I'm getting a big cloud of white smoke out the tail pipe and found some oil in the radiator. I assume this means a blown head gasket. Has anyone ever tryed the head gasket repair like liquid copper? Will it work, or should I just go ahead and replace the head gasket?

Its on a 74 240D, I just got it running after 2 years of sitting. Removed the thermostat and put new hose on after it blew out the old one.

That's usually an indication of a blown headgasket. How long did you drive it after getting it going before this problem surfaced? I doubt that anything other than a new headgasket will resolve the problem if it is this evident.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I drove it about 2 days about a total of 15 miles, but I'm not so sure the problem didn't exist before I drove it. When it had the termostat in I don't think there was enough presure in the head to cause the smoke, cause I only drove it like 2 miles at a time. It was leaking water from the U tube fiiixed that then from the hose then fixed that, so by the time I got the engine hot enough and there was presure the water was out thus no white smoke I guess. After I removed the thermostat then smoke appeared immediately after starting. It still starts and runs, but it looks like a mesquito fogger.

Does the white smoke smell like coolant..........or oil?

I would concur, it is probably your head gasket. combustion theory would indicate that oil and antifreeze ( or water) should not be mixing. The logical place for this to occur would be the headgasket, as it is the weakest point in the link. Given the compression necessary for diesel combustion, I doubt anything other than a proper repair of the head will work for you. Sorry.

I'm pretty sure its water, there was no coolant left in it, cause I filled it with water before. It did leave a little oil residue on the driveway after the smoke cleared, but it sure felt like water vapor. Another reason I think it was water was when I drove it and it ran out of water from the hose bursting the white smoke stopped and then there was a small cloud of black smoke for about a mile till I shut the engine down.

Pretty much concludes that it's the head gasket.......or a cracked head.

I'm sorry dude, but you definitely blew a head gasket and I hope you didn't waste your engine! Driving it for a mile after the radiator hose blew wasn't the greatest move and that may be enough to crack the head! Only a Machine shop will be able to help you now! I'm hoping you have something to save!

Are you saying that only a machine shop will be able to determine if the head is cracked or that I should take the head to a machine shop before replacing the head gasket? Is it necessary to have the head machined before replacing the gasket? I guess it makes sense to have the valves done while the head is off. How much does that usually cost? I only paid $100 for the car and its been worth every penny if for nothing else than a good lesson on diesel engines.

You should find a shop that can pressure check the head and see if its still flat and usually it costs only a little more to have it skim cut to assure the new gasket will not fail in case it is slightly warped. If it got really warped they have to reshim the pre-combustion chambers to keep the same PC to piston tolerances and not alter the compression raiton too much.
Have the valve guides and seals replaced for sure as long as its off, they will also wire brush the valves and grind the seats, that is part of a head rebuild process.
On the West coast this used to run around $300 for a 5 cyl turbo. A 240 should be a little less.
Oh yes, forget liquid copper or any stuff like that. It won't hold.

__________________
'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

You will need to have the head examined by a machine shop after you remove it to check for: 1. cracking, using a magnaflux process, 2. warpage due to having been overheated and softened under pressure. I would do this before spending gobs of cash on gaskets and such, save the expense if its too expensive to warrant repair over replacing. Also beware that there are differing thicknesses of head gaskets depending on how much past and present head work is/has occurred, for achieving proper prechamber and valve clearances to pistons.

__________________
Chris
64 190D R.I.P.
80 240D W/617 engine -for sale
82 240D -for sale