Advice Please - Disco 2 2003 Head Gasket

**Dingo** · 10th October 2021, 09:34 AM

On my third Land Rover a Disco 2 petrol I’ve had 3 years, running great at 180,000KM. Immaculate motor, had a radiator leak 2yrs back, mechanic put a new one in, no other problems. Sent it into mechanic for a small coolant leak from the junction on top of the engine. He resolved that, but it’s started making an exhaust tapping sound. I read it could be manifold gasket, mechanic tightened all manifold bolts, but said exhaust is leaking out the head gasket. Says I need new head gasket at eye watering cost. Never overheated on the gauge, no smoke from exhaust. I can see what looks like a little oil sealing out of the head by a bolt, but can feel no exhaust. No water observed in oil and no bubbles in coolant header tank.

It is driving fine, makes the noise when you put your foot on the gas. Very slight noise when idle.

I have also read this is very common and even if you have the gaskets done and any other issues found like slipped liner, they often fail again.

Anyone experienced this or have any advice?

Cheers

D

**V8Ian** · 10th October 2021, 10:13 AM

Can you do, or have done, a compression test?

**PhilipA** · 10th October 2021, 10:46 AM

It is most likely to be the gaskets between the manifold and head, or the gasket where the manifold meets the exhaust .
Do these have fabricated headers like a P38? if so there also may be a crack in a junction that needs to be welded.
I would exhaust all of those possibilities before starting to change head gaskets.

First step is a compression test as If you can hear it it would be pretty bad.

Usually the head gaskets go between 2 inner cylinders and if the block is cracked one of the spark plugs will be cleaner than the others as water will well up behind the sleeve. If you are not mysteriously losing water and have not recently overheated the engine then it is unlikely to be a slipped sleeve..
Regards PhilipA

**loanrangie** · 10th October 2021, 11:58 AM

I have had an rv8 head gasket leak externally which did sound like a tapping noise, it was a 3.5 with tin gasket and the tapping was gases hitting the tin under the valley.

**Dingo** · 10th October 2021, 03:05 PM

The local mechanic did a coolant leak test, but not aware of compression test. I’m already leaning to a second mechanic opinion from somebody that knows Land Rovers. I’ll insist on a compression test.

Thanks loads.

Somebody has recommend someone for me so I shall drop them a line.

Originally Posted by V8Ian

Can you do, or have done, a compression test?

**Dingo** · 10th October 2021, 03:07 PM

Thanks loads Philip. Thinking I need a second mechanical opinion to check over other possibilities and to do a compression test for me.

Sounds worth it before I fear the worse and make bad decisions with her.

Thanks again,

D

Originally Posted by V8Ian

Can you do, or have done, a compression test?

Originally Posted by PhilipA

It is most likely to be the gaskets between the manifold and head, or the gasket where the manifold meets the exhaust .
Do these have fabricated headers like a P38? if so there also may be a crack in a junction that needs to be welded.
I would exhaust all of those possibilities before starting to change head gaskets.

First step is a compression test as If you can hear it it would be pretty bad.

Usually the head gaskets go between 2 inner cylinders and if the block is cracked one of the spark plugs will be cleaner than the others as water will well up behind the sleeve. If you are not mysteriously losing water and have not recently overheated the engine then it is unlikely to be a slipped sleeve..
Regards PhilipA

**Dingo** · 10th October 2021, 03:10 PM

Yep sounds like that would. What did you do? Is she running ok now?

Thanks loads

D

Originally Posted by loanrangie

I have had an rv8 head gasket leak externally which did sound like a tapping noise, it was a 3.5 with tin gasket and the tapping was gases hitting the tin under the valley.

**PhilipA** · 10th October 2021, 03:55 PM

Yep sounds like that would. What did you do? Is she running ok now?

There are a couple of important differences between a 3.5 and a 4.0.

1 The valley gasket on a 4.0 is composite so has a thick rubber stuff under it, so unlikely to have tinny sound.

2 The 3.5 had a fifth short head bolt on the outside which tended to pull the outer edge of the head down and raise the inner edge. This caused many to leak into the valley. These were deleted in the mid nineties.

3 A 4.0 has composite head gaskets .
Regards PhilipA

**Dingo** · 10th October 2021, 07:13 PM

I thought mine was 3.8 (I’ll check as may be mixing it up with my last one). It does look like black rubber under the head?

Cheers

Originally Posted by PhilipA

There are a couple of important differences between a 3.5 and a 4.0.

1 The valley gasket on a 4.0 is composite so has a thick rubber stuff under it, so unlikely to have tinny sound.

2 The 3.5 had a fifth short head bolt on the outside which tended to pull the outer edge of the head down and raise the inner edge. This caused many to leak into the valley. These were deleted in the mid nineties.

3 A 4.0 has composite head gaskets .
Regards PhilipA

**AK83** · 10th October 2021, 08:14 PM

Originally Posted by Dingo

.....

I have also read this is very common and even if you have the gaskets done and any other issues found like slipped liner, they often fail again.

Anyone experienced this or have any advice?

Cheers

D

I've got two V8s.

First one came to me with overheating issues, which I'm 99.9% sure is a slipped or cracked liner/block.
This one is my project D2 .. very nice condition other than the engine(which I then totally killed).

The other V8 I have is a parts wreck now. I bought it with a blown headgasket which is leaking exhaust type, not coolant.
Same deal as yours. On the drive home(and a small bit around) sounds like exhaust leak, but none to be found, but then poking about more, I can feel it leaking out the rear corner passengers side.

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Advice Please - Disco 2 2003 Head Gasket

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