Ken_Lion Posted June 26 Share Posted June 26 Greetings everyone, I am currently replacing a defective head gasket; however, upon removing the cylinder head, I observed that the gasket remains intact. Nonetheless, the coolant passageways surrounding cylinder 4 have corroded, resulting in minimal aluminum between the passageway and the cylinder wall. I suspect this may be the source of coolant infiltrating the combustion chamber. The piston head and valves in cylinder 4 exhibit signs of having been steam cleaned, and the engine emitted white smoke while misfiring before ultimately stalling completely. I conducted a compression test before disassembly, revealing that cylinders 3 and 4 were significantly low, with cylinder 4 exhibiting the most severe deficiency. I have examined the mating surface from several angles using a 0.05mm gauge, and there is no indication of warpage. It seems that the head has been previously skimmed, therefore it is uncertain if it can be skimmed further. My existing head has the component number R1020165701, however the only feasible replacement I can locate within an acceptable distance and price is part number R1020163501. I need guidance on whether there is a substantial difference between the two component numbers. The photos seem indistinguishable when compared side by side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken_Lion Posted June 26 Author Share Posted June 26 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SD1too Posted June 26 Share Posted June 26 The M102 8-valve 1.8 and 2.0 cylinder heads are identical, however the 2.3 is distinct. It seems that yours has already been skimmed. It is hard to ascertain from the images, but it seems rather acceptable in the typical location—between the cylinder and the coolant passage—although the reasons for the skimming are evident. The issue is that individuals fail to repair head gaskets promptly, allowing them to leak for extended periods, which results in corrosion of the alloy head (and the 'steam cleaning' you have seen!). In summary, it seems that the prior head gasket installation was subpar, perhaps including an excessive skim to eliminate corrosion. A replacement head or alloy welding with a little skim would have been more advantageous. A new Elring head gasket set, along with likely new head bolts, should suffice. The fasteners seem to be loosening in the rear, and/or cylinders 3 and 4 are experiencing elevated temperatures for many reasons. What is the mileage, and whose vehicle is this regarding? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken_Lion Posted June 26 Author Share Posted June 26 I will proceed to get the new head with a little different component number, since mine is a 2.0 M102 from an S124 200TE, and the replacement is identical. The mileage on my vehicle exceeds 150,000, but I own no historical records, and it has been inoperable for a minimum of 13 years (acquired via a lottery for £6!). An Erling gasket set and new head bolts are unequivocally included in the procurement list! Salutations Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SD1too Posted June 26 Share Posted June 26 Conduct more investigation to ensure absolute certainty about the component numbers before to placing an order; nonetheless, I am almost certain that the 1.8 and 2.0 heads are similar, since both have the 2.0 marks cast in the vicinity of the valve gear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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