Been driving around for a couple of months now, put about 1100 miles on the odometer - ever since the beginning though I noticed that coolant in my Disco had been disappearing at a slow pace. I would have to refill it once a week. Did not see any leaks and that's what bothered me - I did smell coolant on the outside at stop lights so I assumed it was leaking somewhere once it warms up, I just did not see it since it was rapidly evaporating. I did speculate that it might be faulty reservoir cap and so I ordered one. Today though, the leak showed-up all of a sudden - somewhere in the back, top of the engine. Can't really see what that could be and just by pure speculation I'm assuming that I might either be a broken hose, connection or??? perhaps someone can enlighten me? Is this the first sign that it's time for a head gasket job?

Look at the photo - it might not tell you much but at least you'll know where it's coming from in general...

 

Go to the rear of your truck and look at the frame rails. How bad are they? Are they swelled? Are there holes?

looks like your water pump area....and if that's coolant on the floor over at the drivers side there could be a coolant bottle/hose issue over there...or the head.

 

Most likely a leaky hg at the rear of the block.

 

I'll hope for the best ( i.e. easiest fix ), maybe a leaking Throttle Body Heater Plate Gasket or one of the Hoses going to it.
>

 

Check the TB heater. But also, check on the top driver's side of the timing cover. That's a really common spot for a mystery leak. Guys will change head gaskets only to find out they were fine and the timing cover is leaking. It's by no means a small job, it's easy to fix, but will take a day or more depending on how fast you work. I'd say it a 10 beer job

 

actually it's dripping in the back of the engine area, not the front. It's hard to get in there right now and see where exactly. Front would of been nice (either one of the hoses or the water pump), rear of the engine might just mean one thing.

 

Headgaskets!

Yeah, not a big deal.

Call Erik at Lucky 8 ask for their cheapest HG kit with headbolts, tell them you're a forum member. Make sure it comes with the upper manifold gasket.

You'll want a rental click type torque wrench, and a swivel impact socket set. That will help with the driver firewall head bolt.

Easy job, actually like a 2/10 on major repairs only because these damn things are basically a 1960s block with a few extra electronics tagged on.

 

That's what I was hoping not to go through. I don't have time for this now - it took me almost a year to replace the front facia to upgrade it to the newer, 2003-2004 look. Any recommendations as far as taking it into a trusted shop in the Chicagoland area? Anyone?

 

 

[QUOTE=Frank4;681904]chicago.
plus the way the truck looks underneath...now would be a good time to evaluate. If his frame rails are rotting in the back head gaskets arent going to help him with his issues.

in his pics it looks like theres leaking in the front as well but idk, I'm not there.

I would do your head gaskets but I'm in PA