CJ1

It is confirmed today that the head gasket has gone! Exhaust gases are getting into the coolant, but no oil or water mixing.

Heater worked before radiator was replaced. But also there was no thermostat in the engine either. And unfortunately the radiator was replaced while it wasn't being driven. The temp gauge has been going down and then all of a sudden starts going up quite fast. The water is then forced out of the expansion tank. I have stopped before the needle gets to the red. But am worried now in case I have done damage.

Just a quick question, is the viscous fans speed supposed to increase and decrease with the revs? As mine doesn't seem to change speed when the engine is revved up

Yeah, mine is the right way round with the bleed thing on top.

Cheers Fatboy. I will have a look tomorrow and you will have to let me know how much I need to send you. Cheers.

As for day and time, and I am very flexible so am happy to do a day that is convenient for anyone who is able and willing to attend.

Sorry I forgot to say what it is. 1996 Land Rover Discovery 2.5TDi Automatic 5 door. This list isn't all 100% confirmed as yet, although a majority of it is stuff that is needed. Rear Propshaft Inner Bearing Needs Replacing as mobile mechanic left it partially damaged trying to remove it before he gave up and put it back on. I have now bought a blow torch to assist this job. Rocker Gasket Severely leaking at the rear. Knocking noise when driving. It has been confirmed that the prop shaft and the drive shafts are not at fault. Possibly Head Gasket. (This is not confirmed yet) If not head gasket the cooling system needs bleeding. Brakes Pads need changing. Transfer Box isn't engaging into low ratio but is fine in hi ratio. Someone who knows about these cars to go over it please and give me a list of what is needed. There are a load of little jobs that I will be tackling myself. And I am phoning my local garage Monday to see how soon they can look at it to tell me if my head gasket has gone or if the coolant system needs bleeding. I have lots of tools and an air compressor with impact gun with some sockets, mallet hammers etc...

Oh, ok. How do I do that then? Start a new Topic in the international forum?

I don't understand how it being in the international forum would help as I am asking for some people to come over to my house and help.

As far as I am aware the transponder is in the remote, so you should be able to get a key cut cheaply. Most key cutters have scanners to tell you if your key has a chip in it and will check for free

I will see how I feel tomorrow and how the weather is. I might try the trick where you blow into the expansion tank to bleed up to the thermostat on the heater matrix pipes. Just to confirm, is one of the heater matrix pipes the one that does directly into the top of the engine passing from the left to the middle by the rear rocker cover bolt?

Does this mean I need to drain the entire system and start again? As I would be tempted to fill the heater matrix directly through one of the pipes and then fill the rest of the system afterwards. Is it worth me getting another thermostat to be on the safe side?

It was Concentrate. And no fluctuation in the heating. It is cold all the time. Never gets warm at all.

At the moment it has roughly 50/50 mix of Anti Freeze and Water. I would never put just water in a coolant system. The Antifreeze can be diluted to 1 part coolant and 3 parts water.

I would love if possible to organise a spanner day, I am in desperate need of help and can't afford to keep going to a garage, I am disabled and really am in a remote location for where I am. If I supply Tea, Coffee, Cold Drinks, Bacon Sandwiches etc... Would some members be up for coming to me in Rye, East Sussex and help me with my car please? I wouldn't expect just my car to be worked on either. If anyone is up for this please let me know. I would really appreciate it. Cheers.

Yes the top radiator hose and radiator were hot when the engine was hot.

My new fan belt had ATF spilt on it when the mobile mechanic was topping the gearbox oil up, I am wondering if the belt is slipping. I agree totally about the thermostat, but at the same time I haven't had the water pump replaced, it was supposedly done by the guy I got it from. So it may well need a new water pump. I have gone as far as I physically can with the car, I have made myself very ill today and am now unable to walk at all despite all the medication. So Monday, I am going to have to pay a garage to diagnose it for me. I was hoping that bleeding the system would solve it.. Thank you for all your help though. I will right on here exactly what it was that is found to be at fault. I am looking to get the car into a garage Monday or Tuesday if I am lucky.

Is the water pump run on the Cambelt or Fanbelt?

No bubbles at all.

Only smoke when it's running is a tiny but of black smoke, and I mean tiny, otherwise it doesn't smoke at all. I will pop out and do what you said Landy-Novice and see if there is any bubbles and come back with the results.

Thermostat checked, I have bled the system thoroughly, the car is still over heating. I think it is safe to say the head gasket has failed.

The thermostat is brand new, but I suppose it could be faulty. I may have an air lock. I really need it to not be the head gasket.

After a week and half of my 1996 2.5 TDi Automatic Discovery being off the road due to gearbox oil problems I finally got my Discovery back on the road and in use. While it was parked up it had a new radiator and pipes fitted along with a new thermostat. I test drove it when it was first fitted when we thought we had solved the gearbox problem and the temperature gauge went up to 3 quarters and dropped back down to half way. Today I drove 6 miles and wasn't watching the temperature gauge (stupidly I know), and as I was pulling into a parking space I noticed my temperature gauge was literally 1mm or less below the red marker. So I turned the engine straight off and found that the water had pressurised in the expansion tank. I waited half an hour before starting the 6 mile journey home, At first if the revs stayed below 1500rpm and the speed was 30 or lower the temperature stayed at half way, then as soon as I picked speed up the temperature gauge shot up. It did this twice. Both times I stopped before the gauge read above the top white line. After that I tried going slow and it made no difference anymore, I had to stop 1 more time and wait a few minutes and then got it home. What could this be? My other half and I are spending the afternoon servicing it anyway, so would like to try and sort this out. There is no signs of water mixing with the oil. Cheers

Has it passed?

Thank you. I am far from confident enough or able to do a full rebuild.