Thread: Defender 99 TD5 coolant loss

Doesn't sound good
Check the motor oil to make sure that's not disappearing down there (milky oil on the dipstick)

Other TD5 owners will give you some ideas

Have you just done a coolant change and then this happened???

Mike

I agree with Mike, It doesn't sound good.

Is the header tank totally empty?

Rgds
Pete

Start it up and see how much steam comes out the exhaust.
If there is lots head gasket deffinately.
Do td5 have oil filler caps if so check under the cap for a grey browny goo
a mix of water and oil which also indicate head gasket trouble.

I had a very similar problem recently. My coolant was pressurising and coming out the cap of the reservoir. It ended up being the headgasket. I had no coolant in the oil but it was very obvious it was coming out the reservior cap as it was all over everything. As previously mentioned I'd check if it's in your oil. It could be coming out of one of the lower pipes.

I'd get it sorted asap. If you overheat the engine you would be up for big $'s

cheers

Josh

Originally Posted by mike 90 RR

Doesn't sound good
Check the motor oil to make sure that's not disappearing down there (milky oil on the dipstick)

Other TD5 owners will give you some ideas

Have you just done a coolant change and then this happened???

Mike

No, havent done a coolant change and the oil shows no water contamination.
Regards

Originally Posted by Psimpson7

I agree with Mike, It doesn't sound good.

Is the header tank totally empty?

Rgds
Pete

I tip in a large beer bottle full ( the only receptacle I have that easily reaches) to get around the required level. I quess at that it would have been empty.

Thanks for the reply's. Have not seen any steam from the exhaust but will check tomorrow. I can now see why the previous owner sold it.
So far complete clutch and flywheel ASSY, injection harness, unopenable rear door and head light switch, all within 10000 k's.

One thing I did notice was I removed the small pipe that connects between the L.H.S of the rad and the expansion tank ( an air bleed I guess) had a steady flow of coolant from the rad when I disconnected the hose with the engine running. Is this normal as after the short run (8 k's) the water in the coolant tank was warm and had a hint of steam rising.

Time to dust off the RAVE CD. For those learned persons who have done the job themselves do I need more that the normal hand tools to do the job?
I am going to have to get my poop together as I have a camp site in Kalbarri booked in October.
Thanks in advance for your advice.
Cheers

Originally Posted by Graz

I tip in a large beer bottle full ( the only receptacle I have that easily reaches) to get around the required level. I quess at that it would have been empty.

Do you bleed the system when you topped it up? Maybe it might be worth draining and flushing the system give the radiator a good going over, refill and bleed and see how you go then.

Check all your pipes if there is no obvious evidence of a leak it may be one of the lower pipes at the front that are leaking under pressure. There is a bleed plug on the main pipe that comes from the radiator at the bottom, if that has for some reason worked itself a little loose it may be leaking only when the engine is under load. You probably wouldn't notice it on the driveway and it has a pretty clear space under it to dump coolant onto the road without leaving a trace. (it's unlikely, but a possibility) Keep us informed of your findings.

cheers

Josh