S.O.S. Oil in Coolant Bottle (again) !

Hi Folks,

I'm a newbie to the site with a sick N reg Disco.

About three week ago I returned to the vehicle and noticed a large pool of what I though was oil on the ground under where the coolant bottle is. Popped the bonnet to see oil all over the engine. Removed the coolant bottle lid and more oil poured over the top. Long story short I had just replaced the rad with one a week previously. Removed the rad and pressure tested it and oil did come out of the small nipple on the water side.

Replaced the rad, flushed the system out several times over with rad flush in time for our annual trip to Billing. Had a great time at Billing (alot quieter this year) and got home in one piece. Just happened to check the coolant this after noon again and the bottle was full of oil again. The oil level in the engine had dropped again.

Anyone know what the underlying problem may be. I thought that if there was a crack in the cylinder head gasket the oil would bubble through the coolant bottle like a volcanoe. Ran the engine for five mins and just ran as normal with no engine overheat.

If it was a cracked cylinder head would I not lose compression and therefore power ?

Thanks in advance for any help you can give !

replaced rad with a new one ?

The first one was a new one which we pressure tested. That was then replaced with a second hand one sourced locally from a Landy breakers !

either a poor rad again or head gasket has gone around oil feed to head to water way ,

Ah . . . . . . and I'm guessing the that the only way to find out is to flush out and replace the rad again before going onto the head gasket.

If it is the head gasket will the head need to be skimmed ?

only if marked or more than 2 thou bent

Cheers . . . . . really appreciate the help. Will take head off on Sunday and replace the gasket and another rad and post results.

Thanks again mate !

Can you not pressure test the old-new radiator? If the pressure is still ok then it would suggest that it is the head?