Hi!
It's been a while, I think I was posting in the Defender section last time but I have a Disco 2 now.
So I have been having coolant leaks from the back of the engine, cracked coolant expansion tanks (3 of them) so I am pulling the heads after Christmas.
I will be doing ARP studs while I'm in there, new valve seals, I will send the heads to get cleaned and checked for straightness and I might send the injectors to get cleaned up.
Anything else I should expect? The truck has 130k miles.
I just did a compression check and here are the numbers:
Top number is after 8 compression cycles, bottom number is 10:
8:
130
140
7:
135
145
6:
125
130
5:
130
135
4:
135
140
3:
140
145
2:
130
135
1:
140
150


Spark plugs looked good, the only one that looked somewhat weird was cylinder no. 1 and had some white deposits. I can't uplo

 

Your compression seems low but even. I would expext values on the 160's for an engine with 130k, and greater differences between cylinders for a leaking gasket.
I wonder if the coolant in cyl 1 is coming from an intake runner somehow. I would get a cheap smartphone borescope and have a look in the cyls. Also remove v/c and check how much each rocker moves. I read the replacement coolant tanks are not as high quality as they were originally. Go ahead and do the head gasket upgrade for peace of mind, but plan for deeper problems (timing set, oil pump, cam, etc.) Good luck!

 

Definitely plan on an oil pump. Swap it even if it looks to be in prime shape.

 

I would do a completely new front cover with oil pump included.

 

God the worse plug on the planet a Bosch 2x or 4x Platinum Plug....

Yep new front cover certainly beats a rebuilt one (however the one I got actually had the oil pump gear installed backwards....) Mine was branded like PDI or something like that. I installed it and still had oil pressure issues. So onto lower bearings, and if that doesn't fix it I'll probably find a good 4.0L or 4.6L out of a P38 with SAI to drop into it. I could rebuild it from top to bottom, but I really just don't have the time or the place to do it properly right now.

 

Thanks for the inputs.
Is doing the oil pump and front cover a hard job? Are they known for having oil pump issues? My engine is not part of the VIN associated with the bad front covers but please let me know what you guys think about that?
You're right about the replacement coolant tanks, even those sold by LR. Those I have cracked are all genuine replaced on warranty and the dealer found out that it's worldwide... all D2 tanks they sell seem to come back shortly after cracked... thanks LR!!!
And as I have the worst plugs in the market, what should I put on there?
Cheers!
David

 

Forum preference seems to be NGK plugs. It's what I've run for the past 4 years in my Disco, and everything else before that.

All Rover visit have oil pump issues, Vin range or not. I include a new oil pump in my every 60k maintenence. If you're doing head gaskets, oil pump isn't that much more work.

For the cost of a front cover I kinda disagree about replacing if your pump was still in one piece. That said, if your pump was cracked definitely replace the cover.

 

The oil pump is normal wear item independent of the VIN issue and applies to all years, not just '03. As well oil pumps wear out the same whether its on a 4.0 or a 4.6.

 

So you would do those two kids on top of the head gaskets?
Timing chain replacement kit
Timing Chain Kit For Land Rovers And Range Rovers | Engine Parts
Oil pump gear kit
Oil Pump Gear Kit With Gaskets For Land Rover And Range Rover
Or is there a full cover I have to replace?

 

Yeah, definitely replace both on top of.

You don't need both full kits. Just the timing chain kit and an oil pump because the timing chain kit comes with all the gaskets you need.

FYI, lucky 8 has a forum member discount. They're also running a Christmas special on head gasket kits at $68 shipped, including bolts. Christmas special is website only. Forum discount is by phone only.