Freelander 1 FL1 2005 2.0D Auto - Possible HG/Cracked head?

Hi Folks!,

I am just wondering if I can get a sanity check on this one please? I am 90% sure I am correct but just wanted to run it past you guys...

I had hairline cracks in the expansion bottle some time ago, It overheated (Temp led came on), So I changed the bottle and cap, and all seemed well..

I have been keeping an eye on the coolant level and the bottle since..

Today I have noticed that there is soot gathering in the expansion bottle, (around the top around the threads and generally around the inside the expansion bottle.. (I am thinking exhaust gasses?)

I have also noticed I am loosing a lot of coolant (1L per 5 miles), but nothing on the floor and nothing under the bonnet is wet. (gotta be going somewhere)

I have had the car on the ramps today, and ran it up to see if i could see where the water is going, and noticed air bubbles at quite some rate coming from the bottom of the expansion tank. (again exhaust gasses?)

Another thing is that it is lumpy for 1-2 seconds on starting (possibly water in the cylinder/s?)

As mentioned, I am fairly sure that it is either the head gasket, or head (of which i am unsure)


Do you guys agree? if so, are there any diagnostics I can do to determine if it is just the gasket or the head? (I suspect not as one sits on top of the other?)

Any other advice?, please pipe up, It would be appreciated!.

Cheers,

Chummers..

Internet diagnostics are never truly accurate, however from experience, I'd consider HG or head issues on the M47R engine as extremely unlikely.

As it's an automatic, the EGR cooler would be my first guess.

Hi Nodge68!

Thank you once again for such invaluable information...

I must admit, it is the first car I have had with one of these on.. I never knew they existed until now.

I am going to have a look tomorrow, but had a look at some pictures in the meantime, looks like it is some kind of heat exchanger that goes around the EGR pipe.

Since I am not seeing visible coolant leek, the coolant must be going into the EGR pipe??

I will keep you posted on the progress..

Take care..

Having just taken all that apart on mine due to a hole in the coolant rail, the water cooled EGR could be putting soot into the system. If your going to remove the EGR cooler there's a bolt on the back of the head underneath the air box which is a pain to get to. Do you have lots of white smoke from the exhaust which is what you'd normally get if you had HG failure combined with the expansion tank over pressurising ? Pic of my coolant rail

Hi Andy,

No, No white smoke from the exhaust (no steam) I can put my hand in front of the exhaust for a while, and my hand does not get damp or wet..

I wish mine was like yours, at least you can see what needs to be replaced and where the coolant is coming from

Sadly my engine bay and floor is bone dry, that's what is making it difficult to diagnose for me- that's why I originally suspected the head/gasket, and that the exhaust must be venting into the coolant - I have no mayonnaise in the oil...

Cheers for the image..

How about the expansion tank over pressurising & throwing coolant out ? Normally have to take it on a run for that as opposed too just letting it idle.

I thought the expansion tank would over pressurise if the exhaust was venting into the coolant???

I would not be surprised if the over pressure was ejecting the coolant out the cap...

Since the EGR cooler is a new thing to me,I am going the check that out in the morning maybe disconnect the EGR altogether from the metal flexi-pipe and run it up to see if I get coolant coming out

Having said that, I am unsure how much pressure the exhaust gasses are at to bubble the expansion, it may not work the other way around..

Chummers said:

I thought the expansion tank would over pressurise if the exhaust was venting into the coolant???

I would not be surprised if the over pressure was ejecting the coolant out the cap...

Since the EGR cooler is a new thing to me,I am going the check that out in the morning maybe disconnect the EGR altogether from the metal flexi-pipe and run it up to see if I get coolant coming out

Having said that, I am unsure how much pressure the exhaust gasses are at to bubble the expansion, it may not work the other way around..

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You'd have to either blank it on the ex. manifold direct or block the flexi pipe from the manifold to the cooler somehow. (the bolts that hold the flexi pipe to the manifold will no doubt be rusted in so proceed with caution, as you won't want to snap those) !

Just to update for future : I changed the EGR cooler (it was not straight forward!) I a so please to say, no bubbles in the expansion tank!

You are right on the money Nodge68! (Don't you every get bored of being right )

Thank you all for your help and advice! It is appreciated so much.

Just need to change to coolant now as it was contaminated with soot.

I paid it forward yesterday by helping someone change their radiator, one good turn deserves another!

Take care!

Chummers said:

You are right on the money Nodge68! (Don't you every get bored of being right )

Click to expand...

I'm not right all the time, so no I don't get bored.

Chummers said:

Thank you all for your help and advice! It is appreciated so much.

Click to expand...

I'm glad I was right this time.