headgasket or f*cked bottom end? HELP

[Jimbo]

Basically my car has started playing up, I've got lots of smoke/steam coming from my dipstick breather pipes etc.
Now I noticed I've started getting some pressure in the top hose lately but this morning it started really lumpy/smoky and my car starts fine when cold.
Has anyone had a gasket failure which has caused pressure to build up down an oil way in the head. Hence the smoke from dipstick tube.
Or is my engine worn out and having excessive blow back and the headgasket is ok?
I have checked for.blocked breathers/valves and all is clear

[londondan86]

Doesn't sound good! Any oil in the water or vise versa? Are your heaters hot? Pressure on the top rad hose?

Few things to check anyway!

[ozonehostile]

itl be the headgasket dude, had the same thing happen

[Jimbo]

Ok I've ordered a head gasket set. Just didn't wanna fit that to find out the crankcase is pressurizing due. To a worn engine.
Seems like what we first thought was correct.
Ozone did I have the smoke from dipstick tube

[ozonehostile]

Ok I've ordered a head gasket set. Just didn't wanna fit that to find out the crankcase is pressurizing due. To a worn engine.
Seems like what we first thought was correct.
Ozone did I have the smoke from dipstick tube

yeah, blew the headgasket on the laguna, oil in water, water in oil, smoke when it got hot

[Jimbo]

That's the thing I don't seem to have had anything mix.
I am getting pressure in top hose though

[ozonehostile]

That's the thing I don't seem to have had anything mix.
I am getting pressure in top hose though

itl probably start mixing if you give it time, i drove the laguna for ages with a blown gasket, drank oil and water like there was no tomorrow lol

[Jimbo]

Should I not be worrying about the crankcase pressure/smoke im hoping this is down to the headgasket. I can't afford to fit that lot and then find out the bottom end is worn

Grrr bloody xuds

[ozonehostile]

Should I not be worrying about the crankcase pressure/smoke im hoping this is down to the headgasket. I can't afford to fit that lot and then find out the bottom end is worn

Grrr bloody xuds

i think its unlikely to be the crankcase seals unless:

a belt has snapped and in the process wrapped around the crank, damaging the seals and bearings in the process

or fuel issues, too much advance on the pump leading to fuel being injected at wrong times can cause damage to the seal, high temperatures, high pressures etc.

whats your current tune like? much pump work?

any bubbles in the coolant?

[Jimbo]

No I mean blow back, caused by worn rings etc.
Current tune Bosch t2, front mount at 20 ish psi. Not overkill really
When I rev the engine with cap off I can see Bubbles but I think this is just what the waterpump is pushing around. And as said some pressure in top hose noticeably more.than before but still not loads

[Seb_Ryan]

100% hg if ya got bubbles when revved, when ya got head off just wiggle top of piston and if you got a fait bit of movement rings are fooked

[Jimbo]

Still think it's just what the waterpump is moving around down the return to the rad

[Ricky]

But the bubbles are air that the water pump is pushing round, from the HG. You have all the symptoms of HG failure imo, would be surprised if it's anything else.

[Jimbo]

Ok Ricky. Have ordered the parts prob best I just fit it and go from there..

[ozonehostile]

ah i see what you meant now lol, but yeah, id say do your headgasket first, xud's only downside is the weakness of the headgasket once you start pushing the boost and temperatures up, that and the conrod design flaw, apart from those two things its quite rare for an xud to have serious problems unless they havnt been maintained

[Dave]

100% hg if ya got bubbles when revved, when ya got head off just wiggle top of piston and if you got a fait bit of movement rings are fooked

wiggling the piston will tell you nothing, they need to have room for expansion, aluminium in case iron etc.

[Jimbo]

Think I have rules this down to headgasket. After 15 mins of driving I am getting so much pressure in top hose it's not possible to release the rad cap without scalding yourself. And if left overnight with pressure in, in the morning I think the cylinders have a little oil/water in them as I get lots of smoke and spluttering. Whereas before I had not cold start issues

[Puggie]

Compression test ? Save all the pissing about

[Jimbo]

Where do test a diesel for compression - injectors glow plugs?
It's not pissing about it's taken two days to come to a conclusion.....

[mikey b]

Glow plugs graham has an adaptor at work

[Puggie]

Glow plugs graham has an adaptor at work

Yeah thsts the route I would go down insted of listening to the shit posted so far. Its all good saying this and that but. No point in sending cash if its something else. Diagnosis is the simple route first.

Where are you located bud compression tester here in the garage if needed

[Jimbo]

Right so the cooling system is pressurizing, I've got air bubbles in the coolant when I rev with rad cap off. If left.overnight the pressure seeps coolant in to the cylinders. I don't think I need anymore diagnosis than that

[Puggie]

No bother mate I will just keep my 20 years experience to my self in future. Good luck

[Ricky]

Puggie when 'mikey b' mentioned glow plugs, I think he was referring to where the compression tester fits to. Definatly bigger problems than just glow plugs!

[cwspellowe]

No bother mate I will just keep my 20 years experience to my self in future. Good luck

Is there any reason you're being a bit of a dick?

Keep your 20 years experience to yourself. Given the community that we are, i'm sure there's communally more knowledge than you have, especially with regards to an engine many of us have dissected countless times. Yes a compression test is the simple answer, but not if you don't have a gauge. Given the fact that most garages want to charge you for the test too, the free options are always the easiest.

OP, mind and get the head skimmed if it's pressurising, or at least checked with a straight edge. I never bothered skimming mine as I was in a rush for FCS and it lasted about 100 miles, never again.

[Puggie]

No bother mate I will just keep my 20 years experience to my self in future. Good luck

Is there any reason you're being a bit of a dick?

Keep your 20 years experience to yourself. Given the community that we are, i'm sure there's communally more knowledge than you have, especially with regards to an engine many of us have dissected countless times. Yes a compression test is the simple answer, but not if you don't have a gauge. Given the fact that most garages want to charge you for the test too, the free options are always the easiest.

OP, mind and get the head skimmed if it's pressurising, or at least checked with a straight edge. I never bothered skimming mine as I was in a rush for FCS and it lasted about 100 miles, never again.

Awesome reply on very little facts you are so wrong but crack on


i asked where he was as i have a few spare compression testers but meh

[cwspellowe]

No bother mate I will just keep my 20 years experience to my self in future. Good luck

Is there any reason you're being a bit of a dick?

Keep your 20 years experience to yourself. Given the community that we are, i'm sure there's communally more knowledge than you have, especially with regards to an engine many of us have dissected countless times. Yes a compression test is the simple answer, but not if you don't have a gauge. Given the fact that most garages want to charge you for the test too, the free options are always the easiest.

OP, mind and get the head skimmed if it's pressurising, or at least checked with a straight edge. I never bothered skimming mine as I was in a rush for FCS and it lasted about 100 miles, never again.

Awesome reply on very little facts you are so wrong but crack on


i asked where he was as i have a few spare compression testers but meh

LOL! Wrong on so many facts? Trust me, i've blown enough XUD headgaskets to know one when I see one. And if you're referring to experience, i'd love to know what you've done that at least one of us on here hasn't done before with these engines.

Come back when you have something useful to say. Til then FOYC

[Jimbo]

I have a compression tester at work. I work in a garage with Mikey B

Seems to be a few people on here who are letting the forum down and being complete cocks. For the most part I always get the answer I am looking for. I had already self diagnosed my problem just wanted a few more opinions.

I have got a victor reinz headgasket head set and new bolts. Ill.be getting the head skimmed too. Hoping to start tomorrow evening and just have a couple hours each night on it hopefully should be done by end of the week

[cwspellowe]

To be honest, head changes on these take very little time at all. I managed to do mine whilst stranded in Blackpool with limited tools in only a few hours. Helps if you're on a FMIC as you dont have to get the intercooler out of the way, but even then, belt off, lean the engine forwards on its mounts and pop the manifolds off, you're nearly there.

[Jimbo]

Yeah im on fmic. I no what im doing.
think it's basically.
Boost pipes etc off. Fuel filters housing and that water housing.
lock.and strip Cambelt. Engine off mount lean forward both manifolds/ turbo off. Injector lines etc.
Head off etc etc.
Pretty confident tbh. Have done fair few hg's at work just not an xud. Should be easy