Head gasket blown :(

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

Bevsy

Member
Posts
16
On the way home from work tonight I noticed a lot of smoke coming out from under the bonnet, it was coming out the oil filler cap and the coolant pipes where solid. I started to drive home slowly when it started knocking really bad and then revved up flat out so I stalled it and got a mate to tow me home.
I pulled the head off and the gasket had blown by a push rod. So I assume it was pushing the exhaust gas up into the rocker and blowing it into the air filter and into the turbo and that's why she revved flat out?
I don't know what to do now? Should I buy another 200 tdi and hope it runs well or do I rebuild what I have?
There was no oil on the dipstick but only revved up for seconds so will it need new bottom end rebuild? Also if the gasket had gone by the pushrod why was the coolant system pressurising? Any suggestions are welcome :)
 
I can't visually see any cracks, I also put a straight edge on and it appeared flat. Should I get it pressure tested and go from there?
 
Bevsy said:
I can't visually see any cracks, I also put a straight edge on and it appeared flat. Should I get it pressure tested and go from there?
Click to expand...

souinds like turbos gone as well ,if it knocked it would need total rebuild would be cheaper to fit fresh engine
 
Parts are pretty cheap, a friend of mine had his 200 rebuilt for £400, if it wasn't for the knocking you can change the head gasket on one of those yourself without even skimming the head, better on yours to find the cause first
 
Why do you think the turbo has gone? I have pulled boost pipe off turbo and there is hardly any play in the shaft of it.
 
So far my rebuild has cost around £350 not including my engine stand, which is a must. I built my engine from two knackered ones. When i was looking, a good 200tdi on ebay, you can pay anything from £500 upwards and then are you buying another mans problems?
I would rebuild.
 
replacement engine would be adviseable. a rebuild for these can add up to big money. you will be looking at £150 to get the head skimmed and pressure tested, then you'll probably need a crank regrind then you might as well get a rebore and new pistons.
all told over the cost of a 2nd hand engine.
 
I think im going to go down the rebuild root and do it myself. I think it will cost me about £5-600 to do but I do not plan on selling the defender so at least I will know what I have.
 
Exactly what I will be doing if it lets go, it's done 20 years so far so maybe a freshen up engine wise next year will see it another 20
 
lee3022 said:
Parts are pretty cheap, a friend of mine had his 200 rebuilt for £400, if it wasn't for the knocking you can change the head gasket on one of those yourself without even skimming the head, better on yours to find the cause first
Click to expand...
You can change the HG on any engine yourself but why go to all the trouble of changing the HG without making sure the head is true? Its a false economy to just bolt the head down on a new gasket. You'll be doing it again in six months time. Been there - done that - lesson learnt.
 
Shifty1962 said:
You can change the HG on any engine yourself but why go to all the trouble of changing the HG without making sure the head is true? Its a false economy to just bolt the head down on a new gasket. You'll be doing it again in six months time. Been there - done that - lesson learnt.
Click to expand...

i agree +1,also i am with james if its knocking would be cheaper to get a second hand lump
 
The head went off tonight to be pressure tested and checked and if it's fine on the pressure test they are going to re face the head. I was thinking bout getting another engine but who's to say in three months time the same won't happen again?
 
If you have got the skills, knowledge and tools then I would go for a rebuild. You then know what you have got when you come to fit it again. Worst case strip it down, assess what needs doing and price it up then decide. Remember a second hand engine in running condition doesn't mean it will continue running.
 
Bevsy said:
I think im going to go down the rebuild root and do it myself. I think it will cost me about £5-600 to do but I do not plan on selling the defender so at least I will know what I have.
Click to expand...
At least that way you know everything is good. Who knows what condition a second hand lump will be in? Could be worse than your existing one but you would not know until you fired it up.
 
Bevsy said:
On the way home from work tonight I noticed a lot of smoke coming out from under the bonnet, it was coming out the oil filler cap and the coolant pipes where solid. I started to drive home slowly when it started knocking really bad and then revved up flat out so I stalled it and got a mate to tow me home.
I pulled the head off and the gasket had blown by a push rod. So I assume it was pushing the exhaust gas up into the rocker and blowing it into the air filter and into the turbo and that's why she revved flat out?
I don't know what to do now? Should I buy another 200 tdi and hope it runs well or do I rebuild what I have?
There was no oil on the dipstick but only revved up for seconds so will it need new bottom end rebuild? Also if the gasket had gone by the pushrod why was the coolant system pressurising? Any suggestions are welcome :)
Click to expand...

Check gasket again, there needs only to be a small trace for exhaust gas to escape into the coolant system.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B
Injector pump head gasket
Replies
1
Views
220
tottot
tottot
W
2.4 tdci engine not starting after head gasket replacement
Replies
5
Views
344
Wizza
W
D
P38 4.6l gems blown head gasket
Replies
19
Views
1K
pwood999
pwood999
L
LR 90 Engine to flywheel housing gasket?
Replies
2
Views
258
lasher99
L
Sulcalibur
Oil in coolant reservoir
Replies
4
Views
370
Nodge68
Nodge68
Back
Top