Thread: 1999 series 2 Disco advice

Originally Posted by DazzaTD5

@ what round 240K i think was mentioned? if so then you can be just about guaranteed that the head has already been off and steel locating dowels used during the head refurb.

Hi Ladyfingers, It looks as though the head gasket hasn't been done in it's lifetime. about 250K is the usual time to have this problem with the early TD5's if it is the head. He needs to drop the price a lot further I think, but best to walk away as you can do much better elsewhere unless you can do the work yourself.
Nick

Time to walk away i'm afraid. It could be the head and or the oil cooler, leaking oil into the cooling system. Which ever way its goin to be a mission to clean out the cooling system and associated components. Thats my opinion only.

This ^

Originally Posted by Ladyfingers

Ok.

So there is some bad news, that im really hoping its not to bad so please I need your help.

The disco was inspected this morning and I just got the call from the mechanic and he said he found a fair but of oil in the coolant reservoir. Like he put his finger in it and it was only oil. It was a brown oil pretty dirty (his words).

He has said that it could be an internal engine oil leak into the radiator the into the reservoir.

The owner then quickly googled it and said something like “its not that bad, there is an external oil release near the reservoir”??? I dont have a whole lot if any faith in this guy any more.

And since the inspection he has dropped the price by $1100. So instantly i cautious.

Please help me!!
If you know who I should ask on this site let me know and ill direct message them.
Thanks a heap.

He possibly meant the oil cooler...which can leak into the coolant.
But yeah.... be cautious now.
Shouldnt be the head if the rebuild was done right but does he have receipts or was it DIY?

Are you after a project car or a daily driver straight away? Not sure what’s involved with cleaning that up though.

As previously mentioned, 240K no way the head hasnt been off.

Oil in coolant, as mentioned, likely to be the engine oil cooler.

WALK AWAY FROM IT, THERE ARE PLENTY A MORE DISCO 2 MODELS OUT THERE....

just a thought could the oil in the expansion tank be residue from what ever happened to the original engine before the rebuild (if not to long ago and if it was genuine recon).
It might be to difficult to establish this from a simple check over but might be worth further investigation especially if price is adjusted accordingly.
That being said I personally would walk away.

As everyone said WALK AWAY, pay an bit more and get something reliable

Thought It was an bit too cheap, just save yourself and money and pain,

Something better will pop up

Originally Posted by Kaaaiju

As everyone said WALK AWAY, pay an bit more and get something reliable

.....

There are no guarantees in life, and with that there is no guarantee that paying more WILL get something more reliable.

So with that.. maybe this is the omen that the OP needed.

Therefore paying less and fixing the issue could well be the more sensible way forward. At least that way whatever the issue is gets fixed.
I can't imagine that fixing the oil cooler will cost $1100 or more.

But the OP will need to be mechanically minded about the deal.
Pay less, do more work himself, and get his car going as good as the more expensive one!