Freelander TD4 loosing coolant

Im wondering if anyone can help me, im looking at a friends 2003 Landrover Freelander Kalahari TD4 5 door and i have to top the coolant up at least once a week, i can see no visable signs of where i can be loosing it from and the engine never overheats, any ideas would be appreciated.

could be leaking heater matrix check the passenger footwell carpet near the centre consol see if its damp also check header tank near the cap look for small cracks hope this helps

Checked hoses ? core/frost plugs ?

Yes i have the same motor and the same problem. But i can't find any leaks or puddles under the car ?
Andy

Have you had the cap tested? Pretty much every old one I test doesn't stand up to the rated pressure, which means it slowly boils off the coolant. They're only a few quid new and if you don't have a tester and there are no obvious leaks, an the cap is old, I'd throw a new cap on.

Alternatively, pressure test the cooling system.

grenadierguardsman said:

Yes i have the same motor and the same problem. But i can't find any leaks or puddles under the car ?
Andy

Click to expand...

I had the same problem in two different places. One was a leaking heater matrix top hose, the second was a join near the small coolant return pipe. Both times I found them by unscrewing the coolant reservoir cap and blowing into it to pressurise the system.

After spitting the taste of coolant for a few mintues, I then discovered that a Gunson brake pressure bleeder will fit on the reservoir - pressurise to 14 psi and inspect the entire system with a torch.

If no joy, throw on a new cap as 4x4 dog says.

I'll do that, thanks.
Andy

I give the blowing method ago to, as ours drops now and then with no oblivious signs of any leaks or cracks around the header tank.

Word of warning about caps - the one on my Disco was shot, so got a new replacement - and that turned out to be even worse! Really even new ones should be tested before being relied on.

The bottle empties on my L Series every now and then - can last for ages OK, then goes and will keep going until for no reason it starts holding again.

The footwell on my passenger side is damp - but it doesn't seem to coincide with the water dropping. I think its the replacement windscreen not sealed 100%.

At least that's what I tell myself - truth is it is probably the matrix leaking but I can't be arsed to pull the whole dash out and then end up with loads of loose bits and rattles after I put it back together again! plus of course, its not my feet getting wet

I've just this minute changed the Coolant reservoir cap, i'll see what that does. Thanks.
Andy

have a good look at the metal pipe that runs around the back of the engine from the thermostat housing

Will do, i haven't seen any puddles or signs of water leaking any where. Foot wells are both dry also.
Thanks Andy

A very small head gasket leak into one of the cylinders possibly.

Coolant reservoir cap seems to have done the trick. Thanks 4x4Dog.
Andy

Glad to here you got it sorted grenadierguardsman ,its nice when it turns out to be something simple.

Cheers tyrefitter, just a few other things i'd like to do to the motor.
Andy