Td5 Coolant Usage

[Road Stone]

Hi Folks,

So I'm now using the Td5 and after about 400ks I've noticed it's using a little coolant, less than half a litre.

No trace under the car so guess it's so small it's evaporating away. Have checked the radiator but nothing there.

More used to the V8 so any pointers appreciated.

Ambient temp here is about 31C

Cheers Jerry

[PhilipA]

My 2002 TD5 167KK has used virtually no coolant since I changed all the hoses 1 year ago and 25KK or so. It leaked about half a cup of the poxy red stuff for the first 1000Km then sealed itself.

So it is not normal for a TD5 to use coolant. Mine usually runs on about 82C but got up to 103momentarily ( and 100C for most of the way) towing my 900Kg camper up the Alpine Way , but still to my surprise no usage.

All I can suggest is that you closely examine the radiator for leaks, the water pump for leaks at the telltale, look under your carpets or note any strange smells inside, and make sure the oil level is not rising if the cooler is leaking. You will eventually find it, probably looking for something else.LOL

Regards Philip A
BTW IMHO 1/2 litre in 400k is not a small leak. maybe you didn't completely fill it. I assume you know the deal to either raise the header tank off its mounts or stick a funnel or coke bottle top in the header, and fill until it comes out of the screw in the top hose. ( which will probably break off if not new)

[sierrafery]

Maybe you'll not be happy to hear that but happened to me too ... killed my neurons and couldnt find the leak, maybe you are lucky and there's a small leak somewhere and the coolant evaporates and in this case IMO the only way you can find it is using this kind of kit UV Dye UV Torch Kit Leak Detection Dye for Oil Fuel Leaks RLD4 Ring | eBay (http://www.ebay.com/itm/UV-Dye-UV-Torch-Kit-Leak-Detection-Dye-For-Oil-Fuel-Leaks-RLD4-Ring-/230754744531) , if no traces with that it means you are in quite similar situation like i was which means a crack in the head, mine didnt have any nother symptom to point to a crack like overheating or overpressure, nothing, just the slow coolant loss, the crack was inside the first inlet port and found it after all other possibilities were ruled out nso bit the bullet and removed the head for pressure test... if the crack is there only this will happen cos the coolant is burnt out through the combustion chambers... Good luck to not be that just keep this as last option

[northiam]

My leak turned out to be the coolant tank cap bleeding out when hot.
Replaced cap all ok

[nismine01]

My 440000k Disco II TD5 has had overheating problems for some time, but, only when the coolant has disappeared.

Turned out to be a head gasket leaking, no overheating until enough coolant disappeared though.

If you're going to check the head for cracks into the inlet port try the following,

get prepared the best you can to remove the inlet manifold

run the motor to get it hot, turn off motor

remove inlet manifold and inspect ports for any sign of moisture.

I have just had my car go through all this procedure, no fault found BUT THEY REPLACED THE HEAD ANY WAY. Bastards! :censored: maybe that face came too late.

Cheers


Mike

Keep it in mind.

Mike

[dinosaur]

A piece of blue cellophane over the end of a torch makes the red coolant 'glow in the dark' and easy to spot leaks in the dark.

[Sean47w]

Most of the times RED coolant is too strong for the parts in D2 engines goes for both V8 and TD5. I own a D2 and a few of my mates at my dealership as well and all of us had red stuff at one stage but flushed and changed to green stuff which is far better.

[strangy]

Short and sweet:
No leaks from hoses.
No leaks from Cylinder head plug behind the exhaust manifold,
No leaks from Water Pump.
No leaks from Radiator,
No leaks from heater core. Header tank Cap in good condition . = Cylinder head gasket or cracked Head. ....and coolant type is irrelevant for your problem

[robbotd5]

Most of the times RED coolant is too strong for the parts in D2 engines goes for both V8 and TD5. I own a D2 and a few of my mates at my dealership as well and all of us had red stuff at one stage but flushed and changed to green stuff which is far better.

Can openers at the ready..........here comes another can of worms:angel::)
Regards
Robbo

[strangy]

Can openers at the ready..........here comes another can of worms:angel::)
Regards
Robbo

:pha...indeed, it has been done to death.

[Mundy]

I suspect this is not the problem because, as PhillipA says, half a litre in 400k is not a small leak. Nonetheless, I had a small leak of coolant and it turned out to be a small leak in the heater, not enough to leave a puddle, but enough to give a coolant whiff now and then. Only seemed to happen when the heater was operating so I thought it was the seal in the heater tap. Was only a small leak but annoying. Over time it has fixed itself.

[sierrafery]

... Only seemed to happen when the heater was operating ....

That's very strange cos the D2's heater matrix has constant coolant flow through it regardless of heater/aircon settings, it doesnt have any restrictor or valve to bypass it when heating is not required... so take this into account if it happens again;)

[Sean47w]

I had a similar case D2 TD5 today no visible leaks anywhere but was low on coolant so I pressure tested it and it was holding the pressure ok although I did find a tiny pinhole leak from one of the radiator tanks.
topped up the coolant res and went for a drive and it got up to operating temp and was holding. :confused: came back into the workshop and checked under the bonnet and the coolant res cap was leaking coolant slowly you can actually hear it bubbling. ;)

[northiam]

That's very strange cos the D2's heater matrix has constant coolant flow through it regardless of heater/aircon settings, it doesnt have any restrictor or valve to bypass it when heating is not required... so take this into account if it happens again;)

The flow thru the matrix would be greater when engine cold and main thermostat is closed to rad flow. This may cause a slow weep to increase...:)

[Road Stone]

Hi Folks and thanks for all the replies.

Fery. Pretty sure it's not the head as the HG was changed and inspection carried out, but will rule not out completely.

I too had changed to the green stuff only because you can not get the red stuff in Uganda.

I have a new cap here so will swap it over today. Mine seems quite tough to unscrew/screw on?

So it looks like a process of checking each area over time, I have quiet a big trip planned and whilst I feel confident about the car, I know it should not be using coolant.

Will keep updating as I find things out.

Cheers Jerry

[discorevy]

Make sure you have both o rings on the cap , if they are both there, you can lube with a light smear of rubber grease , or Vaseline if you don't have any rubber grease

[bob10]

I had a similar problem some time back. Couldn't find a leak, ended up taking the radiator out, getting it pressure tested, 4 leaks found, around the edge. Don't bother trying to fix it, if it is. A new radiator needed. Ideal time to clean the intercooler, & check your hoses. The radiator bleed hose, from the overflow tank to the top of the radiator, is known to harden & crack, as well. It passes under the plastic cover on top of the radiator, out of sight out of mind. Simple things first, Bob

[Road Stone]

Hi,


Thought I'd just round this off.


I change the expansion tank cap for a genuine one and no loss of coolant since.


Cheers, Jerry