I have a 2000 Discovery Series II and for the past month or so EVERY time I drive the vehicle you can smell the coolant (the overheating smell). About every 10-14 days I've had to add coolant.......I always know it's time because the heat gauge heats way up....then works it's way back down as I begin to move from a stop light or out of traffic.

I'm going to take it in to a local Land Rover mechanic (not the dealer) in the next few days, but was hoping somebody on this forum could give me a few ideas as to what the problem could be.

Thanks!

 

You are loosing coolant and you wonder what the problem could be?
Keep on driving like that and you will destroy your engine, if it has not already been seriously damaged.
Have you opened the hood and looked for coolant leaks? Check all the hoses, check the throttle body heater, check the thin plastic hoses that run to the expansion tank (coolant reservoir), check the water pump, check the front and back of the heads, front and back of the engine.... in other words check the whole engine for coolant leaks.

 

Well, sorry to say, my mechanical skills go as far as changing burnt out bulbs and checking the oil. Obviously, I can open the hood and look for leaks, but if it's not an obvious leak.........I'm lost. I was really hoping I'd get some idea of what the problem could be (sounds like there could be many) so I wouldn't sound like such a dunce when I take the vehicle in to be repaired.

 

You must have a leak somewhere and you should see orange (if using dexcool) stains where the leak is.
When you open the hood you will see a black box at the front on the driver's side, with a thick black pipe going to the engine. That is the air intake, follow the hose to the first metal part, that is the throttle body. Under the throttle body is a little throttle body heater with 2 thin hoses attached, that is a common point of failure and you will see orange coolant or a stain there if it is leaking.
Check at the end of each of the black hoses going to and from the radiator and the engine.
Check around the expansion tank (where you fill up the coolant) for leaks, you can unclip the tank (just pull up carefully, don't break any hoses) and get a good look all around.
If you do not find it then the best is to get it to an independent Land Rover shop and have them check it. Driving like that will only cause expensive damage.
Where are you? Knowing your city and state helps, people can point you to a shop.

 

Thanks for all your time and advice. I'll check it out.

I'm in Mission Viejo, California.