I have a very slow external head gasket leak on my 1998 V8 with 190k miles. It’s just a little coolant residue that builds up on the outside of the block over time. Do you disco experts have similar weeping or is this typical of a head gasket ready to blow? I don’t know when or if the head gasket was previously replaced. The vehicle drives great, holding a steady 190F.

 

It is pretty common. Some would leave their coolant reservoir cap loose by a turn or two. Eventually the HG will need to be replaced. Probably not urgent, but you should start to get your ducks in line.

 

Yep, what Walt said. I'm beating around the bushes with the same issue. For now, I'm driving with the coolant reservoir cap slightly off, so everything behaves normal, but I gathered all the gaskets and bolts for the head gasket job already...

 

FWIW, here is my recap of my recent HG job

https://landroverforums.com/forum/di...25/#post928034

 

I've been driving with the cap a little loose for yrs... LOL. I don't drive mine all that much so been kicking the can down the road on the HG's. This coming summer I think I'll change the HG's.

If your leak is external that's even better. But if a guy has a HG leaking *internally*, he should fix it right away as coolant can kill catalytic converters ....and then you have more expense/work ...or look at CEL's all the time.

 

Thanks for the advice, Walt, Ozark, and Mark. I’ve loosened the cap and will pick up an Atlantic British head gasket kit. I’ll aspirationally plan to do it when the weather warms up. Walt, your head gasket tip post was helpful.

 

Ha ha ...I like the use of the word "Aspirationally"... That's how I am on a lot of LR repairs...