We have a 98 Disco with about 160k on it. Bought it 3 1/2 yrs ago with 88k on it at the time. At about 100k it needed a new radiator and some hoses. It was overheating like crazy. Got those fixed and then the head gasket went. Replaced heads and seals. Still some overheating due to more hoses needing replacement. Replaced them and then last year at around 130k both head gaskets went. Had heads planed and checked, replaced and everything ran fine for almost exactly 12 months. At this point completely out of the blue white smoke started pouring out of the exhaust. Barely got it home and then had it towed to our local mechanic. The latest from him is that the best thing to do is get a whole new block. It seems odd that the head gaskets would blow 3 times within 3 years. We're wondering if it's worth it to get a whole new engine or even if we need to? Any help is greatly appreciated. We truly have had a love hate relationship with our LR. Love the truck-hate the repairs. Just not sure where to go from here. Thanks for your help!!

 

They make 2-3 revisions of head gaskets, make sure you're getting the latest.
Beyond that, assuming the mechanic is first-rate, there's only a few things that will cause them to blow.

)Warp in head or block deck - easy to check with machinist straight edge. (less than 30 min. for decent mech.)
)Re-using the old head bolts (when they are torqued down new, they stretch by design. they won't restretch next time.)
)Improper torqueing, or see reusing head bolts above
)Any condition that causes overheating, including beating the bejesus out of it.- the all aluminum engine WILL warp & flex from undo heat.
) there's no magic, make sure your cooling system is first rate & the mechanic does a proper ***'y job -- these trucks can run easily to 250K except for the '03 DII with oil pump probs.

 

We did replace the bolts the second time through. So I'm guessing that it is in fact a warped block. We had quite a few days of trial and error back trying to figure out the overheating problem and wouldn't you know it had to be in the summer to make matters worse. I had heard that you can convert a chevy 350 to work in a disco. Do you happen to know where I could get some info on that?

 

Look for a used LR motor at http://www.roverlandparts.com/

 

If you want some help, call me and lets see what wasn't done right before. Normally, once the head gaskets are replace, right, they don't come back to haunt you.
303-862-7680
Colorado, any day before 8 pm

 

i well bet a pay check that the bolts were not torqued properly.