[FreddyF]

Hi everyone,

I've just got my first car. A 2001, Freelander 1 TD4.

To be honest, it's already showing problems after only four days of driving it. Up to 90km is fine, but as soon as I want to go faster, it moans and waits before it goes into higher gear. It also makes a loud noise.

Yesterday, it didn't shift at all, and I felt a loss of power. To my horror, I looked at the temperature gauge and saw it had jumped in the red (it was fine a couple of minutes earlier, before the shift issue). I put on my hazard lights and drove slowly until I could pull over.

I called my dad and he said the water had provably gone. I was nervous being on the side of a highway, so crawled a short distance down a side street.

I had in fact lost water, which was a surprise as it was fine the day before. I noticed I was outside a house and some kind lady let me refill the water.

After that, the temperature gauge stayed in the middle and I was able to make it home (five minute drive).

By the time I had got home, the water had gone again. I refilled it twice more until the line.

There is no white smoke or anything coming from the exhaust. However, the oil level seemed to be higher on the dipstick.

It's been over 24 hours, and the water is just a tiny bit below where it was last night. No sign of leaks.

My dad is convinced the head gasket has blown, but I've just read on old thread on here and everyone said HG failure on a TD4 is very rare.

We haven't had the chance to take it to a garage yet, was hoping for some opinions here as I don't want a garage to con us.

I should add that I am in Turkey and the temperature was around 35c when this happened.

Thanks in advance.

 

[kevstar]

Hi everyone,

I've just got my first car. A 2001, Freelander 1 TD4.

To be honest, it's already showing problems after only four days of driving it. Up to 90km is fine, but as soon as I want to go faster, it moans and waits before it goes into higher gear. It also makes a loud noise.

Yesterday, it didn't shift at all, and I felt a loss of power. To my horror, I looked at the temperature gauge and saw it had jumped in the red (it was fine a couple of minutes earlier, before the shift issue). I put on my hazard lights and drove slowly until I could pull over.

I called my dad and he said the water had provably gone. I was nervous being on the side of a highway, so crawled a short distance down a side street.

I had in fact lost water, which was a surprise as it was fine the day before. I noticed I was outside a house and some kind lady let me refill the water.

After that, the temperature gauge stayed in the middle and I was able to make it home (five minute drive).

By the time I had got home, the water had gone again. I refilled it twice more until the line.

There is no white smoke or anything coming from the exhaust. However, the oil level seemed to be higher on the dipstick.

It's been over 24 hours, and the water is just a tiny bit below where it was last night. No sign of leaks.

My dad is convinced the head gasket has blown, but I've just read on old thread on here and everyone said HG failure on a TD4 is very rare.

We haven't had the chance to take it to a garage yet, was hoping for some opinions here as I don't want a garage to con us.

I should add that I am in Turkey and the temperature was around 35c when this happened.

Thanks in advance.

Welcome to Lz pal.....my 3 words........ sniff test headgasket !!!
(technically 4 but your splitting hairs lol)
Google is your friend.

Cheers Kev

 

[Arctic2]

First check the tank for cracks or crazing, also check the cap, make sure there is red coolant in the car not just water, next check the hose going to the Y section on the head the seal can leak and you lose coolant.

1

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make sure there is no water in your oil

 

[FreddyF]

Welcome to Lz pal.....my 3 words........ sniff test headgasket !!!
(technically 4 but your splitting hairs lol)
Google is your friend.

Cheers Kev

Thanks, Kev!

Glad to be here.

Oooh I did a lot of googling but didn't see about a sniff test - will give it a go! Cheers

 

[FreddyF]

First check the tank for cracks or crazing, also check the cap, make sure there is red coolant in the car not just water, next check the hose going to the Y section on the head the seal can leak and you lose coolant.

1

2

3

make sure there is no water in your oil

Thank you, Arctic. I will follow these steps

 

[FreddyF]

I'm curious, has anyone really heard of the TD4 HG failing, and the whole engine being damaged to overheating? Is it likely I have damaged the full engine?

A thread on here from 2018 said it was rare this would happen, but it's 2025 now.

 

[Arctic2]

I'm curious, has anyone really heard of the TD4 HG failing, and the whole engine being damaged to overheating? Is it likely I have damaged the full engine?

A thread on here from 2018 said it was rare this would happen, but it's 2025 now.

never been known and that's including the Rover 75 M47 engine which is the same as the TD4 sometimes the oil cooler seals can fail and water can then get into the oil but that would show up as a cream on the oil cap way before all the water went into the sump

 

[FreddyF]

I've tried to explain what you all said to my father and said we should do our own checks first, based on the information I've received.

I've been disregarded yet again, and a recovery truck has just picked it up. No doubt they will say it's a big job and we will never know the truth.

Thank you all anyway.

 

[Freddie17]

 

[Alibro]

I've tried to explain what you all said to my father and said we should do our own checks first, based on the information I've received.

I've been disregarded yet again, and a recovery truck has just picked it up. No doubt they will say it's a big job and we will never know the truth.

Thank you all anyway.

So long as he's paying the bill just go with it.
It's easier that way.