Overheated and died - now won't start...

Thomas Lenthall said:

300TDI engine in a Disco, travelling at about 70, lost power billowing smoke behind... pulled over and it died as we came to a stop...

Open bonnet, coolant everywhere, black smoke coming from the top of the engine. After getting recovered home, tried turning it over to see if it would start and it won't. I don't have a diesel compression tester so couldn't check compression but can see the rockers working through the oil cap, took out each glow plug to see if anything untoward came squirting out when turning over, it didn't. Checked that fuel is making it to the engine and it is.

Wondering if the head gasket is gone/have lost compression. Number 4 glow plug was heavily sooted up, not sure if that makes any difference/means anything.

Any ideas?

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Thomas Lenthall said:

Yes, was worried that would be the case.

Anything else to try/test before taking the head off, or should we just jump straight in and take it apart?

Temperature gauge didn't show any overheating at all, until after we'd pulled over, at which point it went through the max... Which was great, because we obviously already knew it had overheated by that point

Click to expand...

Thomas Lenthall said:

Yes, was worried that would be the case.

Anything else to try/test before taking the head off, or should we just jump straight in and take it apart?

Temperature gauge didn't show any overheating at all, until after we'd pulled over, at which point it went through the max... Which was great, because we obviously already knew it had overheated by that point

Click to expand...