leaking/smoking defender 200tdi

Turboman · May 21, 2016

Maxlondon said:
Hi guys,
Turboman , I actually thought it could be coolant but it is hard to make the difference with so much s*** coming out at the same time , I thought it smells like diesel but hard to say ...
What do you mean by bottom liner ?
Bottom end ?
I think like you say I might just stop everything and trying to find a land rover specialist...

Like he says, liners were just an example of what happens on tractors to put water into the sump.
In the case of a landrover, it would be a cracked head or similar putting water into the sump.
Have you checked the oil and water levels? And is there any white emulsion in the rocker box?

And I would agree that removing, examining, and testing the injectors is never a waste of time, remember to get new washers before replacement. Anm injection specialist will supply them, as well as testing the sprayers.

NiallRussell · May 21, 2016

Mine was smoking a bit similar to that. It was a faulty head gasket that caused a cracked head, allowing the coolant fluid to leak into the engine.

It was steam coming out of the exhaust in my case.

If I was you I would do the following to check - easy checks to cross off the list.
1) Open your air filter and see what conditions it's in. If it's got oil on it (mine did at one point) then you have oil coming from the oil breather, or worse turbo. Check the pipes that run from the air filter to the tubo too. A bit of oil is expected I believe, mine dripped!
2) Check fluid level, in res and in radiator. If thats gone down a lot then you may have been leaking water into the engine causing the oil level to rise and burn white.
3) check oil level using the dip stick. How does the oil look to you on the stick? Are there little spots of water? if yes that might confirm a leaking head.
4) Take off the oil filler cap and see if there is any grease looking crap on it. It should only be black oil.

Might be of no help (i hardly know what to do half the time), but you can do all those things in less than 30 minutes and it MAY point to a problem. Good luck.

Turboman · May 21, 2016

NiallRussell said:
Mine was smoking a bit similar to that. It was a faulty head gasket that caused a cracked head, allowing the coolant fluid to leak into the engine.

It was steam coming out of the exhaust in my case.

If I was you I would do the following to check - easy checks to cross off the list.
1) Open your air filter and see what conditions it's in. If it's got oil on it (mine did at one point) then you have oil coming from the oil breather, or worse turbo. Check the pipes that run from the air filter to the tubo too. A bit of oil is expected I believe, mine dripped!
2) Check fluid level, in res and in radiator. If thats gone down a lot then you may have been leaking water into the engine causing the oil level to rise and burn white.
3) check oil level using the dip stick. How does the oil look to you on the stick? Are there little spots of water? if yes that might confirm a leaking head.
4) Take off the oil filler cap and see if there is any grease looking crap on it. It should only be black oil.

Might be of no help (i hardly know what to do half the time), but you can do all those things in less than 30 minutes and it MAY point to a problem. Good luck.

Yes, that sort of thing would be my best suggestion as well.

Flossie · May 21, 2016

And mine!

Maxlondon · May 21, 2016

hello guys , again thanks a lot for your time,

so ,
- no mayonnaise nowhere but looks like the water level dropped .
- can't see anything that would look like water on the oil dipstick, just plain deep black oil.
- what is dripping from everywhere is definitely not oil as it is really "liquid" does look like water.
- cannot even check the air filter and between filter and turbo just yet as I just realised trying to open it that the old owner put silicone everywhere to seal it... nice...

I think i will need a new "air filter box".
Went to see a mechanic today that someone recommended to me with the video, and he did say that it looks like at least a head gasket.
So if it is a cracked head , is it a doable job for someone like me with very little experience, or should I just leave it to someone ?
I did change cylinder , head and piston on little dirt bikes but it does look like a different story on a "real" engine.
I happy to take on a job that I am not really confident with due to the lack of money and the knowledge I will get but do not want to get stuck halfway and cry for my mama haha.

NiallRussell · May 21, 2016

It cost me a bit to get some one to do - but I was on the road and not able to even think about doing it myself. How much time do you have? Do you have a nice garage to work in? keeping things dry and clean? Do you have the tools?

It's definitely a serious job which will cost you in terms of labour, but my advice is not to undertake it unless you have the space / time. That said, I don't believe there are any serous skills needed to do it - just patience, and the RAVE manual gives you all you need to know.

Maxlondon · May 21, 2016

Alright , I guess it is a no, i am doing everything on the road ( I have nice neighbours lol) i have a fair bit of tools as I am a carpenter and bought quite a bit of tools that is specific to mechanics. Time would be a week end.
The mechanic I've seen told me it would be around £600/700 if it is just the head gasket. plus If it is a cracked head it would need replacing isn't it or can it be welded for example ? and I guess it would need sanding down the other side isn't it?

And if we talking about roughly £1000 wouldn't it be wiser to just forget that dodgy engine and just trying to find myself a better one ?

NiallRussell · May 21, 2016

You can buy new heads for around £300 upwards I believe. That kind of money for labour doesn't seem crazy for the job, but then maybe I over paid. I wouldn't advise throwing the engine out, even without seeing it.

I think the heads can be skimmed (ground down to a straight edge) rather than buy a new one, but not sure the costs / benefits.

It's a bugger to spend that kind of money I know, but you get a nice shinny new top for your engine, small bonus.

Flossie · May 21, 2016

Maxlondon said:
Alright , I guess it is a no, i am doing everything on the road ( I have nice neighbours lol) i have a fair bit of tools as I am a carpenter and bought quite a bit of tools that is specific to mechanics. Time would be a week end.
The mechanic I've seen told me it would be around £600/700 if it is just the head gasket. plus If it is a cracked head it would need replacing isn't it or can it be welded for example ? and I guess it would need sanding down the other side isn't it?

And if we talking about roughly £1000 wouldn't it be wiser to just forget that dodgy engine and just trying to find myself a better one ?

I've never paid anyone to work on my landy but that price sounds a rip off to me.

Maxlondon · May 21, 2016

"you get a nice shinny new top for your engine, small bonus." s*** a £1000 shiny head haha.
Is it possible to skimmed it with sand paper ? I have done that on head and cylinder of a 50cc (advice from my father in law) and god that worked well !
Does it sound like a good idea for you guys if I :

1 - bring the car and pay £75/150 for the mechanic to spend an hour or 2 to tell me exactly what the problem is
2 - if it is indeed head gasket and/or cracked head try to change it myself next week end on the road with youtube on the side to help me
3 - grab myself a flap piece of whatever with fine sand paper and sand the top of the cylinder.

Does it sound crazy or doable (for someone that wasn't even sure what an intercooler was).
This story scares me to be honest , I always had problems with my cars but nothing much worse than a failing cooling system

Flossie · May 21, 2016

Maxlondon said:
"you get a nice shinny new top for your engine, small bonus." s*** a £1000 shiny head haha.
Is it possible to skimmed it with sand paper ? I have done that on head and cylinder of a 50cc (advice from my father in law) and god that worked well !
Does it sound like a good idea for you guys if I :

1 - bring the car and pay £75/150 for the mechanic to spend an hour or 2 to tell me exactly what the problem is
2 - if it is indeed head gasket and/or cracked head try to change it myself next week end on the road with youtube on the side to help me
3 - grab myself a flap piece of whatever with fine sand paper and sand the top of the cylinder.

Does it sound crazy or doable (for someone that wasn't even sure what an intercooler was).
This story scares me to be honest , I always had problems with my cars but nothing much worse than a failing cooling system

The head has to be machined flat you cannot do it with sandpaper.
Swopping out the head gasket is an easy job (to me) but I'm unsure (with the greatest of respect) that it's within your abilities.
Maybe get your guy to check it over, get him to do a compression test too and then report back with the findings.
We will tell you what your best course of action will be after that.

Maxlondon · May 21, 2016

Ok , yes I ve seen some diesel compression tester for around £30 might get myself one anyway.
Will do that, I will bring him the car beginning of this week and let you know the result , but then if it is a cracked head and I get one then the labour cost wouldn't change isn't it ? As when you change the gasket the head is out so it is the same job, only putting a new one in !?
Maybe it is just a leak of injectors and me trying to start over and over again flooded the engine who knows !

jamesmartin · May 21, 2016

you ca rule out an injector by slackening one in turn with engine running,
you cant buy new 200 tdi heads
compression test is your best next move

Maxlondon · May 21, 2016

jamesmartin said:
you ca rule out an injector by slackening one in turn with engine running,
you cant buy new 200 tdi heads
compression test is your best next move

Hi Jamesmartin, could you explain more what you mean by "slackening one in turn with engine running|"
you mean take one off with engine running ?

jamesmartin · May 21, 2016

with engine running you slacken one injector (17mm spanner) it will spurt diesel and so not fire on that injector, you check exhaust etc and if no change retighten and slacken the next

Maxlondon · May 21, 2016

awesome will check that and try to do a compression test before bring it next week .
Is it safe to turn the engine on in that state though ? No risk to completely kill it ?

How long should I slack each ? a minute or simply a few seconds ?
Sorry if i sound dumb but just would like to make sure I do it right , don't like to take chances
And do I need to change the washers as well ?

Turboman · May 21, 2016

No washers on the injector pipe unions, just if you remove the injector itself.

Maxlondon · May 21, 2016

Cool, will try this and the compression test tomorrow, just trying to find out where to get one as aparently all the one I found are for petrol engine only

Turboman · May 21, 2016

Maxlondon said:
Cool, will try this and the compression test tomorrow, just trying to find out where to get one as aparently all the one I found are for petrol engine only

Dont get yer hopes up. All that water isnt coming from an injector, though they are worth checking.

Maxlondon · May 21, 2016

Yes I know , but it is scaring me so much a bit of hope is good !
Maybe I just couldn't make the difference between diesel and water.
But if the compression test comes out good with all 4 being as they should it would be it is not the gasket or head isn't it ?

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