Coolant/Head Gasket??

Hi all, well I'm new here and to Landrovers, and have to say having done a few web searches I'm beginning to think I might be entering a nightmare zone.

Anyway I bought a my 2002 Freelander Serengeti in June, apparently the Head Gasket was replaced in November, it's got around 68000 miles on it. Anyway I noticed the temperature gague way up and stopped to check out what was wrong. Coolant expansion chamber(?) empty. So I've topped that up (several times) over the last week. How much coolant should it hold? There was/is no apparent loss of power or white smoke (I believe this is what I should look for), but there is some sludgey stuff in the coolant chamber (sorry not sure of technical terms). I also noticed what seems like a bit of a leak. Sooo I've booked it in for my local garage to check out if it's leaking and to see if I need it flushed. I'm soooo hoping that that is all it needs.

Any words of wisdom greatly appreciated.

Mandy

Sounds suspiciously like a head gasket failure unfortunately. Do a search on the forums and you will find plenty of tips os what to look for a specifically check that will confirm this.

Main things to look for are temp gauge rises (which you have) and loss of coolant (which you have) although both of these could be a leak from the cooling system somwhere other than the head. You need to look for white mayonnaise-type stuff under the oil filler cap. Everything under this cap should be brown/black/oil type stuff.

Did you buy it privately or from a dealer in June? If a dealer, I would take it back to them to have a look at otherwise cross your fingers that your local garage can sort it.

Let us know how you get on

Cheers

Rog

Thanks Rog, well the temperature guage is settled now, it hasn't risen since I filled it up and I've just checked and all is as it should be under the oil cap.

Believe it or not I bought it from my b/friend, who got it from a colleague, so private sale.

Fingers crossed it's just lost a bit of coolant from somewhere other than the head then. Just keep a very close eye on the coolant level until your garage can have a look!

Cheers

Rog

temp gauge doesnt mean diddly squat!

the temp gauge is measuring the temp of water coming back from the radiator!

a Hippoo cooling system is nothing like a "normal" system - check the water level daily!
just because its had hgf before and been Fixed, dont mean it wont happen again quickly.

It could, just as easily be the top-up tank cap , or the tank itself - they are both prone to splitting and leaking.

What about yee MandyNio

Good to see another Norn Iron member.

Who did the repair job on the Freelander? Temp gauge should never go above halfway even under harsh driving

You obviously have a leak somewhere, how much are you losing each day?, the expansion cap can be faulty but its a good place to start at a few pounds,

whats the oil like on the dipstick, any mayo?,

Sometimes the repair guy doesnt flush the system properly after hgf,

The Mad Hat Man said:

temp gauge doesnt mean diddly squat!

the temp gauge is measuring the temp of water coming back from the radiator!

Click to expand...

Not the case on the 1.8 MHM.... Temp sensor is on the outlet of the block

LR1796 said:

What about yee MandyNio

Good to see another Norn Iron member.

Who did the repair job on the Freelander? Temp gauge should never go above halfway even under harsh driving

whats the oil like on the dipstick, any mayo?,

Sometimes the repair guy doesnt flush the system properly after hgf,

Click to expand...

Hello fellow Norn Iron'der.

The repair job was done in England, not sure of who will need to check with b/friend. The Dipstick is fine, no mayo, but apparently the guy who did the last service did recommend a flush, so basically that's what I'd booked it in for, plus a service here so that I could feel confident it was ok. The garage here said they'd check it over but if it was the HG wouldn't touch it as they wouldn't warranty it - which obviously means if the worst comes to the worst, I'll have to take it to a dealership I suppose.

Oh and meant to ask, so when (if they actually have) did they sort out or change engine model on the Freelander then?

Think the new gasket and oil rail was around 2002/03????

Dont go to the dealers they'll try and shaft you.

A pressure test on the coolant system will show of any obvious leaks, pressure test on the engine block will show hgf.

No signs under the engine of a leak?

Your local garage should be able to do this or the AA/RAC patrolman for free to members

LR1796 said:

Think the new gasket and oil rail was around 2002/03????

Dont go to the dealers they'll try and shaft you.

A pressure test on the coolant system will show of any obvious leaks, pressure test on the engine block will show hgf.

No signs under the engine of a leak?

Your local garage should be able to do this or the AA/RAC patrolman for free to members

Click to expand...

There has been a bit of leakage under the general coolant chamber area, I noticed it on Tuesday night and there are a few little spots on the driveway today.

I do have RAC membership, can you just ring and ask them to come check - can I pull the "I'm a frightened girly" routine, or is it something they include in part of the "at home" package?

Sorry to keep asking soo many questions!

LR1796 said:

A pressure test on the coolant system will show of any obvious leaks, pressure test on the engine block will show hgf.

Click to expand...

get a "sniffer" test too - that checks for combustion gases in the water.

AGhhhhh, no respite here.

Had RAC guy out to have a look, he says it looks like water pump - mucho relief I think - WRONG! Anyway he says is a drip/leak from the water pump. When he's finished I notice it dripping and I'm advised that this is because it's under pressure.

So anyway thinking it's not so bad, I call garage to see if they can do waterpump sooner than Tuesday (when it's booked in) and tell them what RAC have said. They say ohhhh well pump needs to be working and still could be HG!

FFS (thank you very much MHM for introducing me to this lil shorthand), who am I supposed to believe!!!

P!$$ed off and frustrated here.

always believe me

it dont do any harm (and its not too expensive) to replace the water pump.

just x fingers about HGF until its bin tested.

Hi All,

I have a 51 reg V6 which has started suffering exactly same symptoms as described at start of thread.

Temp gauage goes right up after driving for 15/20 mins and fans come on, stop to check and the expansion tank is empty so fill it up (sometime by a lot) this now doesnt last very long as next day problem will return.

I cannot find any water leaks anywhere and the oil does not seem to have water in it and water does not seem to have oil in it which I was always told was sign of HGF! Now tonight when comeing home from work, it has overheated again with water coming out of the top of the expanion tank so this is obviousley where it is being lost, I have noticed a few other threads suggesting expansion tank cap may be a problem is this a real possibility? or am I just being hopeful? There is no loss of power and it drives fine, but is annoying and a bit of a worry.
What do you all think? Time to get shot of it?

Thanks for any help.

Jamie

Ohh Jamie, hope it's nothing sinister! I'm booked for the garage on Tuesday so I'll let you know what they say. I'm sure the guys here will chip in with something more technical and informative.

change the expansion tank as well the cap. it wont cost u much jamiemacp

check ya passenger footwell - if it is wet - it could be the heater matrix.

My expansion tank, I assume that's the fing wit the lil yellow collar on? Right???? (pardon my girlie ignorance), well it has cracking under that collar - doesn't look like it's cracked through, but would I better changing that???

Seriously considering taking a class on basic car maintenance/car mechanin!! I think I might need it.

yup
change it

Hi all,
thanks for these replies.
Mandy, my expansion tank also has hundreds of fractures around the top of it, although like you I am not sure if it is cracked through. Going to try and get a new one today though and see if it makes a difference.
Jamie