Just finished the arduous task of disassembling the top half of my '99 Disco II to replace the head gaskets and putting it back together.

Time to put the fluids in. I use a water hose and fill the coolant reservoir. I notice a leak happening at the lower connection with on the new low temp TD5 thermostat I installed. I remove the hose, replace the old clamp with a new one and then reinstall. Now the thermostat doesn't leak any more but the coolant lines also don't fill past the thermostat. I can see it halfway fill but no luck after that. Any ideas? My local land rover mechanic is off on his 3 day weekend...

 

I was a VW technician but we used a tool called an airlift I swear by it for any coolant flushes or filling application.

Have you checked the routing of the hoses and thermostat?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vwUHkee-ovw

Found a video of the tool we'd use. Doubles as a pressure tester.

 

Do you have the bleed screw out ?

 

Dont think there is a designated bleeder screw.

 

Yes, there is, on the stock system. In the top of the "T" by the radiator.

 

Yes. Wondering if I may have a faulty thermostat.. It's brand new from Atlantic British.

 

Ok. Went to test the radiator flow. Removed the upper hose and water came out. Stuck my finger inside and radiator is defintely full. So water has made it almost up to the bleeder valve but not quite.

Could be a leveling issue? My bleeder valve sits at almost the same height as my reservoir.

 

You could top it up through the bleeder hole, when the engine is cold of course... could be an air pocket in there not letting it fill. The Bleeder hole should be the highest point in the system. Higher than your tank. Air will migrate there.

 

The engine is definitely cold. This will be the first time starting it up since I replaced the heads earlier this week.

 

Are you following the RAVE procedure for filling and bleeding the cooling system? Releasing and raising the coolant reservoir so the bottom of it is above the bleed screw? Opening the bleed screw and filling from the reservoir until coolant flows from the bleed screw opening?

The RAVE procedure has never failed me. No need to raise the front of the truck. No need to stand on one leg while whistling the theme from The Andy Griffith Show. Ni need to wear a tin hat. No need to fill from the bleed screw.