Expansion tank cap

Hi all,

As you may know I'm new to the TD4 engine and was wondering if the expansion cap is prone to leaking? I've been reading a few coolant issue threads and have spotted a few suggestions of simply renewing the cap.

My symptoms: white residue around cap and top of bottle and seem to have lost a tiny bit of coolant over the last few months.

Everything else seems totally fine so I have no great worries about it.

Every car uses a bit of coolant thats why you should check water plus oil every week but the freelander header tank is prone to cracking around the baseof the screw part.
and it is wise to replace the cap as well as the header tank I had a new one about 2 years ago and it is going already. but why did Landrover not put a water level sensor in I think that would save a few engine's.

I had the same problem about 3yrs ago. Once I changed the cap the coolant loss I was suffering went away.

Seems OK at the moment, but I do keep an eye on it.

Why no coolant level sensor put in by LR? Cheapskateness, I'd say, along with many other things!

Coolant level sensors are present on the very last of the FL1 1.8k's - Not much help to you though


Check your reservoir for hairline cracks around the kneck of the bottle. Quite common on the earlier ones.

I think here is an option of a cap/tank with a level switch in. It became available at a later date. Search for the "level coolant sensor" type threads and ye shall find. I fitted me own sensor.

I was typing as V was posting.

I had the problem with losing water due to small hire line cracks near the cap i changed the full unit tank and cap for £30 for a britpart land rover wanted £65

Excellent, great feedback thanks.

Will give the whole tank some careful scrutiny