Lets play guess the fault!!

LESTD5 said:

Evening guys I've a 99 Disco TD5 auto, 125k coming up.... I've read numerous threads on here before writing this but there's so many possibilities! The only answer i have at the minute is a cup of V-Power and a match....

The car looses coolant slowly, i keep an eye on it and top it up. But there are never any puddles underneath the car once parked up... It also drives fine with plenty of power. Here's my findings;

-doesn't overheat, gauge indicates just getting warm and takes a good while to get to normal operating temp.
-no exhaust smoke, perhaps alittle dusty on start up as any diesel.
-no mayo in the oil filer cap (usual head gaskit symptom)
-no dis-colouration of the coolant.
-no raise in oil level, if anthing this is dropping due to rocker cover gaskit probibly knackerd:mad2:
-There can sometimes be a gurggle heard on start up from the bulk head area and with the heater in the full hot position. Or when driving and it going up the revs then it goes.
I've re-bled the system until fluid comes out of the bleed screw on the top hose no bubbles present, tightend it back up..

Further info
- The thermostat is sticking open which is the reason why it takes so long to get up to temp.
- There is pink flecks around the water pump as if something has escaped from it and stained the surrounding area- only a small amount.

These are both up for renewal along with the fan belt and the rocker cover gaskit if there is no major surgery to do on the block.....

From what i've read a sniff test or pressure test would be the way forward. But what if the pressure test is the final nail in coffin and properly buggers it up! Also the dreaded dowls, the cheap nasty plastic that should never even be considered in engineering an engine.....

Anyone currently playing the same roulette game as me? Plan B is just to stop all other leaks and run it into the ground through the winter....

Then go buy an MX5 for daily run about as this Disco has been a proper ball ache....Thanks for reading and any similar experiences pls share!!!

Click to expand...

LESTD5 said:

Evening guys I've a 99 Disco TD5 auto, 125k coming up.... I've read numerous threads on here before writing this but there's so many possibilities! The only answer i have at the minute is a cup of V-Power and a match....

The car looses coolant slowly, i keep an eye on it and top it up. But there are never any puddles underneath the car once parked up... It also drives fine with plenty of power. Here's my findings;

-doesn't overheat, gauge indicates just getting warm and takes a good while to get to normal operating temp.
-no exhaust smoke, perhaps alittle dusty on start up as any diesel.
-no mayo in the oil filer cap (usual head gaskit symptom)
-no dis-colouration of the coolant.
-no raise in oil level, if anthing this is dropping due to rocker cover gaskit probibly knackerd:mad2:
-There can sometimes be a gurggle heard on start up from the bulk head area and with the heater in the full hot position. Or when driving and it going up the revs then it goes.
I've re-bled the system until fluid comes out of the bleed screw on the top hose no bubbles present, tightend it back up..

Further info
- The thermostat is sticking open which is the reason why it takes so long to get up to temp.
- There is pink flecks around the water pump as if something has escaped from it and stained the surrounding area- only a small amount.

These are both up for renewal along with the fan belt and the rocker cover gaskit if there is no major surgery to do on the block.....

From what i've read a sniff test or pressure test would be the way forward. But what if the pressure test is the final nail in coffin and properly buggers it up! Also the dreaded dowls, the cheap nasty plastic that should never even be considered in engineering an engine.....

Anyone currently playing the same roulette game as me? Plan B is just to stop all other leaks and run it into the ground through the winter....

Then go buy an MX5 for daily run about as this Disco has been a proper ball ache....Thanks for reading and any similar experiences pls share!!!

Click to expand...

johnlad said:

there is a drain on the water pump, to allow water to escape if the seal breaks down, as you have pink round there and i assume red coolant, i would suggest you replace water pump and seal and go from there,
also its rare for oil and water to mix on a failed td5 head gasket usually goes on the exhaust side

Click to expand...

Grit Valve said:

Looks like you've already fount if if there is pink antifreeze around the water pump start looking there is might only leak when really hot or when cooling down clean area and recheck .

Click to expand...

ironhorse said:

Could it be a pressure leak, perhaps a pipe with a pin prick hole that would not show until the engine pressurises enough to push the water out. I search for engine leaks with an ex flash/fabreeze bottle refilled with a mix of water and fairy liquid soon shows up a leak. I had a Mussolini’s revenge engine some years ago, for those who don’t know this name a VM diesel engine with the four separate heads, it had burst between two pots but with only the smallest crack which could not be picked up until the engine was stripped. So it can be difficult to find all leaks.

Click to expand...

LESTD5 said:

Evening guys I've a 99 Disco TD5 auto, 125k coming up.... I've read numerous threads on here before writing this but there's so many possibilities! The only answer i have at the minute is a cup of V-Power and a match....

The car looses coolant slowly, i keep an eye on it and top it up. But there are never any puddles underneath the car once parked up... It also drives fine with plenty of power. Here's my findings;

-doesn't overheat, gauge indicates just getting warm and takes a good while to get to normal operating temp.
-no exhaust smoke, perhaps alittle dusty on start up as any diesel.
-no mayo in the oil filer cap (usual head gaskit symptom)
-no dis-colouration of the coolant.
-no raise in oil level, if anthing this is dropping due to rocker cover gaskit probibly knackerd:mad2:
-There can sometimes be a gurggle heard on start up from the bulk head area and with the heater in the full hot position. Or when driving and it going up the revs then it goes.
I've re-bled the system until fluid comes out of the bleed screw on the top hose no bubbles present, tightend it back up..

Further info
- The thermostat is sticking open which is the reason why it takes so long to get up to temp.
- There is pink flecks around the water pump as if something has escaped from it and stained the surrounding area- only a small amount.

These are both up for renewal along with the fan belt and the rocker cover gaskit if there is no major surgery to do on the block.....

From what i've read a sniff test or pressure test would be the way forward. But what if the pressure test is the final nail in coffin and properly buggers it up! Also the dreaded dowls, the cheap nasty plastic that should never even be considered in engineering an engine.....

Anyone currently playing the same roulette game as me? Plan B is just to stop all other leaks and run it into the ground through the winter....

Then go buy an MX5 for daily run about as this Disco has been a proper ball ache....Thanks for reading and any similar experiences pls share!!!

Click to expand...

noiseboymart said:

May be a daft suggestion but could it be leaking from the heater matrix inside the car hence no puddles.You did say it was gurgling on start up from bulkhead area prob this near where pipes go through ?

Click to expand...

landyboots said:

I had the same trouble with mine. Found a leak at water pump. Changed the water pump. Still leaked intermittently after warm up. Found traces of pink stuff in other places too. ****ed off so threw a bottle of radweld into cooling system and hasn't leaked since.......Worth a shot. It's good stuff, even if leak is at heater matrix as suggested, it will do a job on that too.....

Click to expand...