Constant Coolant System Headaches - Could they be a symptom of a larger issue?

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NorthernHippo

Member
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20
Location
Victoria BC Canada
My 2004 2.5L V6 Freelander SE had the water pump replaced in 2014. It would still drink coolant a little faster than I thought it should have after that, but it wasn't terrible. Then earlier this year I replaced my reservoir after a ton of micro cracks had it steaming up a storm. Then my new reservoir split at its seem in the middle not a week a later. I had that one replaced and also swapped out the cap. Now yesterday I had something else (yet to be diagnosed) in my coolant system explode in a heap of steam. I tried to pour a little more coolant in as the reservoir went dry immediately, but it poured (from somewhere?) out onto the street. It was raining cats and dogs yesterday so I couldn't identify where the leak was coming from.

But all this has me wondering... is my cooling system under too much pressure? Could these failures be symptoms of a larger problem?

Has anyone else experienced similar headaches?
 
The KV6 engine runs at around 100°C in normal use. Drive it up a hill and the temperature climbs towards 110°C. This puts the cooling system under pressure, which needs to be contained.
If the cooling system has run low on coolant, then the head gaskets are going to be damaged. The KV6 uses very thin and delicate HGs, which are easily damaged without coolant around the liners.
Also the thermostat assembly is made of plastic, and sealed to the block with O rings. It should be considered a 2 year service item, if leakage of coolant around the O rings is to be avoided.
So I think you're coolant loss was the thermostat O rings, which then damage the HGs as the coolant was replaced by air.
Unfortunately it's a common scenario with the KV6, when not treated to a fastidious maintenance routine.
 
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And I thought the K series1.8 engine was problematic. Have landrover ever managed to make a decent engine since the 2.25 of the old Series 3?

Col
 
that is because of the way the temperature is measured.... basically on the return from the radiator.

As MHM said. The coolant temperature is measured as the coolant returns to the block. So the engine can get much hotter than the gauge would indicate. However the gauge is calibrated to remain stable the centre of the scale, unless the coolant exceeds 115°C. It is very possible to damage the HGs, without the gauge climbing to the red.
More investigation is going to be needed.

And I thought the K series1.8 engine was problematic. Have landrover ever managed to make a decent engine since the 2.25 of the old Series 3?

Col

LR didn't actually make the engines fitted into LRs. They were borrowed and modified to suit the LR application as needed.;)
 
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