Help!
I'm new to Land rovers, and I've only had my 97 disco for a month or so - any help is appreciated!
I was setting out on a trip. I checked the fluid levels, drove for about 1.5 hours. The heat outside was about 35.
The A/C stopped blowing cold air 1 or 2 minutes before my engine stalled (A/C started again right before stalling)
The temperature gauge did not show a change of temperature before stalling - it was right at the midpoint.
When the engine died, I found coolant splattered everywhere around the engine compartment - the coolant level was low (it took about 2 litres to fill up the expansion tank afterwards).
Bubbling sound of barbecue roast from the engine after it stopped - yikes! I thought that was the end.
The oil was low, exactly at the minimum level marker. It took about 1/2 liters to fill to mid-level.
I replenished the fluids. Engine would turn over only very lethargically 10 minutes or so after stalling.
After about 45 minutes of waiting, the engine started just fine. I drove for about 2-3 km, temperature gauge at midpoint, no loss of power. I stopped and took a tow truck just in case. When tow lifted the front of the car, a few litres of coolant poured to the ground. When I checked the oil again (already on the tow truck), the oil level seemed higher than when I filled it (could there be water getting into the oil?)
The car was driving fine before that - it is usually a bit sluggish to start in the morning, but after the first drive starts just fine. Doesn't seem to overheat on really steep hills, hot climate. It will blow dark smoke when climbing a steep hill (when turbo pressure is about 10 or so). When idling it will puff a bit of white smoke, or when starting usually a cloud of white smoke (smells like diesel!). Another thing - the expansion tank doesn't seem to be from this vehicle.
Any thoughts on what I should have checked and/or replaced? Do I need a new head gasket / head? Could it be the belt or thermostat that caused this? I could shoot myself for not fitting an oil pressure and temperature gauge, I bought VDO gauges but hadn't mounted them yet...
I'm new to Land rovers, and I've only had my 97 disco for a month or so - any help is appreciated!
I was setting out on a trip. I checked the fluid levels, drove for about 1.5 hours. The heat outside was about 35.
The A/C stopped blowing cold air 1 or 2 minutes before my engine stalled (A/C started again right before stalling)
The temperature gauge did not show a change of temperature before stalling - it was right at the midpoint.
When the engine died, I found coolant splattered everywhere around the engine compartment - the coolant level was low (it took about 2 litres to fill up the expansion tank afterwards).
Bubbling sound of barbecue roast from the engine after it stopped - yikes! I thought that was the end.
The oil was low, exactly at the minimum level marker. It took about 1/2 liters to fill to mid-level.
I replenished the fluids. Engine would turn over only very lethargically 10 minutes or so after stalling.
After about 45 minutes of waiting, the engine started just fine. I drove for about 2-3 km, temperature gauge at midpoint, no loss of power. I stopped and took a tow truck just in case. When tow lifted the front of the car, a few litres of coolant poured to the ground. When I checked the oil again (already on the tow truck), the oil level seemed higher than when I filled it (could there be water getting into the oil?)
The car was driving fine before that - it is usually a bit sluggish to start in the morning, but after the first drive starts just fine. Doesn't seem to overheat on really steep hills, hot climate. It will blow dark smoke when climbing a steep hill (when turbo pressure is about 10 or so). When idling it will puff a bit of white smoke, or when starting usually a cloud of white smoke (smells like diesel!). Another thing - the expansion tank doesn't seem to be from this vehicle.
Any thoughts on what I should have checked and/or replaced? Do I need a new head gasket / head? Could it be the belt or thermostat that caused this? I could shoot myself for not fitting an oil pressure and temperature gauge, I bought VDO gauges but hadn't mounted them yet...
