Just got off the phone with my mechanic. Looks like the coolant leak is the head gasket on the passenger side and from the water pump. I was refilling the overflow tank every other day but I was still hoping it was just a cracked hose. Coolant looked and smelled uncontaminated and there was only normal pressure in all the coolant hoses. The oil looked good. No milky residue on the oil filler cap.

Truck was still driving strong, no misfires and no white smoke, so hoping only an external leak on the head gasket. Going to have the heads checked and milled, do the valve cover gaskets and fresh 8mm plug wires while I'm in there.

Currently at 108,000 miles.

Anything else I should be doing?

 

I would say get a new coolant pump while the mechanic is in there but, I am new here so others may disagree.

 

Could also be the front cover gasket instead of the water pump. They are know to leak also. If he does that, have him also replace front oil seal since he will already have the front cover off and inspect the oil pump and timing gears and chains. Just my opinion

 

Turns out both head gaskets were leaking from the back sides. Coolant only. No exhaust leaks, so at least there was some good news. The water pump was also leaking a bit.

Since everything was opened up I went ahead and did the head gaskets, sent the heads to a machine shop and had them checked and milled flat, new water pump, new heater hoses, new plug wires and all applicable gaskets.

Also switched the T-Case and front and rear diff oil to a slightly lighter Schaeffer product. They had an 80W-140 in originally since the truck came from the desert. Now running a 75w-90. Also, drained and refilled the transmission with a full synthetic Schaeffer oil. New oil and coolant, of course.

Truck is driving great and other than a little air trapped in the system, no issues.

It is nice to have it up and running and not smelling of coolant all the time.

 

I have a coolant leak in my 2000 Disco II - 110,000 miles. Had a water pump and radiator problem, so had new ones put in. Coolant is still leaking. Mechanic said the heads needed to be milled down. Cost would be about $3,500.

Does that cost sound right? Also, does this kind of problem indicate that there are other problems coming after this, or is this usually a one-time, stand-alone problem?

If I have the heads milled, should I have them do anything else while they have it, any type of preventative maintenance or cleaning?

Thank you!

 

Is $3,500 just to have the heads milled and the top end put back on with new gaskets ect? Or does that include the water pump and radiator?

 

That seems a little expensive for just a head removal and milling, it kind of depends on where you are.

 

"Currently at 108,000 miles.
Anything else I should be doing?"
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Since you have the heads off, at 108,000 miles, personally I can't see why you wouldn't ask the machine shop, who is resurfacing the heads, to make them flat again, or at least within .002" tolerance (Rover V8 specs), have them also check the valve guide wear---personally, I would have them press out the old used valve guides, and press in new ones. New or old ones, put in new rubber valve guide seals on top of guides. Also, have them check the valves, and grind them in, if, in their judgement, it is necessary---I would have them do that too. After all, you have 108,000 miles on all moving parts.