2004 DII 4.6L 120K mi. bought used.

I am getting conflicting input - both from folks I respect and believe know what they're talking about - and need a tie breaker.

I have a coolant leak from both the front and back of the engine.
Can't see exactly where it's coming from.

No overheat, no smoke, no exhaust or oil in coolant (chemical block test), no coolant in oil.

BUT I am being told with "100% certainty" that my head gaskets are bad.

AND I am being told that with NONE of the above-mentioned symptoms, it is nigh impossible that the head gaskets are bad.

Any additional input would be much appreciated.

Apologies if this is a duplicate to some of you - I am reaching out to all the Rover folks I know.

-Mike

 

How many miles arwon it, whats the servoxe history look like?
That being said it's a tough call, I would lean onot valley pan, but my gut will say headgaskets. Sometimes the best way to find out where the leak is, is to start taking it apart. Being that the front of the engine is dominated by the belt drive, you can remove the A/C, ALT, AND P/S to find out more. Once the corresponding brackets are out of the way, put a pressure test to it.

 

how about you pressure test your vehicle instead of guessing?

if you truly have no CO2 in you coolant, it does not over heat, no coolant in the oil,
why would you consider head gaskets? as you say they all point away form head gaskets.

rent/borrow a pressure tester and check the valley pan gasket closely. jmho

 

Replace the valley gasket.
If there is trouble after that then well.. you know what it is.

Valley gasket is not that bad to replace.
Not a walk in the park. but beats head gaskets.

 

I think I found a pressure test kit that will fit onto the coolant reservoir.
All the kits at Autozone only have old-school radiator cap adapters.

Anyway, Thank You. I am going to do the pressure test asap and will report back.

Possibly related: I can see the water pump appears to be leaking as well.
Could this be just a coincidence?
OR ? Heck, I don't know.

Thanks, again. Stay tuned. Pressure test results TBD.

 

Update:

I can see clearly the coolant leaking at the front is from the coolant pump.

I will change the coolant pump, then re-pressure test to decide head vs valley gasket.

Stay tuned.

 

hopefully just a water pump

 

Might want to consider removing the front cover behind the water pump and replacing that gasket as well. It'd be a good idea considering you will have access to it.