Thread: Coolant Probs

Originally Posted by trevor

Have to ask... Where's the oil cooler... . is it at the front of the engine near the fan as I've had a coolant leak from there before as the connection got really brittle and just gave way. My ONLY leak is from the reservoir breather tube that sits in the coolant tank. I just don't think I'm the only one who's had this issue as it seems relatively simple (yet complicated), water is beig pushed out of the breather tube (but why).

The leak in the oil cooler causes more pressure in the system which is why it is coming out your breather (over flow)pipe.
I had this problem for nearly a year changed water pump/hoses/had rad flushed twice/replaced dowels and head gasket no joy. Topped up tank every week was frustrated but engine ran ok. it got worse all of a sudden topped up every day. Then by accident my dad back in Ireland was talking to a work mate that had the same problem he replace most of the engine before he found the cure. I put in new oil cooler two years ago and coolant job done and didn't looked back.

If I let it drain it all I get to a 1/4 of a tank and there is no way that can be right, right? Any suggestions? If the oil cooler is not what I think it is I will have a look again but seems like my only loss now is from the tank itself in a way. Quite annoyed to say the least.

Hope this helps sorry I not that mechanical minded but I'm sure someone that is can understand and get technical.

When a TD5 starts randomly overheating or loosing coolant due to pressurizing the system ask the following questions.

Has it had a head gasket during the course of its life?
Was it manufactured between 1999 up to about 2005?
If the answer is no and yes and you have done 170000 Km or more it may be head gasket time.

TD5 head gaskets are a shim type and are usually driven into the workshop they are repaired at, not that many are trucked in its not often they fail catastrophically.

If the correct coolant has been used through the course of its life its not an enormously expensive provided it hasn't been overheated.
If its had normal glycol coolant in it, you may be up for a head and oil cooler.
Don't ask me how I know

I am sure there are exceptions to what I have said but speaking to people who work on them all day everyday will usually concur with what I have said.

Originally Posted by djam1

When a TD5 starts randomly overheating or loosing coolant due to pressurizing the system ask the following questions.

Has it had a head gasket during the course of its life?
Was it manufactured between 1999 up to about 2005?
If the answer is no and yes and you have done 170000 Km or more it may be head gasket time.

TD5 head gaskets are a shim type and are usually driven into the workshop they are repaired at not that many are trucked in its not often they fail catastrophically.

If the correct coolant has been used through the course of its life its not an enormously expensive provided it hasn't been overheated.
If its had normal glycol coolant in it, you may be up for a head and oil cooler.
Don't ask me how I know

I am sure there are exceptions to what I have said but speaking to people who work on them all day everyday will usually concur with what I have said.

Thanks everyone, been really helpful as usual. I am actually leaning on the leak in the oil cooler pipe for 2 reasons. 1) I have a leak down that side of the engine that I attributed to not having a gasket on my turbo to sump drain pipe, I fitted that and I believed there was a decrease in oil. 2) when my turbo was replaced by a mechanic friend the heat shield was pop riveted back on and has eventually come loose. At the time I thought nothing of it as I was a disco newb. I believe I lose to much oil for it to be anything except oil cooler related (I hope).
In answer to the questions above; no and yes (2002). It has had the LR stuff and in 2010 I ran the equivalent green when a brittle hose saw me lose all coolant. When replaced waterpump 4months ago I uses the red Nulon long life stuff used by many here. I am dying to check the oil cooler pipe but not possible at the moment. Probably tomorrow arvo or Monday morning. I will try to take pictures but I don't have the patience that everyone else does and I really just like to get in there and get it done (a very big thank you though to those who do have that patience).
When changing oil regularly at 10k strict intervals there was never a milkshake of oil and coolant/water (thank god), and despite long standing coolant issues the temp gauge hasn't budged above half way, engine running hotter than normal but not overheating as I don't do very long drives often.
Thank you everyone again and I will keep you posted.

Thanks to everyones insightful replies.
I am going to have a look at the oil cooler this morning, didn't realise that there was a coolant flow there. Had been using the old RAVE (with mostly V8 references) and making up the rest from guess work. I now have the 2003 RAVE with the TD5 component and will make a more valiant effort in tracking this little dilemma down.
To answer some of the questions posted:
Original gasket (according to log book).
2003 model.
Bled the system with the heater on and raised the expansion tank to ensure full expulsion of air.
Always run on the red stuff (as far as I know).
Water pump checked out OK.
Car is at 240K.
Still has lots of power.
Have driven, since last post, 70km with no problem, then the same 70km the next day and found a 600ml of coolant in catch bottle (fixed under the overflow pipe) and around the coolant expansion cap.
When the car is left overnight, the coolant system is still under pressure in the morning, even when it has been 3degC!

start with the hidden heater hose no-one knows about... (its under #4 exhaust, you can see it easily with the heat shield off)

The heater is full flow all the time, so turning it on only provides heat to the cab which you use as an indication that the cooling system is primed and operating correctly (the heater core is the first place air gathers, if you have enough air in the system and you hold the flex pipes and pinch them closed you'll feel the air "rushing" through)

Check the thermostat, actually just replace it, if you test it later and it works properly then you have a spare.

The cooling system staying pressureised after cool down means somethings being added to the system. Heres an experiment.

Get a large balloon put about 100ml of water in it, tie a knot in it and put it in a large pot of boiling water. as the water in the balloon boils the balloon inflates. take the heat away and the balloon will deflate. back to its orignal size.

What would happen if when filled with steam air was added?

to do that test you need a ball with an inflation nozzle receptacle. insert a hundred mil or so of water boil the ball till it starts to inflate then inflate it the rest of the way with an air pump.


sorry mate but everything is pointing towards a dying head gasket.

Sad face ... I will have a look at all the things mentioned and hope its one of them before concluding its a head gasket. If it is any suggestions where to get it done in the western suburbs in Victoria? Also prices to get an idea? I'll tart small and (hopefully not) work my way up to the HG. also are there any sure signs that I could look for to indicate it could be the HG? Thanks all.

Off you go to Romsey Land Rover, Trev.

Pete

Hi all, I did post a few pics in another thread and dont mean to spam but here is the link to some pics of my exhaust manifold and oil cooler pipe which seems dry. http://www.aulro.com/afvb/discovery-...lant-leak.html there is red dried coolant on the exhaust and some warpage near this dried coolant, and a missing nut on a manifold bolt closest to the cab. Not sure if related but may be worth checking out. Thanks again all