Neon Green Fluid + Grease Splatter under auto tranny

[BrightBlue]

Hey all,

Finally got around to taking a look at her underbits and found the following;

- A neon green fluid what looks to be mixed with oil?

- What looks to be a grease explosion.

First time wrenching on a D2 (Land Rover in general) and have not seen anything like this before haha.

Any hints?

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/04/458.jpg

[BrightBlue]

Grease Explosion
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/04/459.jpg

Also, car was inspected by a mechanic before purchase and this wasn’t picked up. Sooo, guess that may have been a waste.

[67hardtop]

Green stuff is coolant, find leak quickly. Clean grease explosion off and monitor

[donh54]

Grease splatter is likely from the front universal joint being greased and not wiped down afterwards. If the last service was by a knuckle-dragger with an air-powered grease gun, that's the sort of thing to expect.

The "neon green" fluid sounds like aircon refrigerant, but I don't know why it is back on the bellhousing, unless it's been blown back by the fan. Have a good look further towards the front of the engine to see if you can locate the source.

[donh54]

Green stuff is coolant, find leak quickly. Clean grease explosion off and monitor

Thought most Td5's run red (OAT) coolant?

[67hardtop]

Who know whats been put in by previous servicing ppl.

[BrightBlue]

LIVE UPDATE:

Removed acoustic, and found this puddle of joy

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/04/460.jpg

Also, coolant is green for some reason [emoji58]

The quest continues.

[Mick_Marsh]

Yep. Them's coolant trails.
Is there a welsh plug up under there? I'm tipping a leaking head gasket. What are your coolant levels doing?

[BrightBlue]

@donh45 - pretty sure your bang on. My foresnsic skills deduct the splattering of grease eminating from the uni joint

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/04/461.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/04/462.jpg

[BrightBlue]

@Mick_Marsh - Haha excellent, coolant trails were once red so I guess this was an ongoing issue.

Coolant levels fine after a few thousand kms. Don’t have access to a pressure tester either.

Any hints on locating that welsh plug without destroying my soft/supple hands

[Mick_Marsh]

@Mick_Marsh - Haha excellent, coolant trails were once red so I guess this was an ongoing issue.

Coolant levels fine after a few thousand kms. Don’t have access to a pressure tester either.

Any hints on locating that welsh plug without destroying my soft/supple hands
Maybe a Td5 expert on the forum can provide more info.

[BrightBlue]

Yeah Haynes & Google says it’s an engine out job [emoji58]

[discorevy]

Most likely the screw in welsh plug behind the exhaust manifold , but check the hose at the back of the oil cooler housing as well

[kelvo]

The welsh plug is tucked behind the exhaust manifold between cylinders 3 & 4.

[kelvo]

The hose Discorevy mentioned is the short one in this photo. But in my case it was the welsh plug leaking.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/discovery-2-a/125604d1499427362-leaking-coolant-head-gasket-img_0267.jpg

[BrightBlue]

I’ll check it out when I get the time again [emoji58]. Cheers Kelvo.

Here’s to hoping the green stuff is at least ethylene glycol based [emoji482]

[crash]

There is a hose under the turbo that will give you coolant in those places if leaking - a mirror can be used to see it.
TD5 should have red OAT coolant not green - I would be flushing the coolant system and replacing with the correct OAT fluid.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Here’s to hoping the green stuff is at least ethylene glycol based [emoji482]

is that technical for OAT??
because oat is what you need for dissimlar metals,, red oat, blue oat, hybrid oat,


old fashioned green is fine for the V8, LR used oat as it has a long service interval, gets rid of the problem of disposing of dead coolant at service centres, same reason as "filled for life" gearboxes.

unfortunatly the old V8 was never built well enough to go the 5 years of the coolant service life [bigrolf]

[BrightBlue]

Cheers Guys, yeahhh... I have a TD5 [emoji853]. Never been one to differ from the manual (they made the car, they know best)

Ironically the previous owners last three services have all had the green stuff toped up/put in, along with a new radiator.

According to google, a few have actually switched their coolants around completely (eg. Red to Green). Wouldn’t know pros and cons as I’m just not that clever.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Forget Google,, AULRO is the BEST source of info for these cars on the Planet...

go on... argue,, I dares ya! [bigrolf][bigrolf]


only short term owners/tightarses/idiots run anything other than oat in a td5.

its just basic chemistry...



[and I am NO fan of red oat...:bat:[bigrolf]]

[Mick_Marsh]

I tried putting oats in my Stage 1. It just turned to porridge.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

just like your breakfast,,
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/04/471.jpg

[BrightBlue]

UPDATE:

Source of leak looks to be the exhaust manifold gasket? Odd considering it should be newish (previous owners receipts)

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/04/483.jpg

[bee utey]

UPDATE:

Source of leak looks to be the exhaust manifold gasket? Odd considering it should be newish (previous owners receipts)



That's the head gasket leaking, not the exhaust manifold gasket.

[BrightBlue]

That's the head gasket leaking, not the exhaust manifold gasket.

Lovely, I shant quit the day job haha

[Pippin]

That's the head gasket leaking, not the exhaust manifold gasket.
Most probably, but give it a good clean and run it just to make sure that is the source.
Nick

[whitey56]

Have you notice your oil pressure switch is missing it's wire, that might come in handy one day.
If the plug is not sitting there somewhere the wire will be broken behind the head at the end of the engine harness near the FPR.
I can PM you a generic part number for the plug if needed.

[kelvo]

UPDATE:

Source of leak looks to be the exhaust manifold gasket? Odd considering it should be newish (previous owners receipts)



More likely the welsh plug, have a look at the photo on post #14 https://www.aulro.com/afvb/discovery-2-a/260915-neon-green-fluid-grease-splatter-under-auto-tranny-2.html#post2796825 which then runs down to look like the photo post #15

[Pippin]

More likely the welsh plug, have a look at the photo on post #14 https://www.aulro.com/afvb/discovery-2-a/260915-neon-green-fluid-grease-splatter-under-auto-tranny-2.html#post2796825 which then runs down to look like the photo post #15
I think you may be right Kelvo. How did you go getting yours out? I couldn't shift the one in my scrap head when you had your problem.
Nick

[kelvo]

I think you may be right Kelvo. How did you go getting yours out? I couldn't shift the one in my scrap head when you had your problem.
Nick
Removed exhaust manifold, then just unscrewed it with a 12mm(?) hex bit in a 1/2” ratchet. Cleaned up threads, smeared the threads on the plug with Stag, and refitted. It’s been leak free ever since, which is nice.

[BrightBlue]

More likely the welsh plug...

Let’s hope so, area around plug seemed free-ish of residue etc (well, a lot better than everything around it). Here’s a pic from a better angle:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/04/490.jpg

[d@rk51d3]

Or...... someone's re-drilled a manifold stud hole, and went a little deep.

[Salt grinder]

How does that green stuff feel to the touch . . . . oily / greasy or wet ??
BTW . . . . . great pics. Hope the excess grease is just leftover from the power gun . . . the good guys wipe it clean after. At least better than none at all.
Any hints on locating that welsh plug without destroying my soft/supple hands[/QUOTE] . Using the soft supple/brain works fine [smilebigeye]

[discorevy]

Let’s hope so, area around plug seemed free-ish of residue etc (well, a lot better than everything around it). Here’s a pic from a better angle:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/04/490.jpg



Most of the fluid will be running down from the plug out of view as its behind the exhaust manifold gasket , you will just have to fix it , at least you shouldn't break any exhaust studs if the gasket was done recently.
Not sure why someone would spray paint the oil cooler though, and as someone mentioned, refit the oil switch wire

[andrew53]

Hey all,

Finally got around to taking a look at her underbits and found the following;

- A neon green fluid what looks to be mixed with oil?

- What looks to be a grease explosion.

First time wrenching on a D2 (Land Rover in general) and have not seen anything like this before haha.

Any hints?

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/04/458.jpg

Grease and coolant

[Barleywine]

Hi, can you tell me what's a Welsh plug? Good pictures btw.

[AK83]

Hi, can you tell me what's a Welsh plug? Good pictures btw.

First up it should be welch .. I think mainly because it's not from Wales! [tonguewink]

Core plug is another term.
When they make the casting, they need to allow for access holes from where the metal is poured into the cast and to create the coolant galleries too.
So inside the engine block are empty spaces where coolant flows to keep the engine cool.
The welch, or core plugs are literally that .. a plug to seal those access holes. They're usually pressed in, but as seen earlier in this thread, they also make them screw in too.

They can rust, and cause leaks too.

[Lemo]

Hey BrightBlue,

I'm a newcastle local and happy to lend a hand/advice if you like? Also have a nanocom if you need faults cleared or testing done.

Also noticed there appears to be exhaust putty on #5 so might still have a warped manifold? When you have the manifold off to do the plug run a straight edge over it.

Might need machining flat? I can recommend a place to ceramic coat if you need or want it done?

Cheers Craig

[crash]

First up it should be welch .. I think mainly because it's not from Wales! [tonguewink]

Core plug is another term.
When they make the casting, they need to allow for access holes from where the metal is poured into the cast and to create the coolant galleries too.
So inside the engine block are empty spaces where coolant flows to keep the engine cool.
The welch, or core plugs are literally that .. a plug to seal those access holes. They're usually pressed in, but as seen earlier in this thread, they also make them screw in too.

They can rust, and cause leaks too.
In North America they are also referred to as frost plugs - if your antifreeze / antiboil is not at the correct mixture and the temp gets cold enough the fluid can freeze. The "frost" plugs will burst preventing the block from cracking. Bit like a safety valve.

[rangieman]

Let’s hope so, area around plug seemed free-ish of residue etc (well, a lot better than everything around it). Here’s a pic from a better angle:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/04/490.jpg
Id say that is leaking look at the white stain running out of it down the block [wink11]

[BrightBlue]

@Lemo - May take you up on that offer one day, a few more profanities and braised knuckles would do the trick haha. I’ll check the mani when it’s off and get back to you.

@rangieman - thought those were beauty marks? 🤫