[EricTheRed]

I am rebuilding my engine, had to go 40 over on the pistons and purchased a high flow head from Turner. Which head gasket should I purchase. Also do the metal ones have different thicknesses like the composite? I don’t have the engine back from the machine shop yet, so I have yet to measure with the dial gauge. If I do go metal I acquired a Victor Reinz, is that a good brand?

 

[EricTheRed]

200 Tdi 300 Tdi ? if the deck and head are perfectly flat with no pitting or corrosion then MLS, any warp, pitting or corrosion then go Elring composite both come in multiple thicknesses, and pony up for a new set of head bolts.

Block is original, the head is brand new as mentioned above. It’s a complete rebuild on a 300Tdi, also as mentioned above. Lots of new parts including head bolts.

 

[EricTheRed]

If you are using a turner head, why don't you get the head gasket they sell? I also got a high-performance head from turner for the 2.8 tdi we are doing and just got a new head gasket they suggested.

I may just do that, as stated above, I haven’t measured the piston height yet since the machine shop isn’t finished yet. I also have 2 head gaskets at the house already. One 3 hole composite and a 2 hole metal.

 

[EricTheRed]

Time for an update, not a good one either. I did the measurements on the piston protrusion, I had to go with a 3 hole gasket. I was in a time crunch and I had a composite 3hole on hand, so I installed that one. Fast forward to now, I ran the truck 700 miles, ran great, even took it on a 2 hour drive on the hwy, no issues. A day later I drove it to work, which is 25 miles. No issues again. Temp running about 190-195F. Leaving work, I check the coolant level, and I check the oil level. All good. Take off, drive 5 miles on the highway, and I look down and my temp gauge is at 220F. I immediately turn the engine off and coast to a stop. Get a tow home, check it all, found some hoses not tight, bleed air, drive again. No issues, stop for about 20 minutes to clean up. Restart the truck, same thing, get less than a mile down the road, 220F. Truck is airlocking. I have to bleed the radiator, and all is back to normal. I haven't had a chance to do a pressure test, that will happen in about a week when I have time. I am concerned it's actually a head gasket failure. Is this possible after only 700 miles?

 

[EricTheRed]

Thanks, this a brand new turner high flow head. Do you think at 220F I damaged it? I hope to God I didn’t. Should I go with the Elring brand gasket?

 

[EricTheRed]

I am concerned a little about the block. Is this a huge issue?

 

[EricTheRed]

I just bought mine from Turner in the UK. Can't go wrong with them, what I should have done from the first place.

 

[EricTheRed]

Definitely a blown head gasket. I cleaned the block, checked the head and it’s fine. I installed the MLS gasket from Turner. So far so good.

 

[EricTheRed]

 

[EricTheRed]

It took me 2 hours to break it down. I had to get some extra tools and clean up the block a bit. I also changed all the hoses to Silicone. That took a while. Honestly if I had everything at my finger tips and just removed, cleaned and reinstalled, probably 5 hours. I had many interruptions so this took 3 days.