range rover 3.9 overheating

Fatbloke31 · Jun 10, 2009

Hi i have just brought a1989 range rover 3.9 efi it is overheating i have just done the head gasket on it and it is still overheating i have taken thermostat out and it is still overheating and pressurising can any one help

gavbriggs · Jun 10, 2009

sounds like slipped liner(s) common fault on these engines! do a hydrocarbon test, also if its lpg turn lpg off at the tank and see if it still happens!

Irishrover · Jun 11, 2009

99% sure it's as Gav says.
Happens on 3.9's onwards. Same thing happened to a Vogue I owned a few years ago. Replaced the head gaskets twice in a week before accepting that I had to fit a new short engine....sorry for the bad (And expensive) news. I wouldn't bother with second hand engines or fixes out of a bottle as your a) buying an unknown quantity and b) only providing, if your lucky, a short term fix.
Machining the block to fit "Top Hat" liners will cost as much as a new short engine.
Slipped liner/porous block syndrome only occurs on 3.9, 4.0 & 4.6, V8's.
There is info on RPI's website about it and a load of stuff on here if you do a search on the forum.

Irishrover · Jun 11, 2009

Forgot to add...remove the spark plugs and look for one with a "Washed" appearance. Are you losing water?, are the rocker covers "Milky" inside or is there water in the sump, is it pumping steam out of the exhaust like a train?

A hydrocarbon sniff test in the coolant header tank will also give a good indication.

nathan5346 · Jun 11, 2009

how do symtoms differ fron the slipped linners and the porous block?

gemsdad · Jun 11, 2009

nathan5346 said:
how do symtoms differ fron the slipped linners and the porous block?

from what i can remember not a lot,

nathan5346 · Jun 11, 2009

gemsdad said:
from what i can remember not a lot,

theres a product on fleabay thast some folk have rated very highly for the porous block... cant think wot its called off hand

SpudH · Jun 11, 2009

Just before you go down the engine route check your fan blade.
The pre-serpentine and diesel fans spin the opposite direction to serpentine belt ones and so are pitched in the opposite direction. Fitting one of these will result in overheating at low speeds on a 3.9 as the fan will be blowing out through the rad instead of sucking air in.
Had this happen to me, I took off the fan and it hasn't overheated since. The fans look the same so its an easy enough mistake to make and I've heard of it happening to someone else as well.

Irishrover · Jun 11, 2009

AsGemsfather says, they both give all the symptoms of a blown head gasket but a porous block is more likely to leak coolant down into the sump to mix with the oil.
You are thinking probably of Ironite.
Ask yourself this if using an out of the bottle fix.."You have to do an emergency 300mile round trip. Would you feel 100% confident that you would have a hassle free journey????"

Irishrover · Jun 11, 2009

I'm assuming that it's the original fan but the VC could be dodgy admittedly.

nathan5346 · Jun 11, 2009

Irishrover said:
AsGemsfather says, they both give all the symptoms of a blown head gasket but a porous block is more likely to leak coolant down into the sump to mix with the oil.
You are thinking probably of Ironite.
Ask yourself this if using an out of the bottle fix.."You have to do an emergency 300mile round trip. Would you feel 100% confident that you would have a hassle free journey????"

ironite thats the one, ive read good things about it and me personally would try it 1st rarther than go down the big bucks route but fair comment on the big trip comment

gavbriggs · Jun 11, 2009

Irishrover said:
AsGemsfather says, they both give all the symptoms of a blown head gasket but a porous block is more likely to leak coolant down into the sump to mix with the oil.
You are thinking probably of Ironite.
Ask yourself this if using an out of the bottle fix.."You have to do an emergency 300mile round trip. Would you feel 100% confident that you would have a hassle free journey????"

its a p38, would you honestly set out on any journey and be 100% sure your starting and ending point will be anywhere near each other:doh::doh::doh::doh::doh:

Irishrover said:
I'm assuming that it's the original fan but the VC could be dodgy admittedly.

would that cause pressure, how much pressure is the OP talking about. mine had bubbles going into the coolant tank at the bottom connection!

j the range · Jun 11, 2009

gav do you know anybody that is 100% going anywhere in a p38 lol

range rover 3.9 overheating

Fatbloke31

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gavbriggs

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Irishrover

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Irishrover

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nathan5346

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gemsdad

NOT BOTHERED.

nathan5346

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SpudH

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Irishrover

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Irishrover

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nathan5346

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gavbriggs

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j the range

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