Water usage Disco 2 TD5

Hi, I have a 2000 series 2 Disco TD5 since I bought it the vehicle has been using water 300kms /200cc it appears to be blowing by the cap, I have changed that, still the same. Even when the vehicle has cooled down there is still pressure in the radiator, I am getting to the point of taking the head off, any other suggestions?

Is the engine staying at normal temp and what is it reading underload?

Any milky goo in the filler cap?

What colour is the water?

I'd go through flushing the radiator out and replacing the coolant before ripping the head off if it's keeping it temp and not showing signs of emulsifiying.

When you say pressure, do you mean loads or a little?

Springbok said:

Hi, I have a 2000 series 2 Disco TD5 since I bought it the vehicle has been using water 300kms /200cc it appears to be blowing by the cap, I have changed that, still the same. Even when the vehicle has cooled down there is still pressure in the radiator, I am getting to the point of taking the head off, any other suggestions?

Click to expand...

Early Td5's were fitted with plastic dowels in the cylinder block, these are not upto the job and the cylinder head moves on the block causing the head gasket to fail, normally they will blow the coolant out of the header tank, sorry but you're going to have to take the head off, when its off, have a look at the dowels and you'll see they will be distorted.

Thanks Little Dude and Clutchdust.

There is no problem with tempreture and there is no milky oil but the pressure I would say is quite high considering that it stands over night and still has pressure in the morning. it looks like head off . but what a vehicle!!!

Springbok

Hi Clutchdust,

Tell me more about the plastic dowels and what replaces them or will it happen again?

ta! Springbok

hi springbok,
i also have this, i lose about a header tank in about 300 miles, there is no gunk in the header tank, no water in the oil, no apparent leaks, but i also noticed there was a noise when i undid the cap yesterday, my thoughts are that it maybe is not pressure, as the pressure cap should release this, i am thinking it might be vacuum, and the noise is the hiss going in

thoughts
voith

Springbok said:

Hi Clutchdust,

Tell me more about the plastic dowels and what replaces them or will it happen again?

ta! Springbok

Click to expand...

the dowels are what locates the head on the block in the right place before fitting the bolts, on early engines they were plastic, you wouldn't think it considering how tight the head bolts are but the head actually moves on the block, in some cases ive seen the head move so far that the valves have ground a dent like shape in the top of the bores, usually cyls 3 4 5 are the worse with 1 & 2 with small marks, this is ok so dont worry if you see it, i rang lr tech and they say its fine.

When the head is off, take the dowels out of the block and have a look, you'll see they will be distorted where the head has moved, you MUST renew them even if there is no or slight damage, when I've ordered them in the past, i've found that they are sometimes metal and sometimes plastic, why they are not all metal is beyond me but see if your dealer will try and get the matal ones and the problem wont re-occour.

I have refitted plastic ones in the past and never had a vehicle back but its best to get the matal ones

Also there are 3 different thickness head gaskets, they are mared by holes on the right front of the gasket, either 1,2 or 3 holes.

voith driver said:

hi springbok,
i also have this, i lose about a header tank in about 300 miles, there is no gunk in the header tank, no water in the oil, no apparent leaks, but i also noticed there was a noise when i undid the cap yesterday, my thoughts are that it maybe is not pressure, as the pressure cap should release this, i am thinking it might be vacuum, and the noise is the hiss going in

thoughts
voith

Click to expand...

Yours is more than likely the same, when they go they never mix oil & water and sometimes they dont overheat (only when all the water is gone)

Easiest way to tell is when the engine is cold and no pressure in the cooling system, start the engine and run it for about 1 min, turn it off then see how much pressure is in the header tank by loosening the cap, there should be none or very very little.

If there's a fair bit then the head needs to come off.

Best way to test though is with a combustion leak tester, the dye will turn green.

What happens is, the head moves and breaks the seal to allow combustion gasses to get in the water jacket, this will over pressurise the cooling system, throwing the coolant out.

Hi mine had exactly the same symptoms, it ended up being a cracked head and a repair bill for 2 grand not very nice but got a complete head with new injectors, these alone are £600 each so do your sums and you'll find its worth putting a complete head on at the end of the day. At least now I know where I am with my engine as I had the bottom end checked out while it was in having the work done.

Ian

Sqwirral said:

Hi mine had exactly the same symptoms, it ended up being a cracked head and a repair bill for 2 grand not very nice but got a complete head with new injectors, these alone are £600 each so do your sums and you'll find its worth putting a complete head on at the end of the day. At least now I know where I am with my engine as I had the bottom end checked out while it was in having the work done.

Ian

Click to expand...

You must have been one of the unlucky ones, its very rare for a td5 head to crack and when they do they normally fill the sump with diesel rather than have cooling system problems

Thanks eveyone for your imputs.

As a last ditch attempt I put some wynns stop leak after about a week it stopped using water although I still get a hissing noise when I open the radiator even when cold. I am going to try starting the motor for about a minute to see if there is compression pressure, once again thanks guys.

Ray

hi clutchdust,
thanks for the info, i will investigate and see whats happening
regards
voith

Hi to Everyone who posted replies,

This is an update on my water usage , I fixed the problem by doing a 45 deg turn on the head bolts in the correct sequence I now no longer use any water.

Thanks everyone for thier contributions

Ray

Springbok said:

Hi to Everyone who posted replies,

This is an update on my water usage , I fixed the problem by doing a 45 deg turn on the head bolts in the correct sequence I now no longer use any water.

Thanks everyone for thier contributions

Ray

Click to expand...

You must have been really swinging on that bar!!! the head bolts are stupidly tight as it is.

If it uses water again, i would strongly suggest you change the gasket and dowels