Disconnecting Upper Radiator Hose (in Botwsana)- HELP!

Hi Everyone.

I'm currently driving at 2003 Disco Mark 2. Td5 engine. I'm in Botswana, and got this car on a very dodgy deal after my original car blew a head gasket. I've had it for 2 days and had the same issue both days.

i've searched the forums as best I can, but the internet here is v shakey, so searching is very hard.
Both days have been 250km of motorway before lunch in 35 degree heat. We then stop, leave the car off for 30 mins, and set off again. about 20 mins later, we breakdown.
When we open the bonnet, the upper radiator hose (The connects the radiator output to the engine block) is disconnected, and all the coolant is everywhere. We then connect it, fill it up again, and drive fine.
The question is why is the radiator hose disconnecting?
- is it because there is too much pressure in the system? If so, why? (we know it isn't a head gasket issue).
- is it because the clamp holding the hose on has failed (we don't have a traditional screw-to-tighten tube clamp, it is a spring loaded jobby). It looks as old as the car. Do these things ever lose their tension?
- it it something else entirely?

- are we overheating because the tube has become disconnected, or is the tube disconnecting because we're overheating!?

Also - on the note of fixing it:

- I'm assuming the spring loaded clamp is there for a reason? I.e if I just put a tradtional scew-up tube clamp on there, will that just blow the hose?

- is it co-incidence it's happened at the same time each day

Sounds like you are pressurising the cooling system with a head gasket leak?

Check the inside of the oil filler for emulsified oil - looks like mayonnaise. And check engine externally for signs of oil or coolant leaking. The cooling system as posted is over pressuring.

Loosen the cap before you set off after lunch, release the pressure, and then refit, it might stop the hose coming off, but it does indicate head gasket or cracked head

Thanks everyone.

I agree the increased pressure does mean the HG is the most obvious fault, but I'm really confident it isn't that.

Firstly it just got done, as In the day I got It, and checked in the garage and the computer.

Then, since the first time it blew I have had it checked twice by mechanics, and there is no sign of HG failure.

does anyone know of a reason it might be over pressurized that isn't to do with the head gasket?

A failed thermostat has been mentioned, but surely I'd never then make it the 400km before the pipe comes off?

Leo Bedford said:

Hi Everyone.

I'm currently driving at 2003 Disco Mark 2. Td5 engine. I'm in Botswana, and got this car on a very dodgy deal after my original car blew a head gasket. I've had it for 2 days and had the same issue both days.

i've searched the forums as best I can, but the internet here is v shakey, so searching is very hard.
Both days have been 250km of motorway before lunch in 35 degree heat. We then stop, leave the car off for 30 mins, and set off again. about 20 mins later, we breakdown.
When we open the bonnet, the upper radiator hose (The connects the radiator output to the engine block) is disconnected, and all the coolant is everywhere. We then connect it, fill it up again, and drive fine.
The question is why is the radiator hose disconnecting?
- is it because there is too much pressure in the system? If so, why? (we know it isn't a head gasket issue).
- is it because the clamp holding the hose on has failed (we don't have a traditional screw-to-tighten tube clamp, it is a spring loaded jobby). It looks as old as the car. Do these things ever lose their tension?
- it it something else entirely?

- are we overheating because the tube has become disconnected, or is the tube disconnecting because we're overheating!?

Also - on the note of fixing it:

- I'm assuming the spring loaded clamp is there for a reason? I.e if I just put a tradtional scew-up tube clamp on there, will that just blow the hose?

- is it co-incidence it's happened at the same time each day

Click to expand...

how do you know its not a head gasket issue ? if its over pressurising it could be expansion bottle cap isnt working, not cooling fully ie rad not hot all over ,thermostat not working plus numerous other reasons ,or head gasket is seeping gasses into cooling system which will give no other signs like water in oil etc till it blows and it becomes obvious

At the risk of sounding daft (just finished a night shift so excuse if I do) but if it's had a recent HG would it be worth checking the head bolts have been torqued down correctly? If they ain't could that be letting gases through

@jamesmartin (apologies for not quoting properly, internet here is rubbish, and it wont let me do it).

How would I go about finding out if it were the HG is leaking gasses? I'm not a great mechanic, but I've been doing all the usual tests - including looking into the expansion tank whilst the engine is running to check for bubbles. That all comes back fine. Is there any other things I can do (in the bush) to check?

Yesterday this didn't acutally happen, i.e the hose never disconnected) but I was super cautious. I Never pushed the engine, never went above 100km/h and whenever the temp guage moved even a mm up from half way, stopped and let out gas by released the cap slightly.

I'm hoping that it might be the expansion cap not working, is there any way of testing this?

Also - last night when we had stopped (Maybe 1 hr later) I checked the engine, and I could hear gas escaping from the expasion cap. Not a lot, but a bit. Not sure if that is relevant, but it might prove/disprove whether or not the cap has failed. I'm not sure how these things typically work. Our one has 140 written on it, which I assume means it is designed to vent at 140psi.

@1998Smithy - not such a stupid comment! These mechanics left the engine way over the full line with engine oil, so that could be it. I don't have a torque wrench here to check though.

The expansion cap on a td5 is designed to release excess pressure, if the cap pressure release has failed then the excess pressure is blowing hose off. Try a new cap.if new cap doesn't fix I'd say you have a cracked head between exhaust ports allowing exhaust gas into water system, generally shows itself at motorway speeds, as it's not between the oil ways you won't find any emulsified oil in breather etc

I once had a similar symptom on a V8 (dumping all the coolant). Garage tried all the usual tests including purposely pressurising the system and declared it good. But it still kept happening.
I put a single dose of "Bars-Leaks" in the cooling system and it never, ever dumped the water out ever again.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/yd35s7ym

Just a thought.

I've had an interesting 24 hrs. With 4 breakdowns over 600km!

I have now developed a new issue - if you push the car I.e if I attempt to accelerate too hard, it breaks down as if running out of diesel.

If you then put ignition to position 2 you can then hear the fuel pump running, making the noise it makes when it's full of air. You can also feel the air in the fuel return line.

I then purge the system, and restart. Works fine. The thing can cruise all day and night at 95kph, as long as I don't raise the revs above 2500rpm.

I also don't have any issues on start up.

I 've read on another thread that this is likely to be exhaust gasses getting into the fuel from bad copper washers on the Injectors. Could this be the same issue that is is raising the pressure in the coolant system? Can they be related?

Another thing I noted in this other thread is the engine oil level increasing. I didn't think much of it, but yesterday morning we emptied some oil as it was too high, and this morning, it was too high again. I assumed this oil had come down the turbo, but it there a fault that can cause the engine oil level to increase?

Leo Bedford said:

I've had an interesting 24 hrs. With 4 breakdowns over 600km!

I have now developed a new issue - if you push the car I.e if I attempt to accelerate too hard, it breaks down as if running out of diesel.

If you then put ignition to position 2 you can then hear the fuel pump running, making the noise it makes when it's full of air. You can also feel the air in the fuel return line.

I then purge the system, and restart. Works fine. The thing can cruise all day and night at 95kph, as long as I don't raise the revs above 2500rpm.

I also don't have any issues on start up.

I 've read on another thread that this is likely to be exhaust gasses getting into the fuel from bad copper washers on the Injectors. Could this be the same issue that is is raising the pressure in the coolant system? Can they be related?

Another thing I noted in this other thread is the engine oil level increasing. I didn't think much of it, but yesterday morning we emptied some oil as it was too high, and this morning, it was too high again. I assumed this oil had come down the turbo, but it there a fault that can cause the engine oil level to increase?

Click to expand...

you need to do the injector washers and o rings err6417 and err7004, then go from there

New injector seals going In tomorrow morning, which will hopefully take care of the air in the diesel and diesel In the sump.

I've also put some stop leak in the coolant. Slim chance it'll work, but it's cheaper than a new head!