Hi

I have had a 1998 Discovery for about 5 years and it has been very reliable.

It started to become difficult to overtake on the motorway and generally lacked power. It ground to halt and AA took me to my lo a local specialist LR centre who I have always found excellent (not main dealer)

They replaced the head gasket and also had the head skimmed.

The improvement in performance was spectacular but not long after overheated close to red and noticed labouring as well. Switched off and got towed back by AA

Had water pump replaced and head checked but told everything OK.

Since then engine intermittently overheats sometimes after 20 miles and sometimes after 100 miles. When engine switched off and then switched on again immediately temperature has dropped. Looked on this site and saw a similar post which suggested temp sensor faulty so changed it. Problem still persists. Took it back to LR repair centre but they ran it and the problem didn't happen.

When temperature goes up heater still works but top hose is very firm and water in reservoir drops so cannot see it but when cap released level comes back up to normal. Does this point to head gasket gone again? Oil not milky but realise this doesn't mean a lot.

Would a faulty thermostat give this result. The repair place said they had checked it but I think they can be temperamental.

It has been very reliable and perfect bodywork (no rust) but is probably only worth 2K so if head gasket again may as well get another one as paid ca £1000 for last one. Scrap value ca £1K?

I would be very grateful for any thoughts or advice.

BW BobG

Drive it round in circles near the garage until it overheats, take it in, show them the problem and start thumping the table about them not fixing it after three attempts.

I agree get it there on the back of the AA truck next time! Was the thermostat changed when they changed the water pump or head gasket?

sounds like the head is cracked on exhaust side, allowing exhaust gas to pressurize system,
when the gasket was done was the head not pressure tested before re-assembly

Thanks for the info and comments much appreciated - BobG

johnlad said:

sounds like the head is cracked on exhaust side, allowing exhaust gas to pressurize system,
when the gasket was done was the head not pressure tested before re-assembly

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Always the optimist

D90mitch said:

Always the optimist

Click to expand...

the clue is where the op says top hose is solid, classic sign of crack in exhaust port, leaking pressure into coolant, more noticeable when driving hard ie, motorway speeds

Viscous fan been checked?

[quote start thumping the table about them not fixing it after three attempts.[/quote]


if the garage has had the vehicle and drove it about to get it to over heat and it hasn't then it will be very hard for them to diagnose the problem ,the same as sitting on the end of a PC trying to fix it

The Op dosnt say the garage has an attitude so going in banging tables wont do any one any good

the garage has no dout tested the coolant for exhaust gasses so you will probably end up with a thermostat ,fan and rad