I am looking for any info on early head gasket failure on Discos. Mine is a 2004 SE with 45,000 miles. About 60 days after the warranty expires (isn't it always the case) I get a smell of coolant. I bring it to the dealer (thinking I am still under warranty) and find out that I have a weeping head gasket, or at least that is what they said. My coolant levels have not dropped, I am not running hot and there is no coolant in the engine oil that I can see.

The dealer told me $3,500, as they wanted to plane the heads and replace the valves. My initial response was that there is no need to do valves and heads on a truck with 45,000 miles, and that the head gasket shouldn't be going that soon either. It seems that I am out of luck with them (and vice-versa for that matter) and I will be going elsewhere to get this done (too much wrenching for my skills).

My questions are:

1) Does anyone else know if this is a big issue with Discos? Does this seem oddly early for a 4 year old truck with 45,000 miles?

2) I have read in a few forums that Discos commonly have an issue with an intake manifold gasket leak and not the head gasket and this is a common misdiagnosis. Does this sound plausible and how would I check?

I am sure I can get the head gasket done for under $1,500 by a local mechanic, but before I go down that path and call someone I want to know if this is a bigger issue that I can go to war with Land Rover with and how do I be sure that they made the right call.

Pat

 

PM me with your telew number and a good time for me to call you, they are ripping you off.

 

Thanks Mike - I just sent you my phone. I knew that they were trying to sell me something I couldn't possibly need.

 

Yes blown head gaskets are a problem with DII's. LR recommends that you flush your cooling system every 36months or 45,000 miles, whichever is sooner.
Why when they use a 150,000 mile coolant?
Because DexCool is corrosive. It is "enviromentally" safe, therefore it buys them CAFE credits, same for GM whos cars suffer from blown intake manifold gaskets. GM changed their gasket material and the problem in the new cars stopped, after a class action lawsuit of course.
I used to sell coolant and EVERY mechanic I talked to said the same thing, even the GM Goodrich mechanics at the GM dealers, dont use DexCool, ever. It will eat gaskets.
And you cannot mix DexCool with any other coolant either, it will turn to a un-pumpable goo.
You probally just havea leaking valley pan gasket.

 

If the head gasket were leaking coolant the cooling system would probably be pressurized by the combustion process. If you are losing coolant and/or power I would blame a blown head gasket. Another option could be to have the heads re-torqued. That may help keep the leak from becoming a larger issue. Either way, I would wait until there is more evidence for such a serious problem before spending such a serious amount of money.

Cheers,

Pete

 

I agree with Pete, get a second opinion. Dont tell them what the stealer said, just tell them that you think you have a coolant leak.

 

Thanks for all the advice, and for Mike's extra input. Anyone who goes to Colorado should buy Mike a beer!

I have about 4 places to now check, and I think I will do a bit of tightening as well. Then I will blast the area with some brake clean and see if anything gets gooey.

FYI - I live by the beach and I have some interesting experience with sand and the rear door latch (which I need to clean every 3-6 months). Anyone have a suggestion where I should post my advice on cleaning and maintenance of the rear door latch? It might help some others.

 

Just start a thread with your latch maintenance as a subject, and share.