TD5 losing coolant

Thanks for all your replies.
Hopefully it is a head gasket only. There is no oil decontamination & obvious steam, but the system does build up pressure so that you have to release the header tank cap carefully- would't this be normal?
The mechanic is in a bit of a tight spot as he was selling on behalf of another client that he is building up a vehicle for and it was only the fact that there was only water - not coolant- in the system that made me think it was previously in that condition.
He has had it back the last week & the deal is that he will provide the labour & I will pay for parts- but I want a diagnosis first.
Is there a gasket/rubber washer under the header tank cap? there isn't one on this.
Cheers.

Hi David, no just 2 O rings.

JC

I was losing coolant for some time. I could see it but did not know where it came from . then accidently i pulled the small hose at the top of the radiator and the plastic spout had broken off inside the hose. not easy to fix but i did it and now the leaks have gone.:)

Another thing you could try is to see if there is any coolant in the oil by gently undoing the sump plug when cold(ish). Don't undo it all the way as you only want 1/2 a cup or so of oil to come out. The coolant will come out first as oil is lighter.

That was how I found out about my stuffed head gasket in my GTV6 last year. I had been losing small amounts of coolant for a while. Radiator cap was stuffed but the new one didn't help.

Steve

Just an update.
It was the Viscous fan :angel:
I probably got it wrong with the coolant loss not being evident, it was coming out the header tank cap & being so wet lately it was hard to pick up just where it was going. Anyway, a new fan fitted with no labour costs & its all ok. I'm a happy little vegimite now..:)
Full marks to Fred Smith...

Thought I better update the update:)
Viscous fan has not helped - apart from it not getting hot on hills, it still loses coolant & badly now. I do think the fan went, maybe causing the problem I now have.
The leak is from the header tank. I bought a new one as I thought the old one had a small fracture, but no difference. It pressurises & blows.
No coolant in engine, or oil in coolant, so going by earlier posts, hopefully it is dowels & head gasket..
Its also gaining oil level, I've ordered washers & "o" rings, being the supreme optimist.
I've done the following so far - it's a keeper come hell or high water now.

Snorkel
Checker plate bonnet & wings
Modified cargo barrier so it removes in under a minute
3rd stoplight
Carpeted & sound proofed - 69-71 db @ 100kph now
Dual battery - under both seats extended for added storage space.
Marine switch for dual batteries
Mungo box
Disco transfer box swap

Done everything except drive it :(

If worse comes, then its a new Head from Turners. Anyone know a place that can test cyl heads in Melb??

Thermostat? It's a complicated affair , understandable only if you have RAVE. OR -Take the cap off the expansion tank, have someone rev the engine to about, 3,000 rpm, check to see air bubbles from the inlet pipe. Best done with an engine up to temp. Just a suggestion, Bob Air might mean head gasket.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rok_Dr

Another thing you could try is to see if there is any coolant in the oil by gently undoing the sump plug when cold(ish). Don't undo it all the way as you only want 1/2 a cup or so of oil to come out. The coolant will come out first as oil is lighter.

That was how I found out about my stuffed head gasket in my GTV6 last year. I had been losing small amounts of coolant for a while. Radiator cap was stuffed but the new one didn't help.

Steve

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You don't have to undo sump plug.
simply unscrew oil filler cap and look under the cap,
it will be greyish or whitish if there is any water in the oil

Quote:

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Originally Posted by goingbush

You don't have to undo sump plug.
simply unscrew oil filler cap and look under the cap,
it will be greyish or whitish if there is any water in the oil

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True and that is what I would expect as well, but on the GTV6 the cap was clean and I only picked it up when doing a oil change. Given the tiny amount of coolant that dropped out I suspect it had only just started leaking.

Cheers

Steve

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DeeJay

If worse comes, then its a new Head from Turners. Anyone know a place that can test cyl heads in Melb??

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Crankshaft Rebuilders in Blackburn.
CYLINDER HEADS