A

AA99

Member
Hi All!

A newbie here but delighted to find lots of other Landy owners.

My Freelander (02 reg) was bought for me in 2004 by my beloved for Mothers Day! I loved the height, the electrically heated leather seats and the huge space for my huge dog and teenagers :p

Beloved is now an unemployed pensioner but I've hung on to him and the vehicle :p

Never really had any maor problems with it but lately have had to buy 4 new tyres for MOT purposes, and have a problem with, I think, the head gasket. First of all the coolant started with a slow leak, needed to fill it up once a week, then I needed to start checking the level daily, then I overfilled it and it stopped leaking. BUT since then we've been hiccupping in 2nd/3rd gear and after speaking to a 'man that can' on 2 occasions, have been told - water pump ? - and head gasket ?

Having trawled the internet this afternoon to find out the difference between a gasket and a head gasket, I came across the product Blue Devil.

The reviews on Amazon are outstanding but could it really be a cheap fix?
 
Could try some Radwell / or bars leak tbere is some other brands i forget the name., is ther any oil in the water or steam in the exhaust smoke?
Take to oil filler cap of and check the underside water/white scum, check what the oil looms like on the dip stick but Im sure someone on here will point you in the right direction to diagnose a head gasket fail tho..
 
The moment a K series engines fails to start, even if low on petrol, will have most people say the headgasket went.

They are a lot of places that can have coolant loss.

Do you have the 1.8 or the v6 2.5 ?

Depending on that answer will determine the next place to look at for coolant loss.

Do you want to do it yourself or you want information to give to a garage?


Head gasket additive are a hit and miss, and are absolutely horrible if not done properly (we are talking seized engine, clogged heater matrix etc etc)
 
Additives do work but are a temporary fix, if theres a prob it will come back.
Is the temp gauge at normal or is it higher?
When up to temp open the bonnet and take a careful look at all the hoses / water system for any drips.
Sometimes its as simple as a hose needing its clip tightening. :)
 
As many who have used stop leak products with success and satisfaction have had the stuff clog heater matrices, radiators and other wise done more harm than good. Be advised.
 
West Slope Rover said:
As many who have used stop leak products with success and satisfaction have had the stuff clog heater matrices, radiators and other wise done more harm than good. Be advised.
Click to expand...

This^^^^
Remember if the sealer doesn't work, the stuff needs to be cleaned out properly on top of any remedial work.

Personally I'd never use the stuff as it's a devil to remove once it's set solid in the header matrix!!
 
Thanks so much for all your quick responses! ;)

There doesn't seem to be a leak as such although when having put fresh anti freeze in, my son said he could see it clearly dripping out below! I thought I'd seen white smoke coming out of the exhaust but it was a very cold morning.... the temp gauge remains at medium, constant...... I did use Radwell a couple of months ago and seemed to work, but only for a couple of weeks.

I have the ES model 1796cc but sure it says V6 on the top of the engine.......
 
1796CC is the K4 engine not V6 if my memory is right. Can you open the hood and check? Any other markings? Can you put a picture of the engine compartment open ?
 
That's what I thought!!! I'm pretty sure I've seen V6 on the black plastic cover over the engine though!!! I shall indeed take a picture or two tomorrow to show you. I'm in 2 minds to cancel my MOT first? It's likely to fail on emissions now, isn't it? :frown:
 
Sounds like maybe you have a split coolant pipe if it drips out as you fill it.
Not uncommon as they get brittle with age.
See if someone can have a good feel around all of the water pipes, you'll soon notice if it starts gushing fluid when squeezed!

Worth trying, cos if it goes completely when you aren't expecting, you could dump all your coolant and then you will definitely be looking at a head gasket, and possibly new head!
 
Incidentally the 1.8 K series is definitely 1796cc.
If it was a V6 it would be 2497cc.
On the other hand, the V6 engine cover does say V6 on it - are you sure it's a 1796cc?
 
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sounds like the water pump to me ;)

get the timing belt, tensioner and tensioner bolt replaced at the same time.

don't replace the pensioner or the pensioners belt :p
 
K seal is the one i was trying to think off id give that a blast ive got some in mine and never looked back its prob the best..
Obv check hoses and obvious easy fixs first tho..

Also check the top half of the radiator mine was doing just that coming out of the rad about an inch down in the middle when filled which is why i put the k seal in 3 years ago and its not leaked since other than normal topups..

Where do you live ish mahbe one of us could take a look for you..
 
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never ever use sealer on a engine unless it is immediately emergency they just course so much trouble better find where the leek is and curing that
 
There not that bad ive used them on countless engines over the years and never had a single issue besides there designed to find the hole and plug it not just deposit anywhere in the engine i think its a chemical reaction when it finds the hole and mixes with the air and or temp chamge..

my first car had eggs milk quaker outs in the coolant to fix radiator leaks when i was on a serious low budget at 17yrs old the quakers is the one that fixed it made the water slightly thicker so couldnt escape through the tiny hole it did smell like breakfast tho.. :)
My old man was an old school deisel fitter/mechanic worked on lorrys tractors cars tanks you name it hes fixed it and knows all the tricks for the older engines..
 
Thank you all for your support and suggestions! I decided to play safe and let my 'man that can' have it for the last fortnight. His initial suspicion was correct, the seal on the water pump had perished and the consequent rust had caused a hole. It took 3 different orders for the pump however as there are apparently 3 slightly different ones!!! He also fitted a new cam belt.

The day before he was to receive my car, I thought the exhaust had fallen off while I was at the GP's surgery. It sounded like a jumbo jet when I started up!!! Got home but with everyone in the town turning to stare !!! Turns out it was the catalytic converter come away from the top end (I didn't know it was there!). He has welded that back on and supported it with a new bracket. So, all in all, fixed and running like new, all for £260 all in. Happy Mummy!!

I did take some photos beforehand which I will endeavour to upload, for your interest........
 

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