TD5 Mysterious Coolant Leak?

Hey forum,

I've got a Discovery 2 TD5 and the coolant level indicator light came on at the weekend. I topped it up with around 1.5 litres of water and after a 30 odd mile trip, it had emptied the expansion tank again.

After starting it the following morning, I noticed a considerable amount of white smoke from the exhaust, however this only lasted for a couple of minutes whilst the engine was cold.

I used an RELD block test head gasket tester to see if my suspicions of a blown head gasket were correct, but the liquid remained blue and passed the test with flying colours.

I'm assuming the coolant is entering the combustion chamber which is why there is white smoke (steam?) on start-up, but why would it then pass a head gasket block test?

Could it be cracked head? Fuel cooler?...

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
GTR.

Hi, welcome to the asylum. Could be worth popping over to the 'introduce yourself' section . Has it got the 10P (EU2) or 15P (EU3)engine ? Someone must have added the coolant level sensor as these weren't std on D2's.

Haven't you already posted this in another thread, I remember replying to that one?

If it is a coolant leak and not an internal seepage. Have a look at the heater pipe that runs across the back of the engine, between the bulkhead.