[t5head]

Hi bought this transporter t5 2008 1.9 tdi pd brr engine, it was smoking white running like 3 cylinders sometimes runs ok goes 70mhp etc but smokes when idle or low rpm. long story short opened the engine for injector 2 change (vagcom fault) but cylinder head was damaged (last pic) and big end piston number two also has some damage on piston head...

so i was planning for a new cylinder head until my mechanic told me to get a new engine even one from scrap yard. I thought i can just replace the piston but someone told me mines are oversized ones so there is no used one available being rare and new ones cost too much.

what is the possibility if i sand the top of the damaged piston head smooth as it can be and get a refurbished cylinder head (found one £200) and would that work? or am i wasting my time with this? if that works do i need to sand down all of them to same level or just the damaged one?

thanks in advance

here are the pictures

 

[Gus Tome]

I have seen much worse pistons, there does not seem to have any damage on edges where it would affect the compression ring function. If. was my truck, I would clean it up and replace the head.
Smooth out the dimples on pistons to prevent hot spots.