Pardon my ignorance, lend some advice?

BYURover · Jul 11, 2007

When my wife and I were looking to buy our first car, she suggested to me Land Rover Discovery. I thought the car was .... well.... ugly. But after we found and test drove a few of them, I was hooked!

Anyway, we bought a (NAS) 1998 Land Rover Discovery I with 89k miles. Everything seems to be fine with it except some cosmetics which I repaired, and an oil leak.

My question is, where should I start on finding where the leak is originating? Are there typical problem spots I should check first? What price ranges (US$) might I be looking at to get it repaired?

One last thing. It came with only one set of keys. If I get another handset (most likely used), can I have the original, and the new one both callibrated/programmed to work on the car?

I really appreciate the advice! This car is simply amazing off-road. It destroyed both of my friends' cars (explorer and trailblazer)!

CharlesY · Jul 11, 2007

BYURover said:
Anyway, we bought a (NAS) 1998 Land Rover Discovery I with 89k miles. Everything seems to be fine with it except some cosmetics which I repaired, and an oil leak.

LandRovers leak oils! They all do it. You will see one of the listers has a note saying landRovers don't leak oil - they mark their territory!

Park it over a big sheet of clean paper and see where the oil drips land.

If the oil is filthy black and near to the front it is probably engine oil.
If the oil is further back - say just about the back edges of the front tyres (tires to you!) the oil could be from the main gearbox (auto and manual both use ATF, thin and red) or the transfer box (which uses a much thicker oil).

Both front and rear axles can also leak oil.

My question is, where should I start on finding where the leak is originating? Are there typical problem spots I should check first? What price ranges (US$) might I be looking at to get it repaired?

Unless the leak is serious- leave it be. But get the levels topped up NOW so you know NOW that all the levels are up to their proper marks. This is especially important for the main gearbox.

I really appreciate the advice! This car is simply amazing off-road. It destroyed both of my friends' cars (explorer and trailblazer)!

These are great cars. What model did you get, and what engine and transmission?

CharlesY

BYURover · Jul 11, 2007

I have a 4.0L V8, 1998 Disco I LE, Automatic transmission. 50th Anniversary edition. I have been able to notice that the leaks seem to start higher than the axel (so high I can't see where it starts from underneath).

discomania · Jul 11, 2007

I would get under it and have a look where its dripping from, look about the bellhousing, and around the sump or near the rocker cover(s), this gasket leaks and should be replaced in one of the services, sometimes it is overlooked. Simple fix if its this.

How much oil is it leaking, if its not a lot I would just leave it, most landrovers leak a bit of oil, its a built in chassis protection system.

CharlesY · Jul 11, 2007

At the front axle then?

Leaking engine oil cooler, gearbox oil cooler, crankshaft pulley oil seal, oil pipes, and things like that.

Sounds to me like a quick visit to a small local shop (we would say garage) is a good idea, because chances are this leak is not a LandRover special - it sounds like a fault that could occur in most any kind of car, and so any good shop should trace it and be able to fix it.

I suggest you do this soon in case an oil pipe / joint / cooler bursts and you wreck the engine or gearbox.

Parts for Landies cost many $$$$$$ your side, but check Paddocks and Craddocks over here! The post works fine westwards.

Good Luck! Let us know what the problem was when you find it.

CharlesY

Pardon my ignorance, lend some advice?

BYURover

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CharlesY

Well-Known Member

BYURover

New Member

discomania

Well-Known Member

CharlesY

Well-Known Member

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