Thread: TD5 coolant level

Well, the coolant is going _somewhere_ !!

If there's no visible external leaks, then it's an internal leak inside the cooling system somewhere .... more likley, you've got a head gasket on the way out

Put a small coke bottle under the expansion tank overflow/purge pipe, and cable tie it in position. Top up your coolant, and then go for a drive ... any coolant in the coke bottle ? If yes, the cooling system is being pressurised by a failing head gasket, leaking into the cooling system.

Kev..

This is what you don't wanna hear,never top up mine between coolant flushes,which is every two years.....

The coke bottle thing is the way to go.Another place they leak is out of the hole on the side of the water pump.
I would also have a real good look around the engine bay with a torch.

Good luck.

Originally Posted by Fluids

Well, the coolant is going _somewhere_ !!

If there's no visible external leaks, then it's an internal leak inside the cooling system somewhere .... more likley, you've got a head gasket on the way out

Kev..

Hey Kev,
I'm not starting an argument, or trying to dismiss your opinion here (you'll know far more about this stuff than me, I can be sure of that!), but surely if the leaks are internal, or gaskets are gone, then the expansion tank would be totally dry wouldn't it?
If there is always "some" coolant in the tank, then surely it's not necessarily a gasket, or the dreaded "head job"?

My V8 always sits about 1 inch below the min mark on the tank. It's had a head job too a while back, has recently been pressure checked again and all that jazz, and every time I top her up to the min mark, she'll just drop back down to the previous level and sit there. I've stopped worrying about now!

Just a question....

..:: KIEREN ::..
2000 Disco II Auto V8
Object Of Mass Consumption
AussieAubs Disco Page

Originally Posted by Fluids

Well, the coolant is going _somewhere_ !!

If there's no visible external leaks, then it's an internal leak inside the cooling system somewhere .... more likley, you've got a head gasket on the way out

Put a small coke bottle under the expansion tank overflow/purge pipe, and cable tie it in position. Top up your coolant, and then go for a drive ... any coolant in the coke bottle ? If yes, the cooling system is being pressurised by a failing head gasket, leaking into the cooling system.

Kev..

or failed expansion tank cap which what happened to mine

Not trying to preach to the unknown, but you are checking the coolant level when cold?
It will always read lower as it is under pressure when hot, but overnight it will cool & the level will rise again.

Cheers

take the cap off, start it up, check the return line for areation. let it do high idle for 10-15 minutes to warm it up and check again, do notput the cap back on while it warms up.

still no bubbles? then its not likely to be the head unless its shifting under full load/temp conditions.

turn it off, top the level up to about an inch under the normal cold level marker.

dust the threads of the tank with talcum powder and put the cap back on, dust the cap with talcum and go for a drive.

if the powder gets wet then its time for a new cap.

Originally Posted by AussieAub

If there is always "some" coolant in the tank, then surely it's not necessarily a gasket, or the dreaded "head job"?


AussieAubs Disco Page

Hi Kieren

This can be true. However if the coolant is to low then you may have air in the system, allowing the head gasket problem to go unnoticed until it is too late as there is no coolant being pushed out the expansion overflow.

I was having a problem with the loss of coolant due to over pressurisation of coolant system. It was only noticeable when I would top up the expansion tank. It drove me nuts as I couldn't see an external reason for it.

Eventually bit the bullet and removed the head. Low and behold, the head gasket was in the advanced stages of failure. Blowing between pots 2 & 3 and a small evidence of blow by between number pot 1 and the water jacket on the front left of the gasket.

I'm glad I went down the path of removal of the head as it saved me many thousands of dollars in a cooked engine. In the end it only cost me parts, head check and my time, all up $1,100.00. Money well spent I recon.

Car runs great and coolant level hasn't moved off the full level for weeks now.

By the way my car is a 2000 TD5 manual.

Hope this helps your decision CLR.

Regards Tony

Originally Posted by AussieAub

Hey Kev,
I'm not starting an argument, or trying to dismiss your opinion here (you'll know far more about this stuff than me, I can be sure of that!), but surely if the leaks are internal, or gaskets are gone, then the expansion tank would be totally dry wouldn't it?
If there is always "some" coolant in the tank, then surely it's not necessarily a gasket, or the dreaded "head job"?

My V8 always sits about 1 inch below the min mark on the tank. It's had a head job too a while back, has recently been pressure checked again and all that jazz, and every time I top her up to the min mark, she'll just drop back down to the previous level and sit there. I've stopped worrying about now!

Just a question....

..:: KIEREN ::..
2000 Disco II Auto V8
Object Of Mass Consumption
AussieAubs Disco Page

Kieren ... Possibly, but since these kinds of failures manifest themselves in all different manners, it could be a real slow leak, and if left _long_ enough would go dry ... or not.

... no offence taken mate

If your V8 drops a little, and then maintains a stable level from there on, then I'd say that's just due to overflow/expansion and _your_ particular engine is happy at that level ... I haven't topped my Td5 up in 16,500km (since the last flush). The level remains the same (a little higher when hot, lower when cold).

Kev..