300 TDi Breathing Heavily

[daveturnbull]

My 300 tdi 110 has a lot of crankcase pressure. Undo the oil filler while it's running and the cap bounces around a lot, and it's quite fumy in there.

So, other than the obvious compression escaping past worn piston rings, what could it be?

It uses a little water (not sure where), but consumes no oil.

[steve b]

Maybe the head gasket is giving out ? A sniff test may help diagnosis if it's using water too

cheers

Steveb

[Boydie]

Worn rings and/or valve guides at a guess.

Compression escaping from a head gasket will tend to pressurise the radiator and coolant system rather than the rocker cover. First thing though check that the so called cyclonic breather can of the side of the racker cover isnt blocked up with gunk, if it is replace it and see if this is a quick and easy cure. Very few Discos dont loose coolant, have a good look at teh "P" gasket and water pump, I've said this before but the ceramic seal in the pump relies on a small amount of coolant passing over the two faces to cool and lubricate them and then dripps out of the small hole in the bottom of the pump, so a certain amount of coolant loss is to be expected, it goes to reason therefore that tiny bits of crud in the coolant will, over time, wear down, score and damage the faces of the ceramic seals, as they do so the amount of coolant loss will increase to the point that the pump will need to be replaced.

So check your pump, have a look at the drain hole with a mirror on a stick and see if there is evidence of excessive coolant loss, if there is replace the pump and replace the "P" gasket at the same time.