I have a Disco II with 180,000 miles. has been serviced by an independent mechanic who works on rovers and BMWs and I've been happy with this team.
So truck overheated back in February when my son drove it one weekend. Ended up having to replace the thermostat and water pump. Pressure and road tested, all ran fine and has been running strong since this week. Wife was driving the truck and noticed temp gauge cliimbing and pulled to side of road, red warning light in temp gauge was also illuminated.
Shop has checked all hoses (they are fine), replaced fluid and did a pressure check on engine, but when driven just a short time truck immediately overheated. Mechanic thinks head gasket is gone and thinks it would be about $2,000 to replace it. I'm concerned about putting this amount in with the mileage. Overall, the truck has been running well until this. I did get the thrill of putting in a new transmission at 110,000 so the drive train is good and overall condition is too. I'm not a off-roader but do use the truck around our farm and for general daily driving.
Thoughts?

 

2 grand for a head gasket job seems a little stiff.

Has he 100% confirmed it's the HG again? Pressure testing, test for HC's in the coolant, etc?

 

You can do it yourself for about $300 in parts, $150 in machining and a couple weekends. Or be like me and do 1 hour a week and take forever. You might have to buy some specific tools if you don't have them already, like a torgue wrench 1/2" drive breaker bar and a set of 1/2" drive impact sockets and a wobbler extension. Maybe some others I can't think of right now, but nothing major.

There's a pretty useful thread on it here - https://landroverforums.com/forum/di...et-help-40470/

 

Immediate overheat is usually thermostat stuck or HG. There is a $50 chemcial test for exhaust gas in coolant, makes about 15 tests. Usually this will be accompanied by bubbles in coolant that make water pipe sounds under dash.

At your miles HG is suspect. Parts are $300, 12 hours shop time, plus machine shop ($200 minimum these days). Not uncommon to be $1700 - $2400.

 

Shop around for the head gasket replacement, $1500 is more of a fair price.
To prevent you from having to buy another transmission have the front driveshaft rebuilt, about $250.
What happens is the u-joints in the double cardon go bad and it breaks and then puts a hole in your transmission, this happens on every single DII unless the owner is proactive about it.
Needs to be done about every 50,000 miles.
Go ahead and have the head gaskets replaced, the engine has plenty of life left.

 

spike is correct the cost for a shop should be more around $1500, or $3-400 if you do it yourself.

 

If you are handy you an and a buddy can do the head gasket job for about $200 in parts. Sometimes the heads don't require machining and more than a few guys have just put new gaskets on and haven't had any problems.

When your truck was overheated, how long was it overheating and how long was the light illuminated for? It doesn't take long at all to warp those heads.

 

at 180k miles your heads need to be done.

 

At that mileage, and because it keeps reoccuring and the engine has been into the red once or twice, you will need to make sure a sleeve has not let go before going to far. If the sleeves are OK then plan on a complete valve job along with new wires and a radiator which if never replaced is blocked.
As per your mechanics suggestions and what he is looking at, I would say he is not the man to confirm or fix that engine.

 

So what you are saying is he needs to sell his truck for parts.
This guys not going to put that much money into his truck.
Re-read his original post, he doesn't even want to put $2000 into it let alone the $5,000 you are suggesting.
I wouldn't either, its worth maybe $3,000 running.