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Thread: Cooling System Problem 300Tdi ('98 Disco)

  1. 4th January 2015, 06:40 PM #1
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    njhey
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    Cooling System Problem 300Tdi ('98 Disco)

    Hi all, I have a 230,000 km disco 1 which has never let me down and is regularly maintained. I recently had one of the heater hoses split at the rear of the engine and quickly pulled over when the temp gauge started to climb. I replaced the hose and replaced the coolant and while I was feeling motivated replaced the p-gasket (tiny leak), water pump gasket, all hoses (top, bottom, 3-way ejector valve, both heater hoses etc), thermostat, fan belt tensioner assembly, expansion tank and the expansion tank cap. I bled the system as per the Haynes manual.

    What I have is an odd situation. I can drive for 100km or so with no problems (freeway, up and down hills 2000-3000 rpm) and if I stop the Landy for any period, I will only get 3-4km before it overheats. I quickly pull over before it hits the red and the expansion tank is full of fluid and spraying around the engine bay. If I slacken the thermostat housing plug and let out the pressure, then open the expansion tank plug, the level goes back to normal (albeit a little lower due to the loss of coolant). This doesn't happen all the time, but this afternoon I just came back from a drive (around 100km) and there is a long downhill descent at the end of it (into Adelaide from the freeway) which normally gets the temp below where it normally sits. However, today it stayed at "normal" operating level, and then within 3-4km of the end of the freeway it overheated again (same symptoms).

    I'm not sure whats going on...could it be an air bubble (heater is hot?), head gasket? There is no water in the oil or anything like that.

    Any advice gladly received.

    Thanks

    njhey
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  2. 4th January 2015, 06:55 PM #2
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    bee utey
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    I think your head gasket is no longer holding cylinder pressure. The 3 way ejector valve should normally handle small amounts of air/combustion gas in the thermostat housing area and feed them to the expansion tank. Check that it isn't blocked with a small amount of dirt. It might be worth drilling the jet out a bit to improve its flow.
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  3. 4th January 2015, 07:19 PM #3
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    87County
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    It does sound like a developing head gasket issue and it is about the kms that this often seems to occur.

    Whether you will need a new head or not will depend on the amount & degree of overheating, get it checked for cracks, softening etc when you take it off.

    A thorough tank off cleaning/rodding of the radiator while you have it out is not expensive and is money well spent.

    There is plenty of info on this site about the task.
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  4. 4th January 2015, 07:36 PM #4
    slug_burner
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    Without getting into the symptoms just reading the description of your incident I say head gasket. The symptoms also suggest head gasket, check out the vehicle as per bee utey's suggestion before going to any expense. I would be looking to get the cooling system checked for gases of combustion.

    Once you have lost the coolant the gauge is not able to report the coolant temperature and then it will be the head or more likely the steam temperature that will appear n the gauge. Some people instal a low coolant level alarm to have a better chance of catching a coolant loss without engine damage.
    Quote Originally Posted by benji View Post
    ........

    Maybe we're expecting too much out of what really is a smallish motor allready pushing 2 tonnes. Just because it's a v8 doesn't mean it's powerfull.

    One answer REV IT BABY REV IT!!!
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  5. 4th January 2015, 08:16 PM #5
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    njhey
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    Thanks all, the first posts I read on here were about the low coolant alarm and other engine monitoring essentials. I procrastinated for far too long...:-( Thanks.
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  6. 5th January 2015, 02:25 PM #6
    damienb
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    Could still be air bubbles or air locks, but sounds a bit extreme for that.

    Damien
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  7. 5th January 2015, 08:53 PM #7
    PAT303
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    I'd change the thermostat,I'd drill out the bleed hole and make sure it's at the top,bleed the system with the thermostat housing plug out,fill the header tank full and try again. Pat
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  8. 13th January 2015, 08:59 AM #8
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    njhey
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    Well, after changing the thermostat and a range of other components (header tank, cap, hoses, rebleeding it) with no change, I limped down to Triumph Rover Spares in Lonsdale and they've confirmed its the head gasket. Hopefully no damage to the head. Once she's back on the road its time to invest in some monitoring equipment as a priority...Thanks all for your input and advice.
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