Engine case over pressure question.

I am after a bit of advice, I have a 300tdi Auto with EDC. about 150,000 miles well serviced throughout.

During the summer I had a pinhole leak on the bottom radiator hose to water pump, the engine did NOT overheat, got to about the 10 o'clock position rather than 9 o'clock.

After this I noticed it ran a bit 'rough' a little like it was running on 3 cylinders (but not quite as bad as that) I thought that it might be the head gasket and this might have caused the coolant hose leak (over pressure of the coolant) so I have changed the gasket.

Since doing this the other day I have noticed after the one run up to temperature that if I take the oil cap off it pretends to be a steam train and there is quite an oil leak from the oil cooler pipes where there was only a weep before.

Basically what I am asking is does it sound like I have a cracked head?
Coolant is not bubbling, no loss of water, oil not in water and water not in oil!

I don't mind changing the head as I have a spare in the garage, Is there a good way to check a head for cracks without sending it in for pressure testing?

Thanks for any useful help, I would like to get it back into use, I have been using my other car so it hasn't been a major issue but I would like it done before the weather decides to become constant rain as all work is done outside the house in the street!

John.

Nobody had any thing like this happen then?

John

Try doing a presure loss test on your cooling system !! Pump and Guage fitted to header tank , pump up to around 14 psi and wait ¡ if presure is lost then you have a leak !!! Check heater matrix!! Then all hoses !! If no leaks are found then take the head off and get it presure tested !! Or try taking it to your local a&e ask them to x ray it for you !!!

did you reset tappets after head change ? what were bores like ?

Tappets were reset and the bores still had the honing marks on them.
Everything 'looked' as it should that is why I am at a bit of a loss!

John

ferretboy said:

Try doing a presure loss test on your cooling system !! Pump and Guage fitted to header tank , pump up to around 14 psi and wait ¡ if presure is lost then you have a leak !!! Check heater matrix!! Then all hoses !! If no leaks are found then take the head off and get it presure tested !! Or try taking it to your local a&e ask them to x ray it for you !!!

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I've not got access to the pressure kit, all hoses in good condition, heater gets warm and no leaks. Water level stays the same.
Coolant system bled ok also.
John

Have you checked your injectors?

If everything else is OK, try taking the injector pipes off and see if you get an even flow on each of them.

If you do, and it's still running rough, take your injectors out and see if you are getting the same delivery and spray pattern out of each of them. If not, it could be that your injectors could do with servicing.

One step at a time, and try the simple things first!

Take it to your local independent garage and ask them to do a "sniff test" should only cost you a few quid and will tell you for sure if you are pressurising your cooling system with combustion gasses.