Oh no, what have I done now...

Hello all I'm obviusly new here...guess Im in search for more pain in my life...Just bought my first Landy, an MY 2004 Freelander. My wife told me she wanted an 4x4 and its a good-looke, I told her NEVER! a UK made car.

Anyway I do enjoy working with cars, and ...OK it was not so expensive...so why going for a Honda CR-V, the Freelander feels very good driving, and that the coolant in the expansion bottle is missing after 1h driving is just a SMALL problem...right??

If it is a 1.8 Petrol I would guess the chances are it's the head gasket

OK Ex RAC Patrolman.
Water leaks are a menace.
1/pull back the front carpets are they soakng ? (heater matrix).
CHECK the oil, is it black or a beige colour (oil mixed with water) oil OK then,
2/ Water topped in the expansion tank. try running the engine over a sheet of cardboard. Making sure it will not lift into the fan by placing weights on the corner.
After the water seems to disappear check the floor for water. Leaks showing then Engine off, allow to cool, using a weight (plumb bob) on string line up the leak from above and look for evidence of the leak.
3/ While the engine is running check the exhaust, is there loads of steam. (head+Gasket)
If the water is going then it's going somewhere. If your a member of a auto club call them out and most patrols carry head gasket testing kits. A blue fluid that changing colour with the presence of carbon monoxide.

WELCOME!

Wise words from the previous two posters.

I agree with PTK. If it is the 1.8 ltr K series, then it WILL BE, the head gasket. In my experience they tend to go about every 40, 000 miles or so.
A couple of things you can check are:
Refill the bottle and remove the cap, and rev the engine, sometimes you will see bubbles forming continuesly.
Or look in the bottle for a oily residue / or scum in or on the water.
If you dont see either of these get a compression tester and that will tell you.

I have rebuilt more of those dam engines than anyothers I have worked on. They used them in everything from Metros to MGs and they all have the same issue.
They are easy to work on but........ as the thermostat is housed below the inlet manifold, it can be an arse to get to so make sure you change it while the head is off.