Coolant Leak TD5 ES

For the past few days I have noticed quite a large amount of coolant leakage under the Discovery TD5 ES, particularly when parked but still hot. The coolant appears to drip from at least two places but they are both quite some way back from the engine and appear to be quite central to the under side of the car between the two front seats. I have also noticed dampness in the front footwells. So my suspicion is it may be leaking somewhere from within the heating matrix system. My question is, as a quick fix can I just bypass the heating system? Assuming that is where the leak is coming from.
To be honest I have had this particular Discovery for nearly four years and it has been nothing but trouble. It does have a years MOT so I just want to get it through the next year before changing it for another one.
Any advice or information would be much appreciated.

Are you sure it is coolant, and not the AC dripping from the drain points?

Are you losing coolant from the header tank?

Cheers

Its definitely coolant, losing around a litre on even a short run.

And losing from the header tank.

One thought... the air conditioning has drain tubes around there. When the air is cooled it condenses, the water then drains out. Two issues: sometimes the drain tubes can be a little blocked, so it can, I believe exit in the cabin. Also the water can find itself exiting over the XYZ switch for the auto box (if fitted) so some people extend the tubes to avoid this.

My only other thinking is that if you are getting pooling water on the floor then the drains must be running, so may not explain the water in the cabin.

Have you checked the water that is below the truck? If it’s free from pink/orange coolant then it’s most likely the air conditioning just doing its thing.

It’s been hot here recently, so if the air con is running to cool the cabin, then it’s probably that.

Sorry... replied too late! @neilly got there first!

The water is pink, if I leave it for several days but do 3 or four very short trip (2-4 miles) the system will require 2-3 litres of coolant to top up. At the moment I just cant find a leak around the engine, the hoses or the radiator. I don't understand why it would leak so far back from the engine and the majority of the cooling system which is why I considered the heater.

I’ve known some just pull the feed pipes off the matrix at the bulkhead where they enter the cabin and use pipe to connect the two, as you say, bypassing. Just be careful when you pull the hose off the matrix, the matrix spigots can distort, and if you find it’s not that causing the issue, you won’t get a good seal if you refit to the existing matrix. You’ll loose some heat rejection capacity as the matrix runs hot all the time.

To be honest, only 6 weeks ago I paid £400 to have a new fuel pressure regulator fitted due to a fuel leak so i'm pretty ****ed off with it right now!

GJ1 said:

I’ve known some just pull the feed pipes off the matrix at the bulkhead where they enter the cabin and use pipe to connect the two, as you say, bypassing. Just be careful when you pull the hose off the matrix, the matrix spigots can distort, and if you find it’s not that causing the issue, you won’t get a good seal if you refit to the existing matrix. You’ll loose some heat rejection capacity as the matrix runs hot all the time.

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Thank for your advice.

Feel you pain.... had HG done, new rad, hoses etc, now my core plug is weeping under the manifold.....

check the short rubber hose on the engine oil cooler under the manifold/turbo. mine split a couple of days ago, came out like a water pistol and i lost about 2.5 litres in about 3 miles. luckily i wasn't far from home and had a spare hose. it was only the fact i had stopped in roadworks that i noticed steam coming out from the side of the bonnet.

GJ1 said:

Feel you pain.... had HG done, new rad, hoses etc, now my core plug is weeping under the manifold.....

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Exactly what I was going to suggest and a right turd of a job to do!