Head Gasket gone on Defender 200 Tdi-Please help?

Hello,
Im afraid im not knowledgable on Landies but my Dad informs me his is a Defender 200 Tdi (which has done 170,000miles), so i hope that makes sense! Anyway, it has been gradually starting poorer and poorer and apparently loses power when he attempts to drive up a slight slope. At first i thought it may be a blocked fuel filter but then it became clear (or so i think?) that it is the head gasket, symptoms include blue smoke from the exhaust, my Dad said that he had lost quite a bit of radiator water lately, along with the other symptoms i have mentioned.
What i would like to know please is has anyone any advice regarding getting this fixed? Other questions i have are:

• Are 200s prone to this?
• Last year he had the engine tuned slightly and the RAC man today said the Turbo sounded as if it had been tuned up a little, would this have made a difference to the head gasket going?
• How much do you think getting this fixed will cost/how labour intensive is it(I suppose head needs skimming, Head gasket set, torque bolts etc)?
• Once it has been done, am i right in thinking that the engine will be slightly more prone to it happening again?

Im sorry if i appear amatuer-ish....it's because i am!

Thank you in advance for any answers..!

*bumpy*

Hi Buel
Its a big job on the 200's so its prob left to someone whos done it before.

Look in your water reservoir - is there oil in there - it will appear as little drops or rainbow- ish slime on the surface - yes? Suspect Head.
Did the vehicle overheat at any time that you or your Dad can remember, and is it overheating now? Yes? Suspect Head.
Rev related ticking sound that increases when engine is under load - Yes? Suspect Head.
If this was me, I would buy a bottle of K-Seal, which is designed to fix mildly damaged head gaskets/heads and see how it goes. What have you got to lose as they guarantee it won't wreck your engine or coolant system? Read up on it first to see what you think.
170K is high mileage - get a compression test to see if the actual engine is letting you down and not something else like fuel or a pump etc.

ytre said:

Hi Buel
Its a big job on the 200's so its prob left to someone whos done it before.

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arse issit:doh:

Thanks Jamesyboy, i will get my Dad to try those suggestions...!
Appreciate it!

Hi again, im sorry for this but a mechanic friend of my Dad's suggest that it isn't the hg but the 'flow pump'?? Please can anyone help me out here?

Ahem! It would seem he meant the lift pump. does that make a little more sense?

lift pump?,

looking from the front its on the left hand side rear, you will see a pipe coming from the rear of the landy and one going to the fuel filter attached to it.

Held in with 2 bolts.

ytre said:

Hi Buel
Its a big job on the 200's so its prob left to someone whos done it before.

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who told ya that? can have it off in a hour!!!!

buel said:

Ahem! It would seem he meant the lift pump. does that make a little more sense?

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Here ye go...

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f41/fuel-lift-pump-removal-renewal-63788.html

Hi there, thank you very much for that, that is so useful!!!!!!

buel said:

Hi there, thank you very much for that, that is so useful!!!!!!

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Nae wurries

Bloody hell, i've had to post again to say a HUGE thank you, that was so kind of you busterbus, that will help my Dad and his friend so much!! Thank you, you are a very kind person!!

buel said:

Bloody hell, i've had to post again to say a HUGE thank you, that was so kind of you busterbus, that will help my Dad and his friend so much!! Thank you, you are a very kind person!!

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Ah tought ye just did say thanks If ye have a look in my guides there may be other stuff that'll come in handy fur yer dad if he needs them

buel said:

HALLELUJAH!!!!!

It turns out that the problem was all 4 injectors were 'coked up' and injector number 4 was particularly blocked/coked up so all 4 were taen out and cleaned. Oddly, the injectors were replaced 10,000 miles ago but, judging by the price my Dad paid (£20 each, he thinks), they must have been reconditioned. Would this make sense to anyone?
Ps- also a leak off washer was leaking!
Pps- the water loss i mentioned was down to a leaking pipe! Phew!!!

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i doubt very much if that £20 injector was a reconditioned one, you'd pay that for for a single "unknown" pulled out of a dead engine - proper reconditioning will cost well in excess of £50 on an injector you supply

glad it's sorted