"shamalama@dingdong" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:
[email protected]...
>
> >
> >Assuming it's a V8, I'd fear the worst for a cracked block behind a
cylinder
> >liner. The combustion gasses entering the water jacket will blow some
> >coolant out until the coolant level is below the heater pipes, hence no
> >heat. As the gasses pass through the system, the temp sender will
fluctuate
> >wildly indeed.
> >If it's a TD5, disregardd the above and consider head gasket.
> >Badger.
> >
> Ouch....that just scared the crap outa me! I hope not!
> I must say I've had to top up the expansion resevoir every month or so
> and occasionally smell coolant after a drive, none leaking though.
> I've also been noticing condensation on the inner windshield that
> seems to come from windshield heating vents. This is mostly when the
> weather is rainy though.
>
> Sigh.....
In that case, check very carefully around the coolant pipes entering the
heater matrix inside the car. This is a very common leak point for P38
rangerovers although I haven't came across it on a Disco II - yet!
If there is a need to top it up, then the coolant has to be going somewhere,
it can't just evaporate out of a sealed system, the problem is finding the
leak especially if it's a very small one as the hot coolant will tend to
dissapear as quick as it leaks out. The fact that you mention condensation
on the inside of the vehicle leads me to think more towards a leak around
the heater unit somewhere.
Doesn't explain the temp cycling issue though, that could indeed be down to
the thermostat. It's easy to change, no need to remove fan etc, it's at the
rear of the radiator fitted in the coolant hose just inboard of the battery,
a big off-white coloured plastic lump with (I think) 3 pipes connecting to
it. Junk the standard springy hose clips and fit the new one using decent
jubilee type clips.
Badger.