Annie, fill the coolant tank and take it to a mechanic for them to pressure test the cooling system. Have you noticed any puddles under the truck?

 

No puddles...that's the weird thing. But it has been draining like a fiend.

Is there any way to do a pressure test yourself? Please say yes! I'm so low on funds right now...who knows when the tax refund is coming in. Bah!

 

I would like to tell you you can do the pressure test yourself, and I'm sure you can, I just don't know how. A mechanic should only charge about a half hour of shop time to do a pressure test. If they know anything it shouldn't take any longer than that.

 

how quickly is it draining? If you are loosing a tank every weekd, and you are not seeing anything leaking out, it is going out your tail pipe. If this is the case, you are killing your engine.

 

UPDATE!

So..(hangs head in shame) I drove it home and went underneath the car to check. I am losing fluid. There is this round looking drum next to my drive shaft...the coolant is coming down on the right side of this drum, round thing (the passenger side is what I'm calling the right side).

And I'm looking a tank in a few hours. Filled up the coolant this morning to come to work and when I got back, the tank was empty (CRAP!!!!).

Needless to say, I walked back to work at the end of my lunch hour.
Irma is officially in the driveway and will be going up on a jack at the end of the day.

 

PM me your tele number and I'll call you on this issue.

 

Send me your tele number and I'll walk you thru this.

 

Definitely talk to Mike Annie, he's sitting snowed in and needs someone to talk to. Plus he can help with your problem. From the area you're describing I would bet you have either a blown head gasket or your valley gasket leaking. Let's hope it's the valley gasket.

 

I just managed to log back in...for some reason the site wasn't allowing me to get back on.

At any rate, I do want to use your services Mike, although I don't think it would do me any good right now. It appears that it is leaking behind the motor above the transmission. My S.O. is pretty sure it's a head gasket. While he is able to do the work, it appears as though he doesn't want to because of what it entails. He said I should take it to a mechanic because he is worried that it's a major job. From what I have been reading about the cost of such a repair, it'll take me at least two months to save up for this. I'm thoroughly screwed. I owe money on the car ($10,000 or something like that). I've realized that I was silly to think I could afford to upkeep my Disco. I was just about to buy everything for the 60K, including brake rotors and pads. Not to mention the shocks need to be replaced. I'm seriously facing having to trade it in, get upside down in my auto loan, and bank it as an expensive lesson.

A coworker mentioned that there is an auto recycle place that buys newer models in Flagstaff. I'm seriously sad that I might have to get rid of my Disco, I've only had it 6 months!

I'm rather upset...I didn't sleep very well last night.
How often do gaskets have to be replaced? If I come up with the money, is this something I'm going to have to do again in the next 50k?

 

Might want to call Mike anyway. With the hood popped, he can point you right where to look. It is possible that the throttle plate heater is leaking and dipping to the valley pan, then running out the back. $30 fix. Don't get upset yet. Not trying to discredit your SO's capabilities, there are little things to look for. You can get them done for around $1500.