TD5 Head Gasket?

GTRekky · Jul 9, 2024

Hey forum,

I've got a TD5 and the coolant level indicator light came on at the weekend. I topped it up with around 1.5 litres of water and after a 30 odd mile trip, it had emptied the expansion tank again.

After starting it the following morning, I noticed a considerable amount of white smoke from the exhaust, however this only lasted for a couple of minutes whilst the engine was cold.

I used an RELD block test head gasket tester to see if my suspicions of a blown head gasket were correct, but the liquid remained blue and passed the test with flying colours.

I'm assuming the coolant is entering the combustion chamber which is why there is white smoke (steam?) on start-up, but why would it then pass a head gasket block test?

Could it be cracked head? Fuel cooler?...

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
GTR.

johnlad · Jul 9, 2024

Td5 heads can crack between the water jacket and exhaust ports resulting in pressuring the cooling system.

Stanleysteamer · Jul 9, 2024

I expect because no burnt fuel is entering the coolant.
It depends on where the crack/break is in the head gasket. For the stuff to change colour the crack has to be between the cylinder part of the gasket and the coolant which is still circulating around. If it sucks coolant in then just blows it out via the exhaust.....

tom1979 · Wednesday at 14:40

GTRekky said:
Hey forum,

I've got a TD5 and the coolant level indicator light came on at the weekend. I topped it up with around 1.5 litres of water and after a 30 odd mile trip, it had emptied the expansion tank again.

After starting it the following morning, I noticed a considerable amount of white smoke from the exhaust, however this only lasted for a couple of minutes whilst the engine was cold.

I used an RELD block test head gasket tester to see if my suspicions of a blown head gasket were correct, but the liquid remained blue and passed the test with flying colours.

I'm assuming the coolant is entering the combustion chamber which is why there is white smoke (steam?) on start-up, but why would it then pass a head gasket block test?

Could it be cracked head? Fuel cooler?...

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
GTR.

Those chemical testers rarely work on Td5's. Presumably you have an aftermarket coolant level sensor installed ?

GTRekky · Wednesday at 14:43

tom1979 said:
Those chemical testers rarely work on Td5's. Presumably you have an aftermarket coolant level sensor installed ?

Thanks for the reply Tom,

I don't have an aftermarket coolant level sensor installed atm.

I assumed this light meant low coolant but will happily be corrected

GTRekky · Wednesday at 14:44

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tom1979 · Wednesday at 14:45

GTRekky said:
Thanks for the reply Tom,

I don't have an aftermarket coolant level sensor installed atm.

I assumed this light meant low coolant but will happily be corrected

The light in that photo is the automatic gearbox temperature

The coolant level (when cold) should be at the seam of the expansion tank.

GTRekky · Wednesday at 14:47

GTRekky said:
Tried to attach image but didnt work. Please see the following link for an example:

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Looks like it was a transmission fluid warning

Should have done my research before looking like a plonker

Really appreciate your help

I'll top up the coolant again to that seam and monitor how much it drains over the next couple of days

Stanleysteamer · Wednesday at 15:37

Do you not have access to a compression tester for diesels?

GTRekky · Thursday at 09:43

Stanleysteamer said:
Do you not have access to a compression tester for diesels?

I just pressure tested the cooling system and that held pressure for 20 mins with no leaks.

I do have a compression tester, how would I go about this test on the TD5? Is it as simple as pulling the glow plugs, disconnecting injector loom, then cranking with the compression tester on each cylinder??

tom1979 · Thursday at 09:50

GTRekky said:
I just pressure tested the cooling system and that held pressure for 20 mins with no leaks.

I do have a compression tester, how would I go about this test on the TD5? Is it as simple as pulling the glow plugs, disconnecting injector loom, then cranking with the compression tester on each cylinder??

Are you still losing coolant ?

GTRekky · Thursday at 10:23

tom1979 said:
Are you still losing coolant ?

Yep, lost around 250 ml on my 10 mile commute this morning

tom1979 · Thursday at 10:43

GTRekky said:
Yep, lost around 250 ml on my 10 mile commute this morning

If you've pressure tested it and that was ok but you're still losing it have a look around the cap as perhaps the expansion cap has failed

TD5 Head Gasket?

GTRekky

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