Thread: TD5 Problem

I am not familiar with the Defender but does the reservoir actually indicate the level in the radiator. On my Freelander it does but in my Disco 1 it doesn't - the reservoir can be full but the radiator can be down. Hence the disco can be topped up through the reservoir but to actually refill the radiator from scrtach it has to be filled through a fill plug at the top of the radiator.

So - you need to confirm the actual fluid level in the coolant system - and it needs to be checked right over - maybe you need to fit a fluid level alarm. You didn't indicate why the previous work had to be done other than there was an overheating problem.

On the Defender there is a bleeder fitted to the top radiator hose. So to check the level is up you undo that and then fill the reservoir until water comes out the bleeder.

The engine had been cooked so it resulted in a compression leak to the cooling system, blown head gasket, cracked head, leaking oil cooler. The head was repaired, cooler replaced, all hoses repalced, associated work done. Total cost was about $7,000...

After the repair was done I drove the 3,500km to Cairns without problems, as I mentioned. However it always seemd to lack low down torque. Not being familiar with TD5s I assumed this was normal but maybe not?

Sounds similar to the Freelander - the screw is the air bleed valve to remove any air locks in the system - if you drove all the way to Cairns Ok then the system is probably OK - I think I would just have the coolant system checked/serviced as a precaution and see what happens.

Maybe you just had some air in the system from the work that was done before and it finally cleared itself - not convinced myself and doesn't explain the loss of power and oil pressure - maybe the two are not related. After a trip to Cairns it will be due for a oil change anyway so I would also do that and the filter and see what happens from there.

Soorry - I don't have any other ideas but I am sure the defender people will have some thoughts.

Garry

I recently had water loss problems. turned out to be a leak in the radiator. The TD5's have a tripple core system with three seperate thermostats so you need to get 1) the engine warm 2) the oil hot 3) the fuel warm before all three open. It took me ages to find the leak as the cooling system passed a pressure testby the dealer I bought it from. The only thing they found was that the cap couldn't hold pressure. The TD5's at least need to hold at least 15PSI or the engine can pump water out of the resevoir.
Before we found the links mechanics I knew began to think I had a blown head. There was no water in the oil.
Hope this helps :?

Thanks George130. I will check that out - the water leak has been driving me crazy. A test yesterday lost one third of the water in the reservoir in a drive of only about 6km but there was no sign of water anywhere nor was there any indication it was in the oil.

How did you find the leak in the radiator? Where was the water coming out? I realise mine may not be that or may not be the same location but it may help me to follow through.

My daily drive for work is about 80km each way. One bad slow morning I saw a couple of road work guys realy showing interest in the front of my beast so when I get to work I looked and saw water dripping. Carefull observations later narrowed it down to the bottom 4 or 6 splines on the radiator. I then read everything in the workshop manual about the cooling system and called my nearest landrover dealer for a price. The shock of the price and the fact that they would have to freight it in scared me enough to keep searching for a few days.
I ended up using a sealent in the cooling system. Leak fixed within 10 mins and no probs for three weeks now. The mechanic I know has told me to just carry a bottle of the sealant and any time I drain any coolant out add half a bottle in. He thinks this will last indefinatly and also pointed out that the sealant will seal any new leakes before I even know about them.
Lets hope so.
The only warning I ever got was the temp guage suddenly rising and then dropping back to normal before I cold even pull over. I would usually only the the resevoir contents.
A Rover specialast centre told the cap was a main contender but advised having the entire system checked by one of the radiator people to be safe. They also thought that my radiator leak could have been run of from the cap collecting at that point.

Interesting stuff. I think it would be worth trying that - what is the sealant you used?

Know what you mean about cost. I bought this car in April and starting within one hour of purchase had problems which have so far cost me about $7,000 not counting accommodation costs, towing costs, car trailer and car hire costs, etc...

So it would be nice to keep the costs contained!

I will check out the lable on the bottle today when my wife returns the truck. I know what you mean my argument for buying the truck was that I do 40,000 k a year just in commuting abd the landy should be bulet proof. Right now my lights have failed for the second time and the tray lining needs to cleaned as I hade a dying Roo in it the other night. My first Roo strike yet so can't complain. At least there is no visible damage to the vehicle.
Normally I only see the carnage but not the live ones so quite impressed as I was still going 60 to 70 kmh when I hit it.
Do you hae workshop manuals?