p gasket on 300tdi - ???

hi all

got a coolant leak on me n plate 300tdi defender: been advised it's the 'p gasket' - which is shaped like a 'P' :doh:. having had a look on e-bay, there's a fair few of them about - but they dont look anything like i thought they would on mine, i assumed the p gasket was the one that mates the thermostat housing to the enigine block - right behind the waterpump. this one is a four hole square job and in no way similiar to the actual gasket.

so my question is: where does the p gasket, the actual p shaped one, actually live?

any ideas? or have i just got an odd one??

it should live on the right hand side of the engine, looking from the front...

its a hell of a job just to change the P gasket...most people I know just keep an eye on the coolant and keep toping up...and get it done at the same time as the cambelt

hmm it clearly isn't the thing i'm thinking it is..

so is it a case of getting the waterpump off???

[i've been topping the coolant off for years, it's doing me head in now!]

hell of a job:confused2:
it took me about 2 1/2hrs, out the back of my garage, in the cold and wet:violin::violin:. the worst bit was refilling the cooling system, it took forever to get all the air out.
but it was worth it, no more f*****g about every time I want to go anywhere, wondering if I'm gonna blow the head gasket this time - now that IS a hell of a job

just to answer you question, yes its water pump off, follow the excellent instructions elsewhere on here, and Robert is indeed your Dads brother.

ps you might as well change the water pump as well at the same time then you wont have to mess for a reet long time