What do you think is this head worth saving?

Hi,

I took the head off Jo this morning as I had a leak near the exhaust manifold.

I have never taken a car to part where every nut and bolt was either to loose or finger tightg, except the head, the bolts there were all over the shop some super tighth the one near the leak area quite loose.

Having done a visual inspection of the gasket there's nothing wrong with it; hoever the block looks like the new gasket had been put on the old one without cleanign it properly and also the head itself looks bad in some areas. I've posted the images here hoping someone like James can let me know if I should even bother getting the head tested or just try to get another one.

Thanks and enjor the pictures.

If it's been run incorrectly torqued then high chance it's warped - clean up and put a straight edge on it will give you a rough idea - machine shop could tell you for certain

looks ok including ports, just check its flat, new blades like theses are perfect for cleaning head and block

is it running as standard or altered

Thanks chaps, James what about the rust going under where the gasket should seal the cylinder? Thought that was a big no no to put that back on?

I have a little gadget for scraping with blades i n it, worked a treat the other day.

just scrape it off as long as its clean and flat staining wont hurt

You should find it'll all scrape off and end up smooth

It gues in about 2-3mm or more.

Have a look see.

That'll clean up, I use Stanley blades when I do mine cos they is cheap

Marmaduke said:

That'll clean up, I use Stanley blades when I do mine cos they is cheap

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+1 it needs a good cleanup before you can decide - possibly a skim if it isn't flat and there is enough metal to make it so...

Not sure I can take 2-3mm off?

Anyway we will see.

SpaceDawg said:

Not sure I can take 2-3mm off?

Anyway we will see.

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Just make sure that when you scrape the crap off none of it falls into the pistons

People come in their pants to much with head skimming, Ive done a few tdi and never skimmed the head or replaced the head bolts.
Its dirty clean it up best as you can, perfection is not needed and stick it back together, job done, fcuk wife/drink beer sorted.
The one and only thing to look at with tdi head is cracking between the valve seats and even then minor cracks are fine to go again, I can say that with experience.

Nothing wrong with it. If you've got anything to worry about it's valves.

This is the best scraper I have ever used!

http://www.superscraper.com

Looks alright that head, take it to the place in Crawley and get them to check it, lap the valves in and change the oil seals to

Okies all, you will mainly see me next week in the engine bay doing some additional wiring etc as well as cleaning the block.

lynall said:

People come in their pants to much with head skimming, Ive done a few tdi and never skimmed the head or replaced the head bolts.
Its dirty clean it up best as you can, perfection is not needed and stick it back together, job done, fcuk wife/drink beer sorted.
The one and only thing to look at with tdi head is cracking between the valve seats and even then minor cracks are fine to go again, I can say that with experience.

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At last some good old practical no nonsense advice. I've seen heads in loads worse condition and reused them with no issues. So long as the head is flat and the surfaces clean the head gasket will seal. JMHO

Dropped it off at the machine shop today for a pressure test, the chat was not worries about the dip as it was a couple of mm from the gasket so fingers crossed I might be ok to order the gasket set when I know if it passes and get it back onto the car.

Done passed pressure test and 4 thou taken off to flatten the head.

Do you mind if I ask what you were charged for the skim?

Pressure testing and skim was £84. Skim alone you can get done around here for £35.