Lately my disco's been over heating when going up hills and the like. The automatic shifter heats up, smoke pours through the heater vents and through the hood. When I pull over a fair around of coolant leaks unto the ground usually on the front passenger side. Not sure if its a hose or the radiator that's leaking. Any suggestions?



Haven't found the leak but here's where the smoke is coming from.

 

Warm her up and leave her running while you look for leaks.

 

These radiators are sometimes plastic top and bottoms pressed to an aluminum core other times aluminum on aluminum. Between the press is a thin rubber gasket, often times the gaskets can fail. More likely is the expansion which causes the crimped aluminum nub to allow a leak. You can remove the radiator and visually check the seating of the plastic to the aluminum core. I have successfully fixxed a few leaks by gently reseating the crimped nubs . Use a small hammer and a flat end piece of brass drift. That is a pretty serious leak, I would not drive it again until it is fixxed. Most radiator repair shops can repair these radiators with ease. Good luck and sorry for your lady. You have some definite corrosion issues going on. Use some Boiled Linseed oil mixxed with Rustoleum 30x70 mix. Cover all your corrosion to control it. You can even just use straight Linseed oil if you want a clear shiney finnish. Anyways it will help prevent the corrosion from eating away at your undercarriage and bolts.

 

Not so much my white robed, helmet wearing friend.

That is an original rad. no plastic there at all... unless you count the crap-O fill plug.

Shadow - you mentioned that the leak is coming from the passenger side yet all pics are from the drivers side???

I bet you have a leak between the side tank and the core / fins. That is a common leak point on these. When I say side tank I am talking about the radiator side tanks where your cooler lines run in and out....one on each side... not the overflow tank over on the passenger side by the battery. It can be repaired easily but I bet the rest of the rad is clogged all to Hell due to age and the condition

you need a replacement.

 

Cosmo is correct that it is an original brass and copper radiator. My 97 D1 with 172K needed tlc, a nearby indy small rad shop boiled/flushed it out and rodded out and soldered two leaks for $65. I carried it to him. Try to find a shop that works on farm gear, their stuff is so big he will think yours is a baby. While at it, be sure the tranny side and the oil cooler sides don't have any restrictions.

 

So I guess you have decided to keep it and not trade for a luxo-euro to fix up?

That corrosion would concern me. If you keep driving it with it overheating and smoking, the engine will soon be toast. Remember they are aluminum and do not withstand much overheating.

I would park it and yank that rad out for further evaluation.

 

My apologies I ment the drivers side. So should I replace the entire radiator?