Head problems......or maybe not???

Hi Guys,
My 300tdi seems to have a head problem.
Using oil and water but NOT pressurising the cooling system. My understanding is that if head cracked or gasket gone the pressure get high enough to blow the header tank. I have tried pressurising the cooling system but once pressurised it drops straight off again. when it is pressurised blue smoke from exhaust that smells of oil and anti freeze. last week it used 1 litre water and perhaps 1/2 litre of oil but this week levels have remained good. Engine smokes blue smoke when pulling away or first thing after cold start.
Took it to local 4x4 garage and they said "head gasket" or cracked head.
Before I spend out some £400ish on a new head I was just wondering if there could be any other causes for the smoking and oil/water loss.
If anyone has any ideas i would be very grateful
Thanx in advance
Richard

you have answered your own question, head off, tested and if okay skim-refit with new gasket

I was afraid that may be the only thing to do. Need to get new head now and cannot afford for the motor to be off the road for more than a day.
landrover owners need DEEP pockets....ha

The working pressure for your cooling system is around 9psi.

Do you have any emulsion in your oil? (Yellow-ish soapy stuff)

It is normal for a bit of blue smoke to come out of the exhaust on start-up, as long as it disappears fairly quickly.

If you can, check the compression on each cylinder, which will give you an indication of the condition of your internals. If all of them read about the same, you probably won't have anything to worry about.

You could be either burning or losing a bit of oil and losing a bit of water, so check for leaks everywhere.

It would also be helpful if you gave us the age of your car and how manymiles you do.

Hope this helps.

OSD

Get a sniff test done at any decent indy garage. Should only cost a tenner or so and can diagnose a leaking head gasket without taking anything apart.

Keeper said:

I was afraid that may be the only thing to do. Need to get new head now and cannot afford for the motor to be off the road for more than a day.
landrover owners need DEEP pockets....ha

Click to expand...

Try a TD5 then - chocolate heads and £1200 for a Turners (improved) replacement part.......

But, it runs like a dream (if slightly noisier - from more solid casting and metal dowels??) has better breathing/torque and fuel consumption, so what the heck...... A

agew said:

Try a TD5 then - chocolate heads and £1200 for a Turners (improved) replacement part.......

But, it runs like a dream (if slightly noisier - from more solid casting and metal dowels??) has better breathing/torque and fuel consumption, so what the heck...... A

Click to expand...

Peep has a 300TDI-4 cyl, not a 5cyl

Turner engineering
Rebuilt 295

new 525, with exchange of your head

Fur Trapper said:

Peep has a 300TDI-4 cyl, not a 5cyl

Turner engineering
Rebuilt 295

new 525, with exchange of your head

Click to expand...

Was just trying to make him feel better - sorry if I confused you. A