Head Gasket Q's

[WideEyedFox]

My '98 300TDi Discovery has started "chuffing".  It passed it's MoT just fine, and the test said he suspected it to be the exhaust manifold.

It did need some water (150ml at most) topping up, but there is no smoke from the engine when you remove the oil filler cap.  Also, no white deposits etc. on the dip stick, and (from what I can see) no oil in the water.

The only symptoms I have are the chuffing - and the fact that the cabin temperature get's very hot very quickly.  Engine temp never goes above half way though.

Took it to a local garage and the immediately said head gasket.  Said it had gone around the back, and pulled a sooty hand out as "proof".

Are there any other things I can do to be 100% sure it's the head gasket before shelling out

[Saffy]

When engine is cold, why not start it up and stick your own hand around the back and note any change in the chuffing noise. Temporary remove cooling fan to cut down any turbulence and noise in the engine bay and see if you can feel the chuffing. Maybe be difficult but try and stick an  inspection mirror a behind to get a better look see. Clean the back engine between block and head and then have another look see. Get a compression test done.  that';s me out of ideas at 6am

You could always change the head gasket yourself depending on your tooling and experience.  It would likely cost you under

[Frankie-Boy]

I had the same thing a couple of years ago, apparently 300Tdi's are prone to blowing the head gasket at the back so the diagnosis seems correct from what you have said, however

[WideEyedFox]

Thanks for the replies - much appreciated.

I popped in to another garage this morning ("All About 4x4" in Redditch) and now the plot thickens. 

The mechanic there reckon's it's the exhaust gasket - hence "black soot".  Obviously this is a lot cheaper than a head gasket, however how can I tell who is right?  2 people say exhaust, 1 says head gasket.

As for the

[Dirt-Devil]

Hi there, from reading what has been put so far, i'd say it was the manifold gasket or a crack in the manifold due to the fact that there is a definate loss of exhaust gases, if it was the head gasket, you'd expect to find it gone between number 3 & 4 cylinder as thats the most common place for a 300 engine to blow from,

Hope this helps a bit more but from a diy point it's not too hard for it to be attempted by yourself with basic tools, it just can be a bit fiddly as there can be a lack of space.

[WideEyedFox]

Would love to do that, however I'm doing family stuff this weekend and next.     Basic servicing etc. I'm happy to do, but when it comes to the bigger stuff I'd sooner get it looked at by someone else.  Time, lack of work space, and family commitments all get in the way.

This has now turned in to a bit of a battle of the garages.   

Based on the information above, and both having a look/listen to the problem:

Garage A
Diagnosis : Exhaust manifold gasket (same diagnosis as the MoT tester)
Resolution : Supply & Fit New gasket
Time : 1.5 hours
Cost :

[Frankie-Boy]

Thats probably best then, go for the cheapest option first - thats what I would do too.

Noises etc can be very difficult to diagnose without actually seeing or hearing for yourself but I wish you well and hope option one cures the problem to keep the cost down for you.

[Dr Neil]

If it's chuffing at the back of the head and there is soot on the bulkhead i would suspect the headgasket as i have replaced one for exactly the same fault.

Even

[WideEyedFox]

Thanks Dr Neil.

Tomorrow will tell.  I'm hoping even if it does turn out to be the head gasket this other garage will be cheaper.

Fingers crossed. 

[WideEyedFox]

If it's chuffing at the back of the head and there is soot on the bulkhead i would suspect the headgasket as i have replaced one for exactly the same fault.

Even

[Frankie-Boy]

Good luck with it, hope it all gets sorted out ok for you. 

The last head gasket problem I had turned into a replacement engine 

[WideEyedFox]

Thanks Frankie.  What happened to cause a replacement engine?  That's got to be some serious head problem! 

[Range Rover Blues]

I usually get a leak on the exhaust manifold if it's missing a bolt, or one is loose.

At least

[Frankie-Boy]

Mine had done some damage to No 1 piston and rings and had scored the bore quite badly, I got a second hand engine for

[ukmudmaster]

Had a "chuffing" noise on my 300, turned out to be a loose injector!
Just had a head gasket diagnosed, turned out the head had 6 cracks in it. 2 across valve seats, so thats that...

[Range Rover Blues]

The thought occurs that if it's the manifold gasket then