Replacement Engine or Replacement Cylinder Head...?

[TiredandEmotional]

We have a coolant leak in our 2008 California - 157k miles; 2.5l 174 diesel tiptronic (bought in 2010; one previous owner; serviced regularly since etc.). The mechanic at our local garage (worked for 18 years at a VW dealership so I assume he knows his stuff) has told us that a previous "repair" a few years ago seemed to involve drilling a hole through the cylinder head and through into the water jacket - hence the leak.

Option A: replace the cylinder head
Option B: replace the whole engine

Any ideas which way to go, bearing in mind the number of miles (157k)?

 

[sidepod]

That statement makes no sense whatsoever! That would compromise the head gasket so unlesss it’s a known mod with a different head gasket there’s no reason to do that.?

It’s a new engine if both block and head have been drilled!

More info required. Advice is impossible with so little info.

There are products on the market to fix this possibly?
Devcon epoxy putty can be used where welding isn’t an option. Worth a try before throwing an engine at it.

Keep us updated on this one.

 

[Emil Silenhag]

Probably drilled out studs to the exhaust manifold? and drilled to deep?
If that’s correct you have to replace the head. Or do the same repair they did originally (“previously repair a few years ago”)…?

 

[sidepod]

Ah yes. I misread the OP. That makes more sense. That should be fixable with Devcon.

 

[TiredandEmotional]

Probably drilled out studs to the exhaust manifold? and drilled to deep?
If that’s correct you have to replace the head. Or do the same repair they did originally (“previously repair a few years ago”)…?

Yep - that's what happened...

 

[TiredandEmotional]

Ah yes. I misread the OP. That makes more sense. That should be fixable with Devcon.

Thanks both - I'll discuss with the garage...

 

[TiredandEmotional]

UPDATE: and happy outcome. The garage refused to fix with epoxy putty - said it wasn't something they would do. A mate of mine (a mechanic) politely disagreed and did the fix himself. Cleaned up the exhaust manifold facings, new gaskets etc.; and cleaned up the EGR. After putting it all back together he found the turbo was shot so fitted a replacement (sourced from Universal Turbos in Hampshire). Now - it's happy camping with a van that drives like its new out of the factory. Thanks all for the contributions on this one.