Thread: Random Coolant Whiff

If using Oat it will find the most miniscule leak, I had similar smell as it gets sucked into to the cab via air intake . Mine was a leaking welch plug on the rear of the drivers side head. Hot engine and oat drip on it does stink.I had no significant lowering in the coolant level.

I had a similar situation ( Td5 though ), would get the occasional coolant smell with no noticeable loss
It gradually got worse and I was smelling it more regularly and was noticing a small loss, had a look around and could find no leaks
Eventually the problem revealed itself as a hole in the top radiator hose, it had been rubbing on a swage from another hose and finally wore through, luckily I noticed it when I pulled up for camp one night on a trip, so spent the next couple of hours removing the hose and sealed it up with rescue tape, which got me home
I would say from my experience that if you can smell coolant it will be leaking somewhere

Check you filler cap.
The o rings give out.

Hello
I joined the forum to answer your post, so greetings from me in Colorado to you blokes "Down Under". I have a LR repair shop, I employ 8 blokes turning wrenches. I have been doing this stuff for 50 years.

That whiff you smell is often due to a slight leak from the front of the head gasket or the plenum heater on the manifold.

The head gasket is thin in section at the front and rear of the V8 block coolant passages.
My own D2 started doing the same thing when I first bought it. On a long run the coolant in the expansion tank would remain static but putzing about to and from work it would consume about a qrt every two weeks.

I traced it to a very fine droplet leak on the left side bank at the front. The droplets would fly back and burn off on the exhaust manifold, it leaves a tell tale white series of stains where it burns off.

I got slithering under the truck one day and just traced the stains--all back to a clump of orange just at the front of the head. Now since then I am always looking for it on customers trucks and these leaks can be seen at either end of the engine when I get a complaint about whiffs of antifreeze.

Also lift the fan cowl cover up and take a look at the radiator core, oftenm the first sign of radiator trouble is a wet patch on the left corner. that drips off and flys back onto the manifold.

Best of luck with your fix.
Cheers Dennis

Originally Posted by zedcars

Hello
I joined the forum to answer your post, so greetings from me in Colorado to you blokes "Down Under". I have a LR repair shop, I employ 8 blokes turning wrenches. I have been doing this stuff for 50 years.

That whiff you smell is often due to a slight leak from the front of the head gasket or the plenum heater on the manifold.

The head gasket is thin in section at the front and rear of the V8 block coolant passages.
My own D2 started doing the same thing when I first bought it. On a long run the coolant in the expansion tank would remain static but putzing about to and from work it would consume about a qrt every two weeks.

I traced it to a very fine droplet leak on the left side bank at the front. The droplets would fly back and burn off on the exhaust manifold, it leaves a tell tale white series of stains where it burns off.

I got slithering under the truck one day and just traced the stains--all back to a clump of orange just at the front of the head. Now since then I am always looking for it on customers trucks and these leaks can be seen at either end of the engine when I get a complaint about whiffs of antifreeze.

Also lift the fan cowl cover up and take a look at the radiator core, oftenm the first sign of radiator trouble is a wet patch on the left corner. that drips off and flys back onto the manifold.

Best of luck with your fix.
Cheers Dennis

Greetings from Colorado!

The head gaskets have just been done as I had a Valley Gasket leak in January and being as we were down there we changed them as my dad is mechanic of 50 years. All hoses OK. Manifolds OK.

I checked all over and the heads are good no a stains around the engine. However, a few pink drops around the cap on the header tank!. Did not spot them there other day.

Welcome to the forum!

Originally Posted by RR P38

Check you filler cap.
The o rings give out.

Thanks mate. I think that was the issue!.

Should have started at the top but my instinct is to lie under the car!

Few stains on the Orange OAT circle and some stains around the neck and up the thread.

Hopefully that's the cause...

Rob

First time I have owned the 4.0 Thor V8.

The owners manual suggests checking coolant levels weekly.

How much coolant can I expect the Disco to use over 6 months?

Driven 20 k about times a week some longer freeway monthly.

Originally Posted by Robgw

First time I have owned the 4.0 Thor V8.

The owners manual suggests checking coolant levels weekly.

How much coolant can I expect the Disco to use over 6 months?

Driven 20 k about times a week some longer freeway monthly.

No motor should loose coolant, remember to check it when it's cold(as in overnight).