Looking for a wee bit of help from some of the experts.
Was driving on the motorway in my 1997 disco (300tdi) when the temp gauge went into the red for a few seconds but then came back down again. It then started to make a "ticking" noise when i had my foot on the accelerator and I decided to get off the motorway as soon as possible. As I pulled over I put my foot on the clutch to change down gears and the engine died (tried bumping it there and then but wouldn't go) When I stopped and looked under the bonnet there was water sitting in the strut top (water had came out of the expansion tank but no hoses etc were leaking) and the engine was roasting! Got towed home and have yet to start to investigate as it's bucketing down today but the engine won't start (will move forward and back when in gear and key is turned) I refilled it with water and the radiator is filling up but when it's tried to start and the expansion tank cap is then taken off the water flies out as if it's blocked somewhere. Thinking a blocked pipe, radiator or thermostat could be the problem with the water not getting through but would've thought that the engine should start as it is cold now? Any ideas on how much or what damage may have been done? Love my Disco to bits and just sorted other problems on it (leaking sunroofs, electric window ecu needing soldered, ABS sensors) and now this, absolutely gutted!!! Any help would be much appreciated.

Welcome tam!

Looks like its blown a head gasket, sounds like it with the ticking noise you heard. If you turn it over you'll probly be able to hear it blowing (ticking).
If it has, it'll more than likely be at the rear of the engine.

S'not too drastic to change it, Providing it aint cracked the head due to the heat.

Just for the sake of clearing Tam Kite's mind .... there is NO solution other than taking the head off. It's a 99.9% bet that the head gasket is blown out.

But he says he stopped quite quickly ... and it isn't seized solid ..... so if he takes the head off, checks it carefully for cracks, then checks for flatness, he might get away with a head gasket job.

That is no big deal, but keep your fingers crossed it isn't cracked or warped.

CharlesY

Cheers for gettin back to me so quick fella's. Thought that may be the problem, checked oil level after it was towed back and dumped outside the house and it wasn't up any and didn't have any water in it by the look of it so I dismissed it, but seeing as you's know your sh*t about these engines I'm going with your diagnosis. Need to wait for a dry day to get the head off it as it's too heavy to try and push off the road up into the garage for shelter! Out of curiousity- Is the head easy to come off? I had to take the head off my diesel Vectra I had a few years ago and it was a pain in the arse, had to jack up one side to loosen bolts then drop it down and repeat that over and over and over to try and wangle it out!