Thread: Help requested - d2 leaking head gasket?

No one else has responded, so here goes. First question is why do you think it might be leaking?

Are you losing oil or water or what?

Based on experience with my 99 V8 Disco at 163,000 km, what appears at first to be a leaking head gasket can turn out to be one or more slipped liners.

Looking back after we found the slipped liners in my Disco, the symptoms were:

(1) occasional loss of small amounts of coolant with usually no sign of where it went (sometimes a bit of residue around or below the over flow),
(2) rough running (6 or 7 cylinders only) when restarting while still hot, which lasted for several minutes but then cleared,
(3) occasional clunking on cold start (sounds like a stuck lifter).
It was also leaking oil into the valley, but that probably was the gasket.
These symptoms continued for probably 10,000 km, during which time we changed the head gaskets.
Subsequently I had a sudden failure of one of the new radiator hoses which turned out to be due to combustion pressure in the cooling system. It had suddenly started running very rough just moments before the hose failed. When we pulled the heads we had 2 extremely clean (like new)combustion chambers, caused by water leaking past the now improperly seated liners.

It now has a factory new 4.6 RR HSE engine fitted.

I have been told that the slipped liner issue affects mainly engines built from 1999 to 2001, and that it was caused by inadequate thickness of the casting in specific areas. According to what I was told, LR apparently knew of the potential for problem, and coded the blocks with the thickest going to the 4.6 engines, where compression pressures would be higher, and the rest going to the 4.0s. Consequently (if true) it is more likely to affect Discos than HSE RRs.

Anyway, for what it is worth, sometimes what appears to be a head gasket can be slipped liners, so it is worth specifically looking for evidence of that when you have the heads off.

I hope it is just the gasket in your case.

Cheers,

Terry

Thanks for the reply Grumndriva, hopefully it won't be a slipped liner!

We recently acquired the car and a mechanic had a quick look and suggested he thought it was leaking water out of the back side of the head gasket- they were alerted to check this by a low water level in the header tank.

They put some additive in the coolant in to bung it up and 800kms later the water level hasn't budged and I've had no issues - though I'm aware that may be a temporary false confidence.

I'm trying to get some guidance as to what I should be checking for, what I should be asking the mechanics. An engine rebuilder said they could pressure test it to help diagnose the issue for about $25. This seems like a sensible move to me, but would appreciate others views??

Thanks for your response... much appreciated.

is the stain orange?
mine used to leak from the same spot, left a loverly orange trail down the block,,
dunno about temporary,, mines been "blocked" for well over 12 months,,

I've got the same issue.My 2000 4.0 is leaking at the back of the motor. At the least it's just the valley cover gasket but I'll be getting a full kit and do the heads at the same time. Makes sense if you're going to pull the manifold off. I have read that it's wise to get the heads checked for warp, but if you no for certain it hasn't been overheated they should be alright. One way of checking a failed head gasket is a compression test.If your keen to do the job yourself I'll let you know what i run into with my operation
Can anyone point me in the right direction to get a kit in Perth?

Originally Posted by wozapinin

<snip>
One way of checking a failed head gasket is a compression test.If your keen to do the job yourself I'll let you know what i run into with my operation

maybe a Tutorial??

Its pretty common for RRV8s to leak coolant at the front or the back of the heads. The kleak is from the gasket between the head and block.

There is a water passage ( the only water passage) at the front and the back of each head.

With tin gaskets especially , if there is any warp in the head , coolant can leak from the passage to the outside. It may NOT involve any exhaust gas or leak to the combustion chambers.

It is a sign that the gaskets may be corroded from not changing coolant regularly , but as long as the leak has stopped there is no urgency in replacing the gaskets unless you are a purist like me.
Regards Philip A

Originally Posted by PhilipA

...... but as long as the leak has stopped there is no urgency in replacing the gaskets unless you are a purist like me.
Regards Philip A

x2 for the above



Change the coolant if it is suspect ..

If you hear the sound of "water running / trickling" behind the dash when driving ...(this is the "give away sound" of air in the system) then that is the time to start doing something about it ... PRONTO

Other than that .... just keep a eye on it and JUST enjoy your ride

Mike

Thanks for the help so far guys...

I went back to JRT in Perth and they were very helpful. Seems their diagnosis is that based on the white coloured stains around the engine bay (stupid me I thought it was stains from salt from sand) it has presumably overheated previously, although testing it again there is no exhaust gases in the water now - thats the chemiweld they added doing it's job!

So, if it's overheated in the past there's a risk the heads can be warped and they recommend doing a full strip down of the heads, gasket change, heads off to be skimmed, recon of the injectors, radiator off to be tested and rodded out then put it all back together c.$2,800 + GST, and that's assuming no need for new hoses, belts or repairs to the radiator. Ouch!

The LR gasket kit is c.$600 alone, I found theres an after market kit being sold in the UK for about $100 landed her in Oz - any views whether this would be a safe compromise to make? or should I just take the pain, pay the money for the LR parts and be happy that it won't need doing again?

RANGE ROVER V8 4.0 4.6 FULL HEAD GASKET SET STC4082 on eBay, also, Range Rover, Car Parts, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 03-May-09 11:45:35 BST)

The car needs the ABS modulator replacing too apparantly... good job I bought the car for a reasonable price!