DIY Head Gasket Replacement

[GaryBH]

Hello everyone. I am looking for some feedback on replacing a head gasket on a 2 litre diesel engine Auris D4D. I have had the car from almost new, dealer demo car, and at 60k the engine had to be replaced at Toyota expense due to head gasket failure. This was as a result of a design flaw in the shape of the combustion chamber and gasket material used I believe.

Well, the car has now done 175k in total to date and the head gasket has failed again. I am losing coolant regularly and the discharge from the overflow now includes black engine oil.

I am considering changing the head gasket myself, having done several head gasket changes when I was a lot younger on cars of the 1970's and 1980's, so know roughly the basics of what is involved.

This will be a first time for me on a turbo diesel engine, and wondered whether anyone on the forum has carried out a head gasket change on this type of engine? If anyone has done this type of work I would be glad to hear how you got on, whether you had any particular problems, and if it was relatively easy?

I only need the car for about another 12 months so not really worried about a long term future for the car. I have tried all the usual tricks with additives but nothing worked very well.  The car is only worth a few hundred pounds so cannot justify a main dealers prices to do the work.

Be glad of any feedback from members on this.

Thanks.

Gary

[tavy]

Hi Gary, 

I'm afraid you'll have a little bit more work to do with your engine head gasket than in 80's   , but I'm sure you will succeed. 

Here is a step by step tutorial, with diagrams. 

http://toyota-corolla.ru/rm04f1ru/repair2/html/frame_rm0000019yb00px.html

Good luck !

[GaryBH]

Hi Tavy, Most impressed. Many thanks for the info which is very useful to me. If I am right in my thinking some of the operations shown are not necessary to remove the cylinder head, such as remove driveshafts etc;

I am going to set aside a couple of weeks to do this as I do not want to ruch it.

Once again many thanks.

Gary

 

[tavy]

Hi Gary, you're welcome. 

I'm sure that many operations there aren't necessary, you will see better whilst remove all those parts. 

I personally, don't know very well your engine. 

Good luck again ! 

Tavey.