Range Rover Classic HGF ???

After spending much time effort and money sorting New tyres, ABS pumps, steering box, exhaust etc... About £1200 spent since aquired in August, I was looking forward to a winter spring of getting some use out of the 90' V8.

However decided to give it a bit of a clean and change one of the headlamp units and bulbs for some brighter ones at the weekend no problem 40mins job.

I decided to check the coolant exp tank as I always do every weekend and plenty there nothing showing...
Checked the Oil Dip Stick and we have some coffee Mousse mayo on there.
Checked the Oil Filler Cap and some coffee mousse mayo on there as well.
Could not see anything anywhere else just dip and oil cap....

Not lost coolant at all since a flush out in Nov where we changed oils and coolant and other fluids we could do.

I have read some articles saying this and that about winter & oil temps not getting up on short journeys (which mine only does as only used weekends and 10-20 miles max in a journey).

I know there is no 100% way to diagnose HGF but apart from Coolant loss, mayo and the big bang if it goes big time is there anything else I can check to help diagnose HGF OR anything else it could be ?????

Mildly fed up now was hoping for a few months of just using it (while alway doing the basic checks)... As punishment I have decided to not let it have some shiny new paintwork done on the alloys (refurb) which have a few bits of flaking)... no treats while it mis behaves !

As you say, moisture can build up in the oil if you're only doing short journeys, so I would take it on a run, minimum one hour, to allow it to get up to temperature. However, V8's can overheat SUPER quickly, so you need to keep an eye on things and make sure your temperature gauge is accurate.

Failing that, whip the heads off and replace both head gaskets anyway - the gaskets themselves are not expensive and I understand it's not too big a job as long as no bolts are seized.

ashbash2403 said:

After spending much time effort and money sorting New tyres, ABS pumps, steering box, exhaust etc... About £1200 spent since aquired in August, I was looking forward to a winter spring of getting some use out of the 90' V8.

However decided to give it a bit of a clean and change one of the headlamp units and bulbs for some brighter ones at the weekend no problem 40mins job.

I decided to check the coolant exp tank as I always do every weekend and plenty there nothing showing...
Checked the Oil Dip Stick and we have some coffee Mousse mayo on there.
Checked the Oil Filler Cap and some coffee mousse mayo on there as well.
Could not see anything anywhere else just dip and oil cap....

Not lost coolant at all since a flush out in Nov where we changed oils and coolant and other fluids we could do.

I have read some articles saying this and that about winter & oil temps not getting up on short journeys (which mine only does as only used weekends and 10-20 miles max in a journey).

I know there is no 100% way to diagnose HGF but apart from Coolant loss, mayo and the big bang if it goes big time is there anything else I can check to help diagnose HGF OR anything else it could be ?????

Mildly fed up now was hoping for a few months of just using it (while alway doing the basic checks)... As punishment I have decided to not let it have some shiny new paintwork done on the alloys (refurb) which have a few bits of flaking)... no treats while it mis behaves !

Click to expand...

Carry out a compression check.....

If you find cylinders low on compression, dribble a spoon ful of oil into the cylinder via the plug hole and recheck, if the compression rises - it is a piston seal if it is the same it is possible head gasket or valve seats.

If there is low compression on two adjacent cylinders, more than likely a HGF bewtween the two cylinders.

As MikeV8 says, condensation can build up in short journeys so take it for a burn and see what happens.....

Mike,

I like these sort of 'eveyrthing will be ok' type responses from people who know more than me ! I will give it a run around the block (well M6 loop) for an hour at a nice pace, keeping an eye on the temp... with my Green Flag and plenty of top up coolant.

If I change the gaskets then eyed up the replacement kits from Rimmers (Tin).
I would have whatever I think worth changing changed while we were in there.

Saint.v8 / Mike,

Once I have taken it out I will post a few pics up on this thread showing what I can see... Thanks for quick responses. Its not the end of the world but as I have an MG ZT 1.8T which is just HGF in waiting was hoping the V8 to be bullet proof so long as I treated it nicely and looked after fluids.

ashbash2403 said:

Mike,

I like these sort of 'eveyrthing will be ok' type responses from people who know more than me ! I will give it a run around the block (well M6 loop) for an hour at a nice pace, keeping an eye on the temp... with my Green Flag and plenty of top up coolant.

If I change the gaskets then eyed up the replacement kits from Rimmers (Tin).
I would have whatever I think worth changing changed while we were in there.

Click to expand...

Whislt your in their and funds allow, change the Camshaft, followers and timing chain too....

You have to whip these out when you do the heads anyway so while your there....

I did this on my '88 Classic ages ago when the heads when on that, the difference was marked, the Cams on the Camshaft wear quite considerably, so don't open the valves as efficently...with a new cam (I fitted a OEM part, but you can get performance cams etc) the power difference and pick up was a marked difference.

Cheers... will do (if funds are allowed).
One other thing I noticed is when I open the Coolant Exp Tank slowly I get the hissing as normally followed by the gurgling/bubbling noise like letting air back in don't know if this is of any consequence, on my ZT I only get short burst of hissing.

ashbash2403 said:

Cheers... will do (if funds are allowed).
One other thing I noticed is when I open the Coolant Exp Tank slowly I get the hissing as normally followed by the gurgling/bubbling noise like letting air back in don't know if this is of any consequence, on my ZT I only get short burst of hissing.

Click to expand...

From cold I would expect a small hiss....

From warm or if you are careful enough you could get a burbling and hiss as the pressure releases and the water starts to boil....

But I must urge you to exercise extreme caution if you are to open the cap with a warm/hot engine....this can lead to injuries....

If you are getting a large pressure hiss when cold, I would suspect Head Gaskets or Liner problems.

ashbash2403 said:

Mike,

I like these sort of 'eveyrthing will be ok' type responses from people who know more than me !

Click to expand...

If only I did!! Haha! My knowledge is pretty much from here, but I had a similar issue on my first Classic when I bought it, but 2 hours down the m1 soon sorted it out.

I would say a steady 60mph, but as I say, keep an eye on that temp gauge. If it even looks like it's heading above half way turn the engine off and pull over. Also, as Saint rightly says, be careful removing any coolant caps on a hot engine - it's pressurised and if the steam doesn't get you the boiling water could!!

Going for a decent run in it hopefully tomorrow... No problem on the exp tank opening I am very careful around this hot or cold and take all precautions. Hoping it may be some old residue if this happened sometime in the past fingers crossed... if it is HGF or something else then will just get it sorted and back on the road.