Thread: TD5 coolant flood

"Can you give us some tips how to replace the matrix rad?"

Buy the RAVE CD.
Just to add on coolant, If the engine has been operated for a few years with NO coolant additive ( not a good plan with modern motors They are not holden grey motors! ) There will be corrosion at hose connections and gasket faces . Additives, whether OAT, HOAT or standard glycol , tend to dissolve alloy corrosion, thats part of their job so that is why you suddenly get leaks. Any motor is the same with alloy interfaces.
And just to rehash, it has been said before, there is GREEN OAT in addition to RED . MEG95 springs to mind , which I ran in the TDI for years until the local servo stopped carrying it.

Cheers Scott

Disco ES TD5 Auto - !90,000k - Owned from new.

I do a coolant change every 3 years - I only flush with clean water. I always use Nulon Red Longlife with OAT inhibitors & I add 3 GM coolant tabs.

I've never had a coolant leak or overheat & it's extremely rare that I ever have to do a top up between changes.

Still have the complete original coolant system (rad, water pump,etc), except for top bleed screw hose (stuffed screw insert), and top rad to expansion tank hose which I leant on 2 weeks ago & it was so brittle it cracked like an egg shell. Replaced it with an original.

According to Hawkeye it runs between 88C & 92C, depending on speed, incline, ambient temp, etc.


Adios!

This thread has come at just the right time, we woke up to find a great puddle under Daisy this morning. Here is our story.

2004 TD5 200K km.
Never leaked or overheated
Removed the thermostat to get the steering box out about a month ago.
Switched from orange to green coolant when I refilled.
All seemed good.
Puddle this morning, took 4 litres (de-min water only) to top back up.
Drove, parked, waited, looked. No overheat or puddles.
Lobbed in Rad Seal.
Drove, parked, waited, looked (again). No overheat or puddles (again).

Baffled.

1. Any thoughts?
2. What does OAT mean?

Hi DaisyDriver.

The green coolant has possibly caused the leak.

OAT is Organic Acid Technology - An OAT coolant is recommended for TD5's.

Some good info here......

Coolant Experts



Adios.

Hi Amigo

Many thanks for the advice. I'm going to drain, flush, refill with OAT and watch very closely.

DD

Originally Posted by Daisy Driver

This thread has come at just the right time, we woke up to find a great puddle under Daisy this morning. Here is our story.

2004 TD5 200K km.
Never leaked or overheated
Removed the thermostat to get the steering box out about a month ago.
Switched from orange to green coolant when I refilled.
All seemed good.
Puddle this morning, took 4 litres (de-min water only) to top back up.
Drove, parked, waited, looked. No overheat or puddles.
Lobbed in Rad Seal.
Drove, parked, waited, looked (again). No overheat or puddles (again).

Baffled.

1. Any thoughts?
2. What does OAT mean?

Its VERY common with TD5s to start leaking when cold in winter,when the engine warms up the leak stops.Its the fuel cooler.Remove it and fit new O rings and its fixed.If you do a search the size needed is listed on AULRO.Dont bother with Land Rover,they will want to sell you a new fuel cooler.
Andrew

Originally Posted by Slunnie

Mine started to leak everywere like a sieve after repalcing the coolant from green back to red. It was coming out of the hose clamps everywhere and out of the fuel cooler on the side of the motor like it was going out of style. I just kept topping it up and the leaks have almost completely sorted themselves out now - I just mop up a drip in the mornings to keep the dog out of it and thats all. Don't go over the 60% recommended OAT mix as that makes it worse.

You say 60%? I had the soft head gasket replaced last year and I noticed coolant on the invoice $140 (Valvoline I think) and the coolant in it almost looks like concentrate compared to my premixed (Penrite) top up coolant.

I have all 3 ends of my new top hose leaking at the moment, even after replacing two of the new spring clamps with worm drive clamps.

Is there an easy way to test concentration of coolant?

Hi , you can do a litmus test , call in to a local mechanic and ask for a test strip or get them to test , but you might want to remove the hose where its leaking and clean the surfaces up and refit hose first , you can then do a pressure test as well.
Cheers