Coolant level/pressure

[AussieAub]

Hey guys,
I'd like to put a question you all....!

Thought I was loosing coolant through the engine, but after numerous checks and pressure tests, there appears to be no leaks, and nothing wet around the engine. I did have an issue with blocked air con vents (?? - or something like!), that was leaving water in the footwell, but that's sorted now.
The garage I'm using (they're LandRover specialists) has asked me to keep a check on the coolant level for the next week or so, and assures me there is nothing seriously wrong.

Even after playing around in the sand for about 5 hours, the temp level has never gone above half way.

So.....after the motor is run for a while and up to normal temp (and even pushed a bit!), when switching off the engine and checking the coolant level, it appears there is no coolant left.
Now I'm pretty sure it should look reasonably full.
If I release the pressure by gently undoing the cap, the level returns to where it should be.

Is this normal, or should the coolant level be readable (at approx the correct mark on the bottle) when hot OR cold, like other Disco's I've seen and checked against?

When checking other V8 Discos coolant level after that particular play in the sand, their coolant levels appeared at the right level even when hot, whilst my coolant bottle just looked empty.

Any body any ideas, in preparation for me going back to the garage?

Watching any replies anxiously.....
Cheers.


..:: KIEREN ::..
2000 Disco II Auto V8
(CDL stick on its way! :D)

[Blknight.aus]

it should be and my next step would be to run it without the cap on from cold to watch whats going on with the system...

assuming hes bled it up right (which can take a bit of doing if your heater is still plumbed in) then the coolant tank should be a bit over halfway when hot and when normal there is a little tab that pokes up from the bottom of the expansion tank that should be just below the level of the coolant and indicates the correct level..

thats assuming you have the black coolant tank made of plastic.

[AussieAub]

thats assuming you have the black coolant tank made of plastic.

No, it's the whitish translucent type bottle with the pre-formed level gauge on the outside, engine side.

Cheers for the response.....

..:: KIEREN ::..
2000 Disco II Auto V8
(CDL stick on its way! :D)

[81stubee]

Last time changed the coolant, after refill it was full. I followed all instructions for bleeding etc. Went for a drive came back and it was empty, so must have bled a heap of air out during the drive.

Watch your coolant level, and see what the garage says next week.

I'm going to be optimistic and not suggest anything :angel:

Good Luck - Happy Thoughts

Stu

[nice1guv]

Maybe since you had a problem with the aircon/heater, there is now air trapped in the system.

I'd try what Blknight suggested: take the coolant cap off and start the engine, let the engine warm up and watch the coolant to see if it drains into the system. With the cap off there will be no pressure in the system and a larger opening for excess air to excape from. Also run the heater as well whilst the car is warming up.

Once the car is warm, add some warm coolant to the system, hopefully this extra coolant will force any excess air out (if this is the problem). If there is air trapped in the system you may be able to add as much as a couple of litres of extra coolant to force out the air. It doesn't matter if there is excess coolant in the system as the car will spit it out anyway.

This is by no means the solution and I am certainly not claiming to be a mechanic. Just worth a try yourself before you fork out the dosh.

[Blknight.aus]

on the front of your radiator there should be a plug on the drivers side...

take that out while you have the cap off of the expansion tank...

start the engine and then add coolant till it starts to come out of the radiator plug hole...

once it starts to come out run the thing up to 1500 RMPish and hold it there with the heater on flat out bubbles that keep going for more than a minute or so are bad news, the coolant level should drop after a while as it purges the heater matrix, thermostat and back of the heads... keep it at high idle till it gets to normal operating temperature

once the level has stablised and is flowing constantly at high revs back it off to idle and it should spill fluid out, dont panic thats normal...

add more coolant till it just sits at the bottom of the plug hole, eye it for bubbles and if theres isnt any screw the cap back in and then add coolant to the correct level in the header tank.

IF that doest bleed it up properly do it again but park on a 45 degree uphill slope.

[AussieAub]

This weekend I'm looking at doing what blknight.aus has suggested in his last post, but can anyone tell me how much coolant I am likely to need for this excercise? And if I can use an "off the shelf" coolant, from somewhere like SuperCheap, Auto1, etc.
If so, what grade/type should I be looking to buy?

Lots of questions I know, but you guys are just so awesome I thought I'd ask!!

:angel: :D

..:: KIEREN ::..
2000 Disco II Auto V8

[Psimpson7]

It needs to be a specific coolant, OAT (ORGANIC ACID TECHNOLOGY) is the type. I got mine from my local LR dealer.

Available from others like CAltex, Havoline, etc

Rgds
Peter

[BMKal]

Kieren, if you want to buy a reasonable quantity of coolant and have any access to Westrac - it's the red coolant as used in Cat engines.

Much cheaper by the 20 litre drum from Westrac.

[Blknight.aus]

hang about isnt it a V8,, arent the v8s ment to be on ethyl glycol...

double check what coolant you have , the 2 different types do not like each other.

[BMKal]

hang about isnt it a V8,, arent the v8s ment to be on ethyl glycol...

double check what coolant you have , the 2 different types do not like each other.

You're right about it being a V8 Dave - hadn't noticed that.

However, just checked on Rave, and it says -

"Use Havoline Extended Life Coolant (XLC), or any ethylene glycol based anti-freeze (containing no methanol) with only Organic Acid Technology corrosion inhibitors, to protect the cooling system.

CAUTION: No other anti-freeze should be used with Havoline Extended Life Coolant.

Rave quotes the same anti-freeze for both TD5 and V8, both at 50% dilution - the only difference is the quoted volumes. TD5 is 4 litres of anti-freeze, total re-fill volume of 8 litres (13 litres from dry) and V8 is 6.5 litres of anti-freeze, total re-fill volume of 12 litres (13 litres from dry).

[Psimpson7]

oops. well spotted Dave, i missed that too!

[AussieAub]

You're right about it being a V8 Dave - hadn't noticed that.

Yes, its a petrol V8!
Right, before I start on looking into this, I was speaking to mechanic mate of mine who reckons, before I start doing anything, to check with you guys that I have the correct expansion tank cap. He pointed me to an article that states:

"The radiator cap is more than a cap for your radiator; it keeps your engine cool by sealing and pressurizing the coolant inside it. It is designed to hold the coolant in the radiator under a predetermined amount of pressure. If it was not kept under pressure, it would begin to boil, and soon all the coolant would have boiled away. However, the radiator (or pressure) cap prevents this from happening by exerting enough pressure to keep the coolant from boiling. If your cooling system is under too much pressure, it can "blow its top"! To prevent this, the radiator cap has a pressure relief valve. The valve has a preset rating that allows it to take just up to a certain amount of pressure"

So that got me thinking. How do I know if I have the right tank cap? Does anyone have a part number or something I can check it against? (Year and model in sig).
With the motor hot, when I release the tank cap by hand, I get a lot of pressure release and the tank fills back up to where it should be, from looking like it was empty.

Might just be worth a try before I get round to draining and flushing...?

Cheers in advance,


..:: KIEREN ::..
2000 Disco II Auto V8

[81stubee]

Here's a few things you could try based on my experience, and these should show up a fault with either the head gasket or the motor, doesn't hurt to try. Someone please correct me if i'm wrong about any of this.;)

1. In the morning or when the car is cold, release the radiator cap, no pressure to come out at this point, maybe a little suction.
2. Have the mechanic check for exhaust gases in the coolant, they should have or know of someone with the tester.

I have either a blown head gasket or a cracked block :mad: on my 4.6, when I release the pressure the coolant level rises back up to the normal mark. I also have pressure in the system in the morning. The temp guage also does not go above the halfway mark.

Stu