Cooling Problem

Hi All,

I will try and be as descriptive as i can!
I have had our Freelander 1.8 since last april, I was told it had the Head Gasket done previously... I had researched about Freelanders and new many of the Issues it suffers with but could'nt resist at a reasonable price.

I have already replace VCU and Rear Centre Mount and 4 new tyres all super until yesterday!

Driving along and engine Temp gauge went to max and steam started coming from under bonnet, had a look and coolant tank empty!! allowed her to cool and limped to garage after putting water in, They had her for a few hours topped up coolant, had her running and said she was running normal but suggested it could be the head gasket??? Drove home and it happened again within 2 miles!!!!!!
I left her till later last night redone coolant, left her over night (No loss) Driven to work (fine) Home (fine) out and about roughly 10 mile all ok!! then tonight went out in her 18 mile round trip luckily just pulled up on my drive and it happened again!!!

I cannot see any leaks around engine, I did bleed the rear pipe when i did the Re-fill!!! The only thing i thought of was that the Cap for the tank doesn't seem correct?? it has the pressure release valve on it! i thought it was supposed to be solid??

Sorry about the Essay
Jim

Hi, any sign of water in the oil....ie the 'creamy' gunk

The killer to the K Series is lack of water. If it's driven for any distance with no water then you WILL cook the head gasket. When was the coolant last checked?

Thx for your reply, The oil seems fine...

The last time I checked coolant was about 2 weeks ago!

daily on a 1.8

Think the killer of any engine is lack of coolant ....

He did say that the coolant was topped/filled up by the garage after the 1st overheat...

Just to add when She cooked tonight the temp gauge was middle not showing overheating!!!

K series coolant levels are critical

Jimsky said:

Just to add when She cooked tonight the temp gauge was middle not showing overheating!!!

Click to expand...

not uncommon - its how the coolant temp is measured.

I have read on here people with similar probs have replaced the Inlet manifold gasket, But would that cause overheating?

Jimsky said:

I have read on here people with similar probs have replaced the Inlet manifold gasket, But would that cause overheating?

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No. The IMG can be a cause of coolant loss but not overheating. It does sound like the HG has failed. It's very easy damaged on a wet liner engine.

myths63 said:

Think the killer of any engine is lack of coolant ....

He did say that the coolant was topped/filled up by the garage after the 1st overheat...

Click to expand...

Not all engines. I've known of the VW PD engine to be driven 10 miles with no water and still the HG survives!!
The K series won't tolerate 10 seconds without water.

I had the bonnet up at work today and the caretaker from the school next door said oh same problem as me then!!! Same issues he's waiting for new engine, he did say mine already has updated hose/thermostat so someone has done head before ?? He mentioned the expansion vessel looked like it was from TD4.
Is he right? Or would that have nothing to do with it.
Thx in advance

Jimsky said:

I had the bonnet up at work today and the caretaker from the school next door said oh same problem as me then!!! Same issues he's waiting for new engine, he did say mine already has updated hose/thermostat so someone has done head before ?? He mentioned the expansion vessel looked like it was from TD4.
Is he right? Or would that have nothing to do with it.
Thx in advance

Click to expand...

A post 2000MY Freelander will have a larger expansion tank so that is normal. The larger tanks are known to split around the pressure cap, this causes coolant loss.
The later thermostat or PRT stat as they are called was standard from around 2001 iirc and available as a kit from LR for earlier Freelanders.
If it was fitted after the car was built then it's worth opening the standard stat housing on the rear of the water pump. This is to check that the original thermostat has been replaced by a restricter plate.

Ok will check that out

Yep head gasket failure possibly due to lack of water..

Once they run out of water it doesn't take long to over heat.... Read the HG thread on here for more info. It may be repairable but as you have over heated it several time the heat treatment on the cylinder head may have softened thus rendering ithe head scrap.

Best of luck......

Could he do a combustion hydrocarbons? (I have no ideas on the common name on your side of the pond) test.

zefrench said:

Could he do a combustion hydrocarbons? (I have no ideas on the common name on your side of the pond) test.

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eet eez ze "Sniff test"

Well I've booked her in the garage , with a couple of guys who use to work for barratts land rover . Now do it for themselves!! Called Discovery garage lol
We shall see