Newbie With a Question!

Hi All! Firstly, just registered as my wife has now had her 99 Freelander 1 around 3 months now.

I actually work at LR in solihull working on the new Ranger Rover 405.

Anyway quick question, not sure what they are called..side steps? the metal foot runner either side of the car anyway! they are filthy, anyone got any tips on how to clean them?

The freelander is the 1.8 k series and has an uprated head gasket..its started to loose coolant but as theres no mayo in the oil and no wet passenger footwell, im putting it down to the weather!! (fingers crossed) keeping my eye on it anyway. It's a great car though, we both love it, I dont think it is underpowered at all and it was great in the recent snow!

Thanks all.
Ed

:welcome:

There is a purefication process that would get the steps very, very clean

blue beasty said:

:welcome:

There is a purefication process that would get the steps very, very clean

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hiya! thanks for the quick reply. I'll do a search on that then, i have looked around already but couldn't find anything..

Inlet manifold gaskets are known to leak coolant

welcome

Nodge68 said:

Inlet manifold gaskets are known to leak coolant

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thanks, is that as bad as the head gasket? sorry not mechanically minded, i only screw them together!

ftoed said:

thanks, is that as bad as the head gasket? sorry not mechanically minded, i only screw them together!

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Nope is an easy 30 minute job for someone who has done a few

:welcome2: to the forum

thanks for the info and the welcomes!

Yes inlet manifold gasket is a 20min job only seven bolts . They are very prone to leaking, for the price you can't go wrong with replacing it .

blue beasty said:

:welcome:

There is a purefication process that would get the steps very, very clean

Click to expand...

You try it on yours first and report back - ashes me thinks

:welcome2:
Also check the header tank for fine cracks around the top - it could be losing vapour that way - you would have a constant coolant smell while the engine is hot.

Brack said:

:welcome2:
Also check the header tank for fine cracks around the top - it could be losing vapour that way - you would have a constant coolant smell while the engine is hot.

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thanks, dont think its that , well cant smell any coolant anyway but ill take a look!

blue beasty said:

:welcome:

There is a purefication process that would get the steps very, very clean

Click to expand...

You naughty, naughty boy!

How much coolant is it losing?

Most likely it's the bottle (reservoir) as Brack said.
Otherwise it could be a slightly leaking radiator or (more commonly) a hose.
The hoses become brittle over time and sometimes split.
Might be worth having a feel around, but do it when your at home, or at least when you've got some pipe repair tape handy!
It happened to me and when I pulled them around a bit the hose split completely, but luckilly I was near the local dealer and the parts dept was open.

expansion tanks are prone to leaking, either from a weak cap or fine cracks in the tank itself.

inlet manifold gasket is easily changeable in fifteen minutes whilst you have it open knock out the small jiggle valve.

bukko said:

How much coolant is it losing?

Most likely it's the bottle (reservoir) as Brack said.
Otherwise it could be a slightly leaking radiator or (more commonly) a hose.
The hoses become brittle over time and sometimes split.
Might be worth having a feel around, but do it when your at home, or at least when you've got some pipe repair tape handy!
It happened to me and when I pulled them around a bit the hose split completely, but luckilly I was near the local dealer and the parts dept was open.

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thanks for the info, its only lossing a bit, going down to just under the min level after ive topped it up to just under the max level, maybe after 2 weeks, ill take a look over the hoses.

Daft question...where the rad cap, would it be easier to fill straight to the rad? Am i being blind or does it not have one?!

thanks

Freelaner said:

expansion tanks are prone to leaking, either from a weak cap or fine cracks in the tank itself.

inlet manifold gasket is easily changeable in fifteen minutes whilst you have it open knock out the small jiggle valve.

Click to expand...

thanks for the info!

ftoed said:

thanks for the info, its only lossing a bit, going down to just under the min level after ive topped it up to just under the max level, maybe after 2 weeks, ill take a look over the hoses.

Daft question...where the rad cap, would it be easier to fill straight to the rad? Am i being blind or does it not have one?!

thanks

Click to expand...

It doesn't have a rad cap on the rad itself as the rad is lower than other parts of the cooling system. There is a pressure cap on the expansion tank that doubles as a filler cap