Hey folks.

Was driving my 02 plate the other day, everything going fine and suddenly smelled coolant burning. Thermometer was at the max position, so shut the engine off and had a look, and the coolant was spraying out of the overflow pipe.

Topped up the radiator with cold water and started again, but thermometer went straight to the top after a couple of minutes. Limped it to a mates workshop with a number of stops and refills and we decided the head gasket was gone - loads of foamy bubbles coming up from the radiator with the cap off. Truck ran fine, sounded fine and I was able to drive it about 10 miles the next day to a nearby garage without the temp going above half but there was still loads of coolant/water pissing out from the overflow pipe.

Garage just rang me, and mentioned something about the older trucks having a ceramic insert which, if it's buggered will cost a fortune. I can't find anything online about ceramic inserts so was wondering if anybodys got any thoughts? I'm hoping it's just the gasket that's gone, so I'll need a new one and the head skimming!

never heard of ceramic inserts before

That's a good sign! So it's likely just a gasket and head change then?

Weird thing is that the head gasket was replaced under the previous owner, less than 2 years ago.

Quote: WillS wrote in post #3

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That's a good sign! So it's likely just a gasket and head change then?

Weird thing is that the head gasket was replaced under the previous owner, less than 2 years ago.

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I've just had head gasket done on my 04 and like others never heard of ceramic inserts?

Well that's definitely a relief. Maybe the guy at the garage was thinking of something else.

Ceramic inserts? Where exactly was he thinking of inserting them? Never heard of ceramic inserts. I can guarantee my 55plate didn't have any. @Alan G will be able to shed some light on this but I suspect your mechanic has his wires crossed

up his rectum the same orifice he is talking out of

It has WHAT..... BOLLOX

I have stripped more L200 heads and engines than anyone on the L200 site and never in 12 years have I came across ceramic inserts. He is either got his wires crossed or trying to rip you off. The block is cast iron and the head is alloy no ceramic anywhere.

Where are you about ?

I would however recommend a new head that way you have piece of mind. I usually fit a newhead, waterpump, belts, thermostat and its usually about £900 - £1000 soof your anywhere near Edinburgh give me a shout.

Awesome, cheers guys!

The truck is stuck in Shaftesbury unfortunately! They quoted me £650 for a new gasket and head skimming which seemed pretty reasonable. He mentioned the ceramic thing as a "older trucks are known for these being a problem and if we can't find an obvious problem with the gasket it'll likely be the ceramics".

Thatis a decent price bit it woll be tje gasket. The head will need skimmed bit ask to get the pump and stat changed as well as its in there so shouldnt be muchmore cost.

Oh the joy. Turns out the head wasn't milled flat the last time it was put back, so there was a gap. Gasket blown, head buckled (possibly twice so likely more than can be sorted by skimming), radiator blown on both sides, and stat broken.

Might be time to get a bicycle.

Ask tue garage if they are happy to fit brand new parts that you suppy and get a head, gasket set, radiator, stat belt kit and waterpump from Milner offroad. Atleast you will get 5% forum discount @Milner Offroad

Quote: Alan G wrote in post #13

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Ask tue garage if they are happy to fit brand new parts that you suppy and get a head, gasket set, radiator, stat belt kit and waterpump from Milner offroad. Atleast you will get 5% forum discount @Milner Offroad

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Had an interesting update from the garage - everything is finally back together, but now there's water leaking out the side of the engine, around where the gasket was fitted. They're not sure why, so it's all coming off again. Any thoughts? He reckons either dodgy gasket, or swarf in one of the bolt holes after skimming the head.

Or they never torqued it down properly,ask them how they did it and in what sequence and torque settings.

Ok cheers, I'll check. Is there a guide somewhere to compare it to?

Nevermind, turns out they fitted another new gasket and there's still water pissing out somewhere in the exact same spot, so they've chalked it up as a hairline crack in the head.

Quote is now £1600, which is £700 more than I paid for the truck in the first place!

Right. Update for anybody interested. The head was inspected, and there were definitely no cracks, and it's been skimmed right down the limit. Still got water coming out from one corner.

The garage discovered the water was coming out UNDER the gasket, so they can only assume it's the block itself which has an issue - they think it's got crazy hot at some point (before I had it, and presumably the reason the previous owner had the head gasket replaced) and the block has buckled somehow.

The only sensible fix to keep the costs down was to use that gasket sealant stuff that you put between the block and the gasket (not the stuff you pour into the coolant), and cross everything.

My question to anybody who knows about this stuff - does it sound like something else, does anybody know what it could possibly be (I'm still slightly dubious that the block itself could get hot enough to buckle without the head cracking or more serious stuff happening) and how long is this going to last before it goes pop again? I've sunk £1000 into the "fix" so far, and it feels like I'm sitting on a time bomb - scrap it now or drive it? It drives fine at the moment, but I don't want to rely on it for a long journey if it's only gonna go bang halfway along the severn bridge or something (I've been there before, not fun)

I suppose it's possible to warp the block under extreme heat/stress I'd put money on the head being bad though! - a few other things I've seen before, but not on this particular engine are cracks that run all the way through the block and head and also where the top of the block had rusted out and won't mate properly cos it's been left for too long without a head on. These are pretty damn rare though I would say though. Have your people just skimmed the head? or just inspected it? I'd defo want to have a look at that myself with a good straight edge.

what gasket was used?

Not sure what gasket, but he used two different makes when trying to figure out the problem.

The head was inspected, and skimmed twice. They said a straight edge sat flat on both block and head.

If tha block is warped with extreme heat you will need a sealant between block and gasket also between head and gasket.One of the lads has just done his fishing boat like this and it's fine.
I'll ask him what he used.

u say the head was inspected what does that mean just a visual check and a flat edge? was it actually pressure tested? If not Id say chances are the head is cracked internally u will never see those cracks. This is why most of us just opt to purchase a new head from the go

Quote: AD wrote in post #23

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If tha block is warped with extreme heat you will need a sealant between block and gasket also between head and gasket.One of the lads has just done his fishing boat like this and it's fine.
I'll ask him what he used.

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