The disco had been running fine but had a coolant leak (for some time). Noticed the hoses needed to be replaced (badly) so I took it to a local shop to have them do the radiator and hoses. After this was done fluid has been coming out of the relief valve after highway driving. Took it back to the shop, Cerrone's European which have been very upfront and honest, they tested it and found coolant in the exhaust, as expected.
The question is if the engine has never overheat what are the chances it is just the gaskets which need to be done VS The liner having slipped. They think both are a possibility? If the liner has slipped the repair (new engine) is out of my price range which would leave me with new head gaskets on a shot engine. Is it worth a $4,000 gamble to find out? They would also replace the plugs and wires for that price. Thanks for your input.
Cheers,
John


2000
Disco II
114,000

 

Coolant could get to exhaust from an HG leak or a valley pan (intake) leak in certain circumstances. $4,000 seems a mite high for HG, usually about $200 - $300 in parts (include new bolts), plus $200 for machine shop work to mill heads back to the .002 inch flatness spec. Most shops budget 12 - 15 hours. So it is common to see this work in the $1300 - $1700 price range at an indy shop.

Did they tell you what sort of test they did for the coolant exam? Liquid (condensation) can and does form in exhaust pipe. Now there is a chemical test where you warm up the truck and take a sample of the coolant and mix in a device with a special chemical, this detects the "opposite" - that you have exhaust gas in the coolant, which is a pretty sure sign of head gasket leak.

Based on their "high side estimate" you might want to perform this test yourself, or have a second opinuion from another shop. I know the holiday bills will be hitting the credit cards this month.... see Amazon.com: UVIEW 560000 Combustion Leak Tester: Automotive, also available at many auto parts stores.

IMHO if it had small loss of coolant before, but none of this "boil out the coolant reserve tank" and no signs of overheating.... one would wonder about perhaps there being a mistake like routing the fan belt wrong when they put it back together. Did they replace the radiator or just flush it out? If existing radiator was "sorta flushed" and original coolant was Dexcool (orange), the result of adding new coolant of another brand could be sludge formation, reducing cooling capacity of radiator. Pix of Dexcool sludge.

One of those Ultra Gauges or a scanner can tell you the exact temp, not just the gauge indication. Before picking up a wrench you would want to be sure you have good coolant, enough of it, air purged from system, etc. Any running water noises under dash from bubbles in the coolant? If not, that is a good sign.

Now it will sound like I am bad-mouthing your mechanic. Nope, he did the job. But mistakes do happen. And at $4K for a HG job, you wonder about motivation.

In a D2 the slipped liner is many times associated with a ticking sound. But slipped liner kill the engine is less common. Now you could have a cracked block behind the slipped liner, gross overheat happening, steam blasting into the coolant container, etc. But I would want more info before jumping on the bandwagon. Seems like you would have seen a lot more of this if you had marginal hoses and a clogged radiator...

Could also be a defective thermostat, or one that was re-plumbed incorrectly. If truck can drive around on local streets and not over heat, and just have heat problem at freeway speed, well that could be a number of things besides HG. However, if you keep driving with it doing that it will easily turn into an HG problem.

When you say over heat on highway, where was gauge pointer, how long had you been driving, did warning light come on? And coolant level, how much was lost? We have had members who tried to refill coolant after repair work, and hose from bottom of coolant overflow tank was twisted, and they did not get the full quantity in there.

Attached photos of dexcool sludge inside a radiator, a thermostat with clogged metering holes (gunk break loose from all the flush and work), Ultra Gauge, belt route, and direction of coolant flow in the D2.

 

Thank you for your reply:
For the test they told me that the car was taken to a smog station and that they sensed coolant in the exhaust. I should have looked at the belt routing before I took it back into them, that did not even cross my mind.
They completely replaced the radiator as well as the water pump and thermostat.
There is the "running water" noise under the dash (the 2 times I drove it). I bled the system of air and refilled the coolant before driving it back over to them but by the time I was at the shop the running water noise was back. After driving for about 30 miles to the shop the coolant was coming out of the relief valve at a slow but constant trickle. There is usually very little left in the expansion tank by the time the truck has cooled the next morning.
The temperature on the dash has never gone above the middle of the gauge.
I do hear a ticking sound when it starts cold but only very slight and that has been there for about 30,000 miles.

Their theory is with the new radiator which does not have a leak the pressure cannot escape through the leak so it is building up and coming out the expansion tank. He said he does not know if its from a slipped liner or from the head gasket and will not be %100 sure until the head gaskets have been replaced. His worry is that if it is a slipped liner I will have to completely replace the engine or the same thing will continue to happen. Thank you for your time, I do not know much about working on land rovers but have learned a lot from this forum and appreciate every-ones expertise.
Cheers,
John

 

IMHO in addition to belt route check, perhaps your own or an indy shop chemical test, and maybe doing yourself or having done a coolant pressure test. The auto parts stores will rent or loan the tester, you pump up the air pressure inside the cooling system to 18 - 20 PSI and wait about 30 minutes. Leaks may show on outside or from a hose. If leaking that much coolant, and it is not in your parking area, it may well be in the oil. Looking on the stick won't do it. But you or a mechanic can drain the oil into a pan, and look at green coolant or milky spots (oil mixed with coolant). An oil drain and re-fill won't fix your problem, but may point you at stopping use of the vehicle while it can still be repaired.

A head gasket venting combustion gas (exhaust) into the coolant will almost always make a significant heat spike, as the exhaust temp is very high compared to the 190 - 220 F of the coolant water. So it makes radiator hoses rock hard, it makes coolant steam and swosh into the coolant reserve container, etc. Using a scanner will tell you if you have exact temp changes, the gauge is vague.

You would also want to replace the coolant overflow container cap, if it was bad it could be leading you down the wrong path.

The thermostat could be bad, even though just replaced. There was a bad run by some factory, and we have had other posts about a new stat that just was not opening up correctly. A thermostat can make overheat, but it can't make coolant dissappear unless leaking.

 

take your truck and go someplace else for $4000 the guy should be replacing the motor and then some.
Head gasket are $2500 @ a dealer,$1500 dollar @ a indy, less than $500 if you do it yourself.
$4000 would buy you another 2000 Disco in quite a few markets these days.
JMHO

 

So how much did Tony quote you for head gaskets?
If you have no coolant in your crank case and the engine has never been over heated then you most likely don't have a sleeve issue.

 

Here is the final quote from the shop including prices for everything that needs to be done. I am just concerned that it is more than the vehicle is worth!
Cheers,
John

Cerrone's European Estimate #0006610
2306 El Camino Real
Redwood City, CA 94063 Date :1/4/12
650-365-4145 Page :1
BAR# AJ149476 EPA# CAL000089473 Center : 1
Customer : REXROTH, JOHN 2000 LAND DISCOVERY 2
Address : 2275 GROVE WAY #6 175-RZZ P/D : 4 /00
City : CASTRO VALLEY, CA 94546- SALTY1543YA278851
( 970 ) 443-3670 Ext : 4.0 AUTO
( 510 ) - Ext : In 116077 Out Colr : GOLD
Quan Part Number Price
Op Tech Description
Part Description
Subtotal
Vehicle :
License :
VIN :
Mileage :
Engine : Trans :
Labor Parts
Reason for Replacement
:
:
Home
Work
*E0006610*
EN 0 03 VEHICLE BROUGHT BACK IN AND CLIENT SAYS COOLANT COMING OUT OF EXPANSION TANK. 1740.00 964.60 2704.60
PERFORMED COOLANT PRESSURE TEST, NO LEAKS FOUND. PERFORM HYDRO CARBON TESTS 0.00
ON COOLING SYSTEM AND READINGS ARE VERY HIGH WHICH CONFIRMS BLOWN HEADGASKET O 0.00
BAD ENGINE LINER CONDITION. ESTIMATE FOR REPLACEMENT OF HEADGASKETS AND MACHI
WORK. ALL OTHER GASKETS,AND HARDWARE NEEDED IS INCLUDED IN THIS ESTIMATE.
1.00 LKJ 500020 Intake Manifold Gask 51.93
2.00 LVC 100260 Valve Cover Gasket R 64.76
16.00 ERR 1782 Valve Stem Seal 38.24
14.00 ERR 2943 Cylinder Head Bolt 6 56.28
6.00 ERR 2944 Cylinder Head Bolt 9 33.48
2.00 ERR 7283 Intake Manifold Gask 22.12
4.00 ERR 7370 Valve Cover Screw 11.56
4.00 ERR 7371 Valve Cover Screw 11.56
1.00 DRB1232 RIGHT STUFF 41.75
8.00 4418 BOSCH +4 PLUGS 68.08
6.00 11 62 1 711 954 Exhaust Nut 3.18
6.00 LR0 09704 Exhaust Stud 19.62
6.50 5W30 5W30 MOTOR OIL 32.50
6.50 OIL DISPOSAL 4.88
1.00 ERR3340 OIL FILTER 14.54
1.00 213961L OIL DRAIN SEAL 1.44
1.00 CO1 COOLANT 21.95
1.00 80242 MAGNECORE WIRE SET 174.50
OK Bad Recommendation OK Bad Recommendation OK Bad Recommendation
ALL REPAIRS CARRY 1 YEAR OR 15,000 MILE WARRANTY, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. Labor : $2,220.00
CERRONE'S EUROPEAN IS ONLY LIABLE FOR SPECIFIC ITEMS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. Parts : $959.72
PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT ALL WARRANTY REPAIRS HAVE TO BE REPAIRED AT CERRONE'S Sublet : $0.00
EUROPEAN AS WE DO NOT REIMBURSE FOR WARRANTY ITEMS NOT BROUGHT TO OUR $4.88
ATTENTION. ALL OUR OTHER WARRANTY TERMS AND INFORMATION IS LISTED ON REVERSE
Other Fees :
$0.00
Subtotal : $3,184.60
Sales Tax : $79.18
Total : $3,263.78
X_________________________________________________ ____________________________
SIDE OF INVOICE. THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING CERRONE'S EUROPEAN FOR YOUR REPAIRS.
Estimate Only
Cerrone's European Estimate #0006610
2306 El Camino Real
Redwood City, CA 94063 Date :1/4/12
650-365-4145 Page :2
BAR# AJ149476 EPA# CAL000089473 Center : 1
Customer : REXROTH, JOHN 2000 LAND DISCOVERY 2
Address : 2275 GROVE WAY #6 175-RZZ P/D : 4 /00
City : CASTRO VALLEY, CA 94546- SALTY1543YA278851
( 970 ) 443-3670 Ext : 4.0 AUTO
( 510 ) - Ext : In 116077 Out Colr : GOLD
Quan Part Number Price
Op Tech Description
Part Description
Subtotal
Vehicle :
License :
VIN :
Mileage :
Engine : Trans :
Labor Parts
Reason for Replacement
:
:
Home
Work
*E0006610*
WORK. ALL OTHER GASKETS,AND HARDWARE NEEDED IS INCLUDED IN THIS ESTIMATE. 0.00
2.00 LVB 500030 Cylinder Head Gasket 103.86
2.00 ETC 4524 Exhaust Flange Gaske 28.84
4.00 ERR 6733 Exhaust Manifold Gas 53.72
2.00 ERR 7282 Intake Gasket Clamp 39.78
1.00 ERR 6621 Intake Plenum Gasket 66.03
SU 0 03 CYLINDER HEAD RESURFACE AND VALVE JOB 480.00 480.00
OK Bad Recommendation OK Bad Recommendation OK Bad Recommendation
ALL REPAIRS CARRY 1 YEAR OR 15,000 MILE WARRANTY, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. Labor : $2,220.00
CERRONE'S EUROPEAN IS ONLY LIABLE FOR SPECIFIC ITEMS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. Parts : $959.72
Subtotal : $3,184.60
Sales Tax : $79.18
Total : $3,263.78