Help! - Head Gasket 200Tdi

PM sent Mick.

I'm west end of Newcastle, heading towards Hexham!

I really dont want to even remove the head if I dont have to - I'm just as idle, with a sprinkling of slight incompetance when it comes to mechanics...

I've always been told smoke from the oil filler was a bad sign, and time to change the gasket. I'm pleased this isnt always the case!

I'll get some research going when I get in from work into timing and the injector pump.

Thanks!

Oldseadog said:

PM sent Mick.

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Thanks !

Hope you've got a decent set of spanners!

Monkeymick said:

Am I right in thinking timing could cause the smoke from the oil filler, if the valves were open at the wrong time?

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I can't see how. Fumes from the sump means the gasses are where they should not be. Candidates for that would be engine wear or headgasket IMO. It sounds very much like a blow into one of the pushrods - given your description of the chuffing sound.

You really should avoid running it until it's sorted as you could cause damage to the head. Once the head is off, it will need to go to an engine shop to be checked for cracks and skimmed if it's within tolerances. I redid my old 2.5 NA headgasket about 3 times on the trot convince it was fine, but it was warped. It looked straight against my straight edge but it only has to be very slightly out of true to cause a problem. The 200 head is much softer so it's likely that it would need skimmed.

It's possible that the garage did not do the prep properly. Everything has to go back very clean otherwise the gasket will fail. It's a lot of work - I can't see how you can get it done by Tues.

As well as the gasket, you will need new headbolts and coolant unless you are planning on draining and reusing what's already in the engine.

Hey all

The issue is sorted now - seems the local garage had a batch of dodgy fuel, that I think blocked an injector. Mine wasnt the only vehicle driving round the area chucking out white smoke like it was going out of fashion....

A quick change of the fuel filter and a bottle of redex type additive in the fuel tank worked wonders - The engine is running sweetly at the minute, no chugging and no smoking!

Hopefully, that's sorted the issue out, without me having to tear the engine apart...

Cheers

MM

Result!!

Monkeymick said:

Hey all

The issue is sorted now - seems the local garage had a batch of dodgy fuel, that I think blocked an injector. Mine wasnt the only vehicle driving round the area chucking out white smoke like it was going out of fashion....

A quick change of the fuel filter and a bottle of redex type additive in the fuel tank worked wonders - The engine is running sweetly at the minute, no chugging and no smoking!

Hopefully, that's sorted the issue out, without me having to tear the engine apart...

Cheers

MM

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Good news. Probably doesn't explain the smoke out of the oil filler though? May be worth finding some time to take a look at it, before you are in a position where the vehicle doesn't run and you need it

Once the engine is running at normal temperature, you will find that there is 'smoke' in the rocker cover.

That is why you have a breather on it which goes to the air inlet manifold, either direct or through an evaporator.

If the smoke is coming out from around the oil filler cap, all you need to do is change the seal on the cap.

Nothing to worry about.