Hiace Diesel head gasket/cracked head

Hi folks,
Recently bought a great Hiace camper 1994 Diesel 3L, however on our 1st major outing the head gasket blew along with & serious overheating. The head gasket has been changed by a local garage (cost £800) however still finding coolant being pushed out of expansion tank when the engine it hot & under load. The garage tells me it is probably cracked head or again blown gasket but tell me they did not send head off to check for cracks in head or distortion when they changed the gasket - wish I had known then what I now understand on this or I would have insisted they do it (any way hindsight is a great thing). Garage is trying to distance itself from the job & wants to charge full cost again to strip down again & check head for cracks or distortion.

Additional work done:
- Thermostat & radiator cap replaced
- Replaced some tired looking hoses & clips for heater & radiator
- Have tried 'T bars' just incase it is down to a leak in cooling system
- Have since flushed the cooling system with a prriatory additive & refilled the cooling system & done best to remove any airlocks (running with rad cap on & off) although there always seems to be some air in the front heater when I start the engine.
- The garage has also tried a sealant additive called 'Steel Seal' , but without success.

I am unceirtain now how best to proceed. Does anyone have any experience of cracked heads on Hiace campers? Does anyone know or able to recommend a garage or diesel engineer in the Northeast of England who could work on this. Or if it comes to it does anyone have any recommendations for where a new head/engine might be sourced. Any other suggestions welcome.

Many thanks in advance for you thoughts guys.
Nigel

The Head Centre in Cornwall, gives advice over the phone and supplies good kit.

Garage is at fault for not checking the head, charging you for work that has not repaired the fault. On the off chance it may just be a cheap gasket and not a Toyota one. Did they use new head bolts?

Claim a full refund and take it elsewhere.

Thanks for this Clive, I'll have a chat to the Head centre.

Questioned garage over use of torque once bolts, after reading something about this on the forum - The garage told me they did not use new head bolts & tell me that new ones were not needed for my vehicle. I will try to find out what gaskets they used. Doubtful over chances of refund without having to get legal.

Do you know of any contacts in the North east of England?

Regards
Nigel

Head bolts are the stretch type and must be measured for re-use in accordance with Toyota specifications. Best to use new bolts.

Small claims court cost you nothing to raise the paper work, funny how many claims gets settled out of court before court costs are incurred.

Can't help with any contacts.

Thanks Clive, will discuss bolts again with the garage.

Found this on another forum as a recommended garage -

AS Auto
60 Springmill Street,
Bradford,
West Yoorkshire.
BD5 7HF.

01274 395805.

May be a bit far for you but it was all i could find.

hi there i have a 1987 hiace converted camper with a 3L diesel engine have had the head off as my cambelt tensioner went to check the vavles have had alook and all seems to b ok. but need the camshaft tourques and head bolt tourques was woundering if you could help as i live in my van and am struggaling to find them as in remote part of new zealand and no wheels meens i cant drive around to find any thanks for your time

burgoine13 wrote:

hi there i have a 1987 hiace converted camper with a 3L diesel engine have had the head off as my cambelt tensioner went to check the vavles have had alook and all seems to b ok. but need the camshaft tourques and head bolt tourques was woundering if you could help as i live in my van and am struggaling to find them as in remote part of new zealand and no wheels meens i cant drive around to find any thanks for your time

I have just re-uploaded the hiace and 2L / 3L engine service manuals, search for my recent posts in this area of the forum.

Have a great Christmas!