Disco 1 Help Identify this leaking fluid

Hello all,

Discovery 1 v8 97 with Automatic gearbox and AC.

When I turn the engine on this fluid seems to be pouring out as you can see. After stopping there is a continual drip from the pipe as you can see. It is red in colour and fairly thick. It is leaking from what looks to be the radiator. It doesn't seem to be the same consistency as coolant though?

I have attempted to match up the leak location to the only diagram I can find that nearest matches the photos...
The photos are looking from the passenger wheel arch looking in.

The local garage do not think its worth spending any more money on. I don't really know what Im looking at just guessing so any help you can give is appreciated.

Many Thanks,

Auto transmission fluid

^^^^^
What he said!

Thanks guys!
What parts need replacing then? Or is there perhaps any way of patching up that hole?

Ta,

If its a hole in the radiator, which looking at that photo I can't be certain whether there is a hole in it or not, you'll need a new radiator.

it would have to be cooler pipe or pas pie a rad leak would be coolant or oil into coolant

Isnt the part in the photo the oil cooler? Sure, engine oil is generally black, but could this just be an engine oil leak directly after an oil change?

If you pull the dip stick, it is black, and not red, right?

Oops. Im mistaken - its not comming out of the cooler (?) but bouncing off it.

PAS fluid, i reckon.

Is it going down real quick? (little round reservoir on the 300, dont know about petrol cars...)

If the pipes are all the same, there's plenty of breaker discos about.

If you want a test, take the belt off, and the PAS pump wont spin. If that stops it, then thats the one.

(assuming autos dont have some other trickery going on - add autos to the things i dont know about!)

I did think it could be Power steering fluid though at the rate it's coming out - a good drizzle(to use the technical term) I would expect to see the fluid level in the reservoir going down. Is the leak from the radiator then? is that pipe a coolant pipe or something else? From the rest of the RAVE diagram it looks as if that pipe goes to the gearbox to cool it down.

Dune't matter were it comes from or were it goes it needs changing coss it's fooooooked !

Check all your fluids. One has to have gone down at the rate that's coming out. It looks like automatic transmission fluid, hydraulic fluid or power steering fluid. I have no concept of your truck but it's red and thick so can't be much else. How is the fan driven?

Hello,

Update for you lot. Its the pipe(gearbox oil cooler pipe) that is leaking not the radiator. Only a pin hole leak but because the system is pressurized it sprays right onto the bottom of the radiator. Anyone know any product that will seal the leak maybe some kind of plumbing product that will stop it leaking enough for it to go for an MOT?

Is it much work to replace the pipe? Might as well do it properly!! Especially if it's a pressurised pipe.

As above - replace the pipe - it's possible to fit a compression coupling to the pipe, but these are quite expensive IME, and a faff, - the new pipe is not that dear, and will solve the problem - I've used Br*tpart ones in the past, and they have been Ok. My preferred supplier is paddocks - the ones I have had from craddocks are too stiff IMHO.

Don't run your gearbox low of fluid - it won't do it any favours!

Macgyvers_penknife said:

The local garage do not think its worth spending any more money on.

Click to expand...

Strange attitude for a garage - Have they elaborated on why they think this? it might be good advice - or it might be they "have a mate" type of deal....

D1's rot for fun, and we have two of them, so I do know this a little too well ... I don't know any garages who can fix this rot properly.... some restorers maybe, but garages no chance - I hope your experience is somewhat different .....

I made the mistake of taking our disco to a different place for mot this year. I think they failed it from across the yard...

Usual chap realises that its a utility vehicle. This new place were bascally listing (on the advisories) everything that set it (a 20yr old vehicle) apart from new.

I dont know what its like in your area, but, down here, there are people on facebook breaking discos all the time.

Apologies all I feel like I should explain the situation better.... This disco I have acquired has been standing for some years in a garden as the previous owner left it there when it would no longer start. The inside is also a bit of a wreck as the sunroof(s) leaked(surprised?). This turned out to be the fuel pump which I replaced on a gamble(along with the corroded fuse) and the engire fired first time. Its got to decision point scrap it or keep going forward. To get an idea of costs now that the beast moves is to take it for an MOT (first in a long while). I'm not a tight arse and would pay for the the pipe I'd just rather not replace it and then have so many mot fail points that its uneconomical to pursue restoration. Cheers for the help so far. (Yes I already know im nuts thanks )

How far is the mot station? If it's not leaking badly take it as it is?

James Rogers said:

If it's not leaking badly take it as it is?

Click to expand...

Dunt take a a dam site to know it's FAILED it's MOT before it gets there !