nick.

The "wear indicator" at the top of the cylinders also suggests it's reasonably low mileage as the indent is very very small and I would hazard a guess at it not being overly high mileage! Is there a rough estimate to wear = certain mileage?

I have an engineers flat bar, but currently not got access to it until tomorrow so I'm not sure on any warping or erosion channels etc.

I've been offered a low mile Disco engine as well but the fella needs an answer tonight so I'm a little stuck as to what to do ...

If I stick some pics here, could I get some advice / opinions on what they think the condition is in?

only way to be sure is a hot pressure test

Thanks for replying.

Yep, I agree, I'm just unsure as to put the money into this block, or go for this other Disco 300TDI with low mileage tonight!

Just after some quick thoughts on what it looks like. I know you cant really tell a lot from pictures, but thought I may as well give it a bash on here .

gerrit skimmed and build it back up, iv just done a couple, with no problems, my old ferguson tractor just had a skim of hylomar on the head and no gasket at all by the previous owner, after i stripped it and had the head skimmed it were spot on again , the place that skimy the heads will tell you if its worth doing or not, its only 45quid

from the pics it just looks like the gasket failed and hasn't affected the head or block.

but only you can make the call

Get the low mileage one as backup if its a good price it's not gonna lose you money

Until the head is cleaned up I can't comment. Any cracks ?

Hi All,

Bit of an update. Head removed. I've done a bit of a cleanup, have attached some pics to get some more advice.

Have got an engineers straight head on the 'non-carbon effected' areas and all seems straight. Horizontals and verticals, including the blowing area seems flat and went down to a 0.05 and still wouldn't go through so stopped at that point.

I've also hit the top deck a little, but not had my flat bar on there yet.

My only concern now is that small amount of corrosion on one of the triangle water channels. It's not corroded over to the cylinder yet, but it's concerning. I also have a little bit of 'hot-spot' errosion. Feels flat, so not erroded to far in yet, but would this warrant it being scrap?

Does the top deck need a little more work to?#

Many thanks to all once again!

Check, check, check. Picture two. Is that a crack from the injector to the valve seat.
Normally you get cracks from the heater plugs but as long as the cracks are 5/ 6 mm long things are alright.


mike

I dont think it's a crack, I haven't looked there specifically, but I will do ASAP. I gave it a good prowl over and I would of normally picked up on cracks, but I'm not ruling it out! Now I know I will have a deeper look. I didn't want to get my sand paper in there in case of damage to the injector, but think I'll strip them out.

I think I'll get it skimmed anyway so long as people dont think it's scrap. Just to be sure, but if it's gone, then I dont want to spend any more on it, and then work out if a new head may be the answer. (Or just put the spare one in, just seems a shame when the rest of the motor actually looks ok!

Some more pics ...

Any more advice on this one. Not sure whether to put money into this head or not?

just get it skimmed ,if heads bent it will show between the 2 center cylinders when bars run diagonally across end to end

Skim it, fit new bolts and ellring head gasket, it will be fine !