D3 V8 Head Gasket

[gossamer]

What is the correct procedure for refilling the radiator D3 V8? its got one of those expansion bottles off to the side (no access directly to the radiator) and when you tip coolant in all it does is fill the bottle??? Open the bleeder on the engine and it doesn't really do anything until you start the engine. I was wonder if it can be done without starting the engine given its already empty?

I was leaving Cobar early sat morning to get back to melb when the engine lost power :( their was talk of dodgy fuel in town so i put it down to that, it picked up again and then lost power again so i pulled up, as i came to a stop i noticed steam. The little T piece bleeder on the V8 had broken and it has dumped all its water (no warning lights or temp rise????) Nrma towed it back to Cobar and we (i'm sure the guy who picked me up is just the driver not a mechanic) fitted a new brass T piece, bled the system and thought it was ok, i drove around the corner and parked to text and the temp guage shot up. I spent 5 min trying to bleed it again but now it keeps blowing bubbles so the tow truck driver thinks its done a head gasket. i wont get it back until next week when i can have another look but its not looking good.

[Epic pooh]

That's correct, roughly it is: pour it in, run engine until thermostat opens, bleed, add, bleed, add until full ... Takes about half an hour. Possible but unlikely to be blown head gasket - more likely is that it is not full (can't be full unless engine was run until thermostat opened) or possibly other leaks in the system or that the replacement t-piece is not correct. You can only buy the genuine t-piece as part of a hose set (I have done this recently as mine was weeping badly and at the same time I changed the thermostat housing/ sensor and other plastic bits and renewed the coolant). Hope they used the correct spec coolant.

This thread has an extract from the manual (read down for the v8 version) http://m.landroverforums.com/forum/showthread.php't=53525&styleid=5

[gossamer]

This is why i asked in the hope that it just needed bleeding properly, fingers crossed its the case.
The guilty party
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/05/181.jpg
This is what Defender driving mates do, they hang around to get in the photo's and poke fun
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/05/182.jpg

[Epic pooh]

Yep that's the offending bit of crap that failed in mine (and many other V8's) - mine started to weep around the thread where the nut goes on and I changed it and other stuff as I was aware of the risk. Good luck hope it's sorted easily !

That defender driver is ripe pickings for some humorous captioning ... "Even the tow truck is more comfortable than my ride" ... :)

[gossamer]

The instruction added here doesn't mention the bleed screw up top??? how do you bleed with this one?

[Marmoset]

Where did you guys get the brass T piece from? My plastic T looks okay with no sign of stress but you never can tell. I'll replace it before it goes this far I think.

The engine cutting it's own power will hopefully have prevented a head gasket going and it just needs a little more time to get the bleed right.

[gossamer]

i got the T piece from auto pro but have since brought the proper bleeder but i think its a waste of money :(
Ive now spent a couple of hours trying to bleed the system but i dont seem to be getting anywhere???? i cant seem to get water to flow out the top bleeder all i get is steam and if i hold the revs up i get water with splattering of air. The heater is cold unless i hold the revs up but then it goes cold again at idle. Time to send it away :mad:

[Epic pooh]

Use the bleeder on the t-piece to vent air in the system as you go through the bleed full process only need to do it once or twice IIRC. Is your thermostat working ? If it doesn't open it will not fill the motor - no need to rev the v8 just let it warm up gently (all alloy motor).

Marmoset - I got the OEM component which is part of a larger set of hoses, was not expensive. If you are due a coolant change I would do that hose set, the thermostat & housing (which is a large piece including temp sensor). This approach requires you to loosen and lift the throttle body etc to get access (quite a job) but mine is now running significantly cooler and using less fuel. 7827478275

[gossamer]

What would a D3 V8 SE that possibly needs a head gasket be worth to sell?? (235,000 k's)

[Epic pooh]

No idea, but ... I'm know the feeling of frustration that comes from non-cooperating D3's. Have it checked out by a pro and take it from there is my suggestion. Good luck !

[bbyer]

Per the link below, the part number for the OEM plastic bleeder only for my 4.4L petrol V8 is LR027661.

The part number for the Bleeder and Hose assembly is LR006158.

I replaced my Bleeder only and then kept the old bleeder as a spare.

LR027661 | AIR BLEED VALVE RAD HOSE DIS3-RRS | Land Rover | | Britcar (UK) Ltd (http://www.brit-car.co.uk/product.php/177265/5497/air_bleed_valve__rad_hose_dis3_rrs)

[Epic pooh]

Thanks for that info BByer ... when I sourced mine (from the local Dealer) they were not able to get me the t-piece from their in-stock items.

The part numbers would be good info for the FAQ as failure of this part is one of the very few weak points of the V8.

[gossamer]

:( Cue the sad music (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUZeSYsU0Uk)
Car went to Rover land in Ferntree Gully (Vic) He rang this morning to say the radiator water smelt like petrol meaning bad news for me. They rang Land Rover Aus and they told them that they have no records of this happening to the V8 so it looks like im the first :( They are doing me a quote and will see where i go from there.

On a side note Ive read where people claim an engine on car insurance???? anyone know anything about that? my insurance specifically say no mechanical coverage

[discotwinturbo]

On a side note Ive read where people claim an engine on car insurance???? anyone know anything about that? my insurance specifically say no mechanical coverage

Bad luck there mate....hope it's not too costly.

Dodgy fuel is covered under my insurance.....except putting unleaded into a diesel motor.

Brett.....

[Epic pooh]

Sad to hear that bad news gossamer - let us know how things pan out.

[Marmoset]

Shame about the news, can the heads be skimmed on this engine?

I wonder if the engine damage claims are related to rodent damage leading to engine damage or something. I've not really heard of a mechanical damage clause in general insurance, that's what extended warranties are normally for (assuming they don't exclude it!)

Must ring the dealer now to order the part....

Edit: For info, I've just ordered one from the dealer, cost was $23 all in...

[gossamer]

Its been a while but it really hasn't progressed that far :mad: called in yesterday and they have one head off and still didnt have the other off. apparently they were waiting on a special tool and Glen (the owner) wasnt to do it himself??? The leak was in number 3 cylinder and you could see a slight carbon mark from the cylinder to a water jacket, interestingly it was also leaking from no3 to no5 so i would have been down on compression for those 2 cylinders. Once the second one is off they will get pressure tested and skimmed and hopefully put back together in a reasonable time.

[Bytemrk]

Its been a while but it really hasn't progressed that far :mad: called in yesterday and they have one head off and still didnt have the other off. apparently they were waiting on a special tool and Glen (the owner) wasnt to do it himself??? The leak was in number 3 cylinder and you could see a slight carbon mark from the cylinder to a water jacket, interestingly it was also leaking from no3 to no5 so i would have been down on compression for those 2 cylinders. Once the second one is off they will get pressure tested and skimmed and hopefully put back together in a reasonable time.

Gossamer, if Glen is wanting to do it himself - there will be a reason and you are in good hands.

I've had him work on my cars for many years and he has always been outstanding.

These sorts things are a pain in the backside, especially if you seem to be pioneering new territory , but if I was in your situation, I'd trust what Glen says and does 110%.

Cheers,

[gossamer]

My frustration comes from being so long without my car and still not knowing the actual cost involved. My car broke down on the 24th May, it took 2 weeks for RACV to get it back home from Cobar and its been another 3 weeks in the shop and its still not half way through the job. When we first discussed doing it he couldn't give me a price until he had the heads off, now he cant give me a price until the heads have been tested and i now have this idea in my head its going to be way more than what he originally ballpark estimated. Im not having a crack at Glen or Rover Land its just frustrating and i have a fear of how big this bill will get :o

[Bytemrk]

Mate I understand the frustration totally - it would be doing my head in!..

I just didn't know how well you knew Glen, and wanted to re assure you I know he's be doing all he can.

Hope all turns out OK in the long run...

[gossamer]

In all honesty i didnt know him at all. i sent an email to 2 of the local landy places in regards to the head gasket and they were the only ones that replied so i did a quick research on here and sent it to them :)

[gossamer]

Finally get my car back tomorrow after nearly 2 months without it :) not so excited about the bill though :(. the had gasket was as per estimate but i got them to service/flush the transmission while it was there, it had the steel pan conversion and fluid change done in jan so i thought this was just going to be a fluid change but they have charged more than when it was done the first time when i had to pay for the pan ????? Hope its all good now.