doctor Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 I have just fitted a new head for the first time and the gasket recommended for this was the multi steel thing. I put new injectors in as well and had the fuel injector pump serviced as it had a leak at the bottom of it . After crossing fingers it started first go to my shock and surprise after fixing the drive belt tensioner stud with a helicoil insert. My question is with a few comments I have followed on this forum there is a question mark about using this type instead of, a ellring type. Should I be worried that it may fail. It took me close to 2 days to fit the bloody thing. My Disco auto tdi300 has 351,000 km and had been running brill with just the usual p gasket leak . What are your thoughts. Safe xmas to all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Henson Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 I prefer to use mls gaskets. The head is new, so will be dead flat and as long as you cleaned the deck properly there should be no problems. Les Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doctor Posted December 24, 2015 Author Share Posted December 24, 2015 Thanks for reply Les. I cleaned the block as well as I could. I have a spare metal gasket thats used with the new type head (bigger waterways) and a elring 3 hole original. I was wondering would it be a no hole gasket for the new type head instead of 3 if I change to elring. So far it seems to running okay just tightening the fuel lines down a bit more and checking for leaks. Your a great help and have good xmas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave88sw Posted December 25, 2015 Share Posted December 25, 2015 The holes in the headgasket correspond to various thicknesses, they're not related to the head, rather the piston protrusion, i.e. how far the piston rises above the deck of the block at tdc. lots of people will fit a 3 hole gasket to everything to be safe but it's not difficult to measure protrusion with a straight edge and feeler gauges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigelw Posted December 25, 2015 Share Posted December 25, 2015 Bit thick here, whats the difference between the mls hg and the Elring OEM type? Having now binned HG No.2 due to postman folding it in half "AGAIN", I will order from a motor factors to collect personally, the last two had what I can only describe as fibre coating around the steel bits that were surrounding the bores. Any help with my conundrum? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doctor Posted December 26, 2015 Author Share Posted December 26, 2015 Thanks for the replies, been a great help to my nerves. Cheers all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ally V8 Posted December 26, 2015 Share Posted December 26, 2015 The main difference is that the MLS gasket is more likely to leak oil around the feed hole.The first genuine LR MLS head gasket I fitted to a TDI leaked oil straight away. I had it replaced under warranty,(With an Elring) by my local main dealer at no cost. Went back to Elring and had no problems since. I don't have a problem with MLS gaskets, I used one this afternoon fitting a new AMC head on a TD5. What I dont like doing is fixing things that aren't broken... Dave88sw, you are spot on,but trying to get people to do it properly is like knitting fog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Henson Posted December 27, 2015 Share Posted December 27, 2015 Measuring piston protrusion http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php?showtopic=24508. If the deck hasn't been skimmed, the pistons are not replaced, crank, conrods, bearings, are the same, then you won't need to do this. The holes in a head gasket denote the thickness, and the difference is .10mm. Standard thickness is usually 2 holes, so replace like for like. With regards to a new head - if you have put new valves or your old ones in it (lapping the old ones in), then you need to measure valve stand down as well. As for types of head gaskets - there are quite a few and correct fitting of whatever you have (and it's make), are the most important thing. The reality is that you can fit a gasket that's a notch higher or lower than the original, use old head bolts that you probably shouldn't, bung any old head on. The difference between spending ages doing it by the book, and doing the best you can is negligible - as the engine will start and purr like a kitten . Les Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ally V8 Posted December 27, 2015 Share Posted December 27, 2015 Les, considering how old ALL TDI motor's are now,you cannot assume anything.Unless you are in the rare position of working on a known history,low mileage engine The factory specs are more important now than they were back in the day when most TDI's needed a head gasket somewhere between 60 and 100k. In the grand scale of things carrying out checks like piston protrusion take a very small amount of time,and ensure that the engine will run as it did when it was built. Don't even think of doing a TD5 engine in the manner you suggest is acceptable with a TDI,or you will lose any profit you might make in warranty claims... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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