P38A Diesel Head gasket again

tarphenry · Oct 3, 2019

Hi all, looks like my head gasket has gone again. temp just below red ,there is a difference in temp across the rad so thats ok new wate rpump and thermostat and different head last time. car has done approx 3000mls on this gasket and it has gone this afternoon on a 30 mph road. and it doesnt want to rev,gearbox doesnt take up drive very well untill it revs, most unusual.ah well will have to get it recovered and do it again. Nanocom showing no faults on engine

wammers · Oct 3, 2019

tarphenry said:
Hi all, looks like my head gasket has gone again. temp just below red ,there is a difference in temp across the rad so thats ok new wate rpump and thermostat and different head last time. car has done approx 3000mls on this gasket and it has gone this afternoon on a 30 mph road. and it doesnt want to rev,gearbox doesnt take up drive very well untill it revs, most unusual.ah well will have to get it recovered and do it again. Nanocom showing no faults on engine

Unfortunately Nanocom does not have a cracked head fault code.

tarphenry · Oct 3, 2019

no I appreciate that thanks, helpful as ever

wammers · Oct 3, 2019

tarphenry said:
no I appreciate that thanks, helpful as ever

Head gasket failure on the M51 is very rare. Cracked heads are pretty common.

Henry_b · Oct 3, 2019

Heads turn to margarine when overheated

Oh the ever reliable M51

tarphenry · Oct 3, 2019

it didnt overheat, never got to the red.I caught it in time ,i think. I had a failed head gasket earlier and returned it. the company concerned replaced the gasket,saying "A manufactuing fault had caused the issue" so I will be looking for a better gasket this time, if that is the fault. at least all the pieces will come off ,new nuts bolts and washers used ,and copprslip as reqd. not a major job, just inconvenient.

wammers · Oct 3, 2019

Henry_b said:
Heads turn to margarine when overheated

Oh the ever reliable M51

Good motor if looked after. Ignore servicing and maintenance at your peril. A lot more reliable than the later Rover V8s. But a neglected diesel will far outlast a neglected V8.

Henry_b · Oct 3, 2019

wammers said:
Good motor if looked after. Ignore servicing and maintenance at your peril. A lot more reliable than the later Rover V8s. But a neglected diesel will far outlast a neglected V8.

Never!!!

Henry_b · Oct 3, 2019

tarphenry said:
it didnt overheat, never got to the red.I caught it in time ,i think. I had a failed head gasket earlier and returned it. the company concerned replaced the gasket,saying "A manufactuing fault had caused the issue" so I will be looking for a better gasket this time, if that is the fault. at least all the pieces will come off ,new nuts bolts and washers used ,and copprslip as reqd. not a major job, just inconvenient.

Victor Reinz

wammers · Oct 3, 2019

Henry_b said:
Never!!!

Always.

Henry_b · Oct 3, 2019

wammers said:
Always.

Sometimes

wammers · Oct 3, 2019

Henry_b said:
Sometimes

No always.

RangeRoller dt · Oct 3, 2019

Henry_b said:
Heads turn to margarine when overheated

Oh the ever reliable M51

They dont mun

I’ve cooked mine a few times - once really bad- and it’s fine. V8s melt when overheated, diesels tend to microfracture after many many years and repeated overheats, still not too common

@tarphenry you think the head you used gone UC? Not long did it after your last episode

Henry_b · Oct 3, 2019

wammers said:
No always.

Sometimes

Henry_b · Oct 3, 2019

RangeRoller dt said:
They dont mum
I’ve cooked mine a few times - once really bad- and it’s fine. V8s melt when overheated, diesels tend to microfracture after many many years and repeated overheats, still not too common

@tarphenry you think the head you used gone UC? Not long did it after your last episode

No Cuz.

The M51 is famous of the head melting.

Yours is just "waiting"

For the best time to go tits up in the rhubarb.

wammers · Oct 3, 2019

Henry_b said:
Sometimes

Generally diesels are far more reliable than petrol engines it's just a fact of life.

tarphenry · Oct 3, 2019

No, definitely not original gasket was the problem,replacement may have gone same way I think.

Henry_b · Oct 3, 2019

wammers said:
Generally diesels are far more reliable than petrol engines it's just a fact of life.

Aye they do last longer

But still........................................................................................

She broked!!

wammers · Oct 3, 2019

Henry_b said:
Aye they do last longer

But still........................................................................................

She broked!!

This is true. But i seriously doubt it's the head gasket. Did one for the nephew a few years ago, head is still in my garage. The crack is almost imperceptible, but never the less it is there. Caused by driving off motorway after the rad split. Which is a unfortunate trait of the diesel rad. He fitted a new rad then after an hour or so it would spit the coolant out. I pressure tested the coolant system, no problems for an hour or so after cold start then bye bye coolant. S/H head cured it.

Henry_b · Oct 3, 2019

wammers said:
This is true. But i seriously doubt it's the head gasket. Did one for the nephew a few years ago, head is still in my garage. The crack is almost imperceptible, but never the less it is there. Caused by driving off motorway after the rad split. Which is a unfortunate trait of the diesel rad. He fitted a new rad then after an hour or so it would spit the coolant out. I pressure tested the coolant system, no problems for an hour or so after cold start then bye bye coolant. S/H head cured it.

Perhaps OP needs a new head

Probably

P38A Diesel Head gasket again

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