Help!

[karloss]

Right guys, help needed. I'm off to look at a 300tdi disco tomorrow with a view to buying. Problem is I don't even know what a 300 tdi looks like. What should I be looking for with this engine? (Feel free to suggest the obvious) also. What’s a triangle gasket? And why should I be looking at it? Help greatly appreciated.

[Reaper]

(Feel free to suggest the obvious)

A 300Tdi should look something like this  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

[karloss]

I meant the engine itself. :lol:  :roll:

[Reaper]

:lol:  :lol:  sorry couldn't resist  :lol:  :lol:  

[fesuvious]

Its got a big black plastic cover on the top that extends over the inlet manifold

The 200tdi aint !

Oh, and, if im right an aluminium head ????

[ChrisW]

Look for signs of water leakage running down from just behind the water pump mounting - this is where the P (triangular) gasket is - the original one was paper and was notorious for weeping - a new metal one is 'supposed' to get over this problem.

Check for clonks on taking up drive between 1st and reverse - early boxes didn't have the cross drilled main shaft and suffered premature wear - a relatively easy fix as long as the wear hasn't gone too far and you're not too bad with spanner.

Check oil at dipstick and in filler cap for the usual mayonnaise, check header bottle for coolant.

Boot floor for rust.

Check if there is a bit of yellow paint on the front of the timing cover - probably not there but worth checking anyway. ASK if the timing belt mod has been done (early engines suffered premature timing belt wear BUT if it hasn't been done and the engine is 100k+ it probably doesn't need doing YMMV).

Peeling dash - about 70quid for the repair strips and a bit of a pita to fit.

Check for porous diff covers.

Probably other stuff but there's a few for starters  

[simdeb]

Its got a big black plastic cover on the top that extends over the inlet manifold

The 200tdi aint !

Oh, and, if im right an aluminium head ????

mines a late 200 tdi on an l reg and got the above cover
the obvious thing is the dash and rear bumper if its got lights in it is a 300 tdi unless some ones swoped it ?

[ChrisW]

The black cover can be picked up off ebay etc etc and are fairly common to have been retrofitted to 200's

This was my 300 before I replaced the cylinder head
http://community.webshots.com/photo/113440685/113440685JQYqgu#

The air-box is rectangular to the cylindrical one on a 200 (similar to a Defender)
The thermostat housing is different - on a 300 it is more curved, I think on a 200 it has two circular press marks on it and is more angular.

The dipstick on a 300 should have a yellow square pull on the end - on a 200 it was a green finger loop puller.

The oil filter on a 200 sits nearer to the horizontal - a 300 oil filter is more vertical.

[karloss]

Look for signs of water leakage running down from just behind the water pump mounting - this is where the P (triangular) gasket is - the original one was paper and was notorious for weeping - a new metal one is 'supposed' to get over this problem.

What's involved in changing it?

[ChrisW]

Have a look in this month's LRO (if you have it!)
Long article on how to replace the very same gasket  

Not much involved really, you don't need to go near the timing belt case - the water pump is bolted on to the side of this and is completely seperate.
Just a case of nuts and bolts really.

[karloss]

Cheers bud, had a quick look at it today but it was peeing down something rotten. Going back on monday to have a proper look. What I've seen looks very very tidy, bit too tidy. HPI check and a fine tooth comb methinks :? . Could just be a good one I suppose, the history file and recipts weigh a ton!! :lol:
Should a '95 ES have a CD player? And should it have front fog lights? Really should have done a bit more homework before going to look. Oh, one more thing, is a 300tdi auto box the same box as a raro classic?
Cheers for all the replies guy's. Keep them coming, please!