Land Rover Discovery 3.9 V8 leaking!

Hi guys,
my beloved Disco 1 has sprung a leak from somewhere currently unknown, I topped it up before going to the Barbury horse trials on Friday and it's now over halfway down between the 2 lines on the dipstick. Leaks alot more after it's been driven and even though it's uncommon for Land Rovers not to leak a bit, I must say the amount of fluid it loses after being parked up after a drive is concerning and climbing under to find alot of the lower components with a healthy coat of oil covered grime.

Have any of you had the same experience and if so what was it that went on yours. I'm based in Devizes and will need to drive it up to my new job on a farm in Cambridge next Sunday so I'd quite like to get it sorted asap.

Thank you
Ollie

It could be anything from the valley gasket to the sump gasket including anything in between. Is it just losing oil externally or are you burning it as well?

To find a leak there's no easy option other than to clean all the oily grime off the engine and then see where it's leaking from when you run it.

It's just leaking, no smell of burning oil when I drive it and I've been driving it alot from the round town slog to some fast paced stuff on big roads. Will aim to powerwash the gunk off it tomorrow and have a mate who's going to come over and try to help me locate the source.

I know I need to put these new powersteering hoses in as the others had a slight leak but this is definitely not them, it's engine oil, I'm hoping it's not going to be too expensive to fix as I've got a few other things to address such as the exhaust which has lost it's silencer box and I also need to work out what the phantom sqeaking is (sounds like its coming front left, comes and goes, sounds stronger when going round bends)

As you can see, I have my work cut out for me this coming week!

Dont I know it lol Its one bloody thing after the next...
Id hazard a guess and say the Phantom squeeking is your breaks lol
Ive just had mine in and hes had the calliper apart and thinks its because it has the wrong size pad on it, its too big, causing the squeeking as it changes pitch and frequency depending on what Im doing eg; cornering...Getting the right sized one next week.
I also just bought myself a brand new exhaust on ebay for 40 squids... bargin!! thats the back section silencer and the clamp...If you want the link its here;
LAND ROVER DISCOVERY 3.9i V8 93- 98 New Exhaust Rear Back Box Tail Pipe SILENCER | eBay

Pretty much next day delivery too! Recommended! I think I drive the same as you so it should fit yours but theyll check that for you with your reg
Came today!!

Yeah I drive a 1996 Land Rover discovery with the 3.9 V8 which I'm happy with as a first car. Took it up to the Barbury horse trials the other day, rear seats folded up, cushions, pillows and a double duvet. Sorted! It was so funny watching people trying to do the same with their Citroen C1s etc haha.

Yeah, I did see that link for ebay, think I might buy one of those and get a mate to help me fit it but have been busy with this oil leak and the squeak....oh dear god it just ruins the sound the engine makes....it's like a cartoon when the bicycle gets broken and rides off with oblong wheels. I'm not an emotional person, but good grief does that horrendous sound bring me close to tears! Oh yeah, almost forgot, need to swap out the power steering hoses as they're leaking too. Luckily I got a new set in the back of the car...oh yeah but the back door needs the spring for the catch replacing (which I have) and then the speakers, handle and doorcard built back in! Finally, the large chrome ball in the driver's side front wheel (mind's gone blank as to it's name) yeah well that had alot of grease on it and when I cleaned it away BOOM there was some corrosion to the surface with black flecks so I suppose that'll need swapping out and then of course there could be the brakes.

As you say, one thing after the other I just hope I can get it all sorted as I do love the car. This being said, I was hoping to win that Defender 110 that featured in the Land Rover magazine or, failing this get an ex-MOD 110 as they were the machines I fell in love with as a child.

Still though, my Disco 1 is pretty fantastic and I love it to bits.

I'll post some pics tomorrow of the horrors!

Right, new info. When the car is not hot there is barely any leaking but when it's hot it leaks alot. There is a very faint smell of burnt oil (at least that's what I think it is) when I get out after a good, long drive.

agree, with the other poster. have the engine steam cleaned, and that way its should be much clearer where the leak is coming from. otherwise its all guess work.
i have replaced rocker cover and sump gaskets before, which did help on my engine, though it was never as bad as you describe, but those two are quite common fails.

Oil leak - as said could be so many things. check most obvious ones first: loose oil filter, front crank seal, loose oil pressure switch, leaking rear crank seal (look for oil around bell housing or flex plate if auto).

Squeaky noise, I would say check front prop UJ's, if they are dry and worn they will make a noise like you describe. HTH

Wiggy91 said:

Hi guys,
my beloved Disco 1 has sprung a leak from somewhere currently unknown, I topped it up before going to the Barbury horse trials on Friday and it's now over halfway down between the 2 lines on the dipstick. Leaks alot more after it's been driven and even though it's uncommon for Land Rovers not to leak a bit, I must say the amount of fluid it loses after being parked up after a drive is concerning and climbing under to find alot of the lower components with a healthy coat of oil covered grime.

Have any of you had the same experience and if so what was it that went on yours. I'm based in Devizes and will need to drive it up to my new job on a farm in Cambridge next Sunday so I'd quite like to get it sorted asap.

Thank you
Ollie

Click to expand...

So you are experiencing the patented LR anti-rust system in its most aggressive form are you? Ok - jokes aside - start with the obvious things like oil-cooler hoses and sump gasket (both are notorious leakers especially the sump - the factory cork gasket always was a complete joke). You may even have something as silly as an incorrectly installed oil-filter. The amount you are leaking would suggest a coupling joint into the engine front-cover or something like that. The worst thing would be a blown rear-seal because then you have to pull the motor to get at that. Good luck on your leak search!