Hi everyone,
Fiat Multipla JTD '06.

It had done ~65K miles when I tried to change the cam belt myself - BIG mistake.

Back to the garage where if had head machined, new valves, buckets etc.

It then ran OK for ~10K miles whenn the turbo siezed solid. Back to the garage for a recon one and but it never really ran right afterwards. The garages advice was "Run it for a bit" and the smoke should clear as the air system de-cokes. It did run clearer after a month or so but lost power (20mph max uphill?).

Back to the garage. Now here's the current position. They say that the oil was very "sludgy". This meant that the head was not getting sufficient oil and over heated. Some of the valve buckets jammed in their sleeves and number 4 cylinder's shim came out and has broken up inside the head.

Now they say that the cam is gouged and needs to be replaced and as the head has been damaged by overheating it needs to be replaced.


Now my questions are: Given that:

• they had the head off at 65K
• they replaced the oil and filter at 65K and 75K

Is it likely that the engine oil was sludgy if they did the change properly?
Does their diagnosis and proposed fix sound reasonable?

Cheers,
Steve

Re: Need advice: garage says "New head" as oil "sludgy"... read on!

I'd find a new garage. And try and find a decent s/h engine.

Something, somewhere, has gone catastrophically wrong.

Re: Need advice: garage says "New head" as oil "sludgy"... read on!

OK but what is the likely cost of a secondhand/recon engine and fitting.

They have quoted me about £1200 for a new head fitted etc. Does that sound in the ballpark?

Cheers,
Steve

Re: Need advice: garage says "New head" as oil "sludgy"... read on!

If its a new head made of solid gold then that's a bang on price £200-300 would get you a recon engine then you just need to pay someone to fit it another £100-200?

Re: Need advice: garage says "New head" as oil "sludgy"... read on!

That sounds very cheap for labour!

Can anyone recommend where I can:

A) get a recon engine for that kind of price?
B) a mechanic/garage in Herts who would fit it for that price?

Cheers,
Steve

Re: Need advice: garage says "New head" as oil "sludgy"... read on!

must be Norfolk only prices its still 1972 up there lol

Re: Need advice: garage says "New head" as oil "sludgy"... read on!

stevesteve said:

They have quoted me about £1200 for a new head fitted etc. Does that sound in the ballpark?

Cheers,
Steve

Click to expand...

I bought my JTD for £1100 from a garage. Basically it had gone to them for a new head. But it costs so much they gave the Multi to the garage to sell to recoup his costs. He said it was a pig of a job to do. So that estimate is maybe not a million miles off.

Second vote for a new engine....

Re: Need advice: garage says "New head" as oil "sludgy"... read on!

I vote new engine too.

Engines aren't hard to find, and yours has had so many problems that I definately wouldn't want to just put a head on it.

Re: Need advice: garage says "New head" as oil "sludgy"... read on!

If it sludgy then it's absorbed moisture or water, more than likely coolant, it sounds like it has broken up and blocked up the turbo oil feed. As to power are you sure there is no boost leak and that's it's running on all four cylinders.

Re: Need advice: garage says "New head" as oil "sludgy"... read on!

one thing that does not surprise me is lack of knowledge of correct oil to use and using old 10w40 in newer models and having kak happen,depending on vehicle and year maybe a 5w 30 fe blend or a 5w 30 esp top grade and that is great for keeping the turbos to last,regular oil and filter changes not when wonder is it needed
be surprised at how many main dealers are using wrong oil,not to worry as you will be paying the price