Hi,

There are lots of threads like this, I know. No experience with these cars and supposedly all rebuilt when purchased a year ago. Misfiring a couple random misfires and plug 4. Replaced that one -- oil fouled. Went on to replace the rest.
No dice. Ran Seafoam.

Did have many, many radiator issues this summer and the place that was supposed to make sure the car was workable for me wanted to replace the radiator itself as well as about everything related to it. Did some of that, no radiator. He supposedly rebuilt the whole engine, plugs, wiring, heads are either new or rebuilt so suspect it's not inside there.

Have always had oil burning and leaking issues.

The car has been a horrific experience all around (Thanks for giving me that line to vent).

Rough on startup. Gets better as we go. Light doesn't ever go off, though.

So I'm hesitant to keep paying to play exploratory surgery every week. We're not able to do that, but we do hope to not catch fire.

So my questions are:

1. Is there no way of assessing what's really the issue?
2. More likely to be coils or injector? Or something else?

 

Do you have a list of what was done by the mechanic? Also what codes is it setting?

 

Army is asking the right question. I'm more of a grenade thrower than a sniper so for what it is worth...

Burning oil is almost surely piston rings. If your engine was rebuilt, it should have new rings and have been broken in. A bad break in or worn rings would allow oil to be burnt. Not much else would cause that. In fact, I can't think of anything else.

You said radiator problems so I assume it was overheating. That, in combination with misfires and rough starts (after sitting a long time) points to a possible head gasket issue. But you didn't say you were losing coolant or had crazy pressure in the expansion tabk so that dire conclusion need not be reached yet. It could, for instance, be possible that some of your piston rings are worn or not broken in properly and those cylinders could have low compression instead of coolant getting into them. Or your MAF could be acting up. That's almost always the issue for me when I have sudden misfires with no loss of coolant. Low compression can also be caused by valves, but burning oil points to rings in my mind.

All rovers leak a little oil in my experience. You need to figure out where it is coming from. Fixing leaks really does range from easy to nearly impossible. Coming from the back of the engine is very hard to fix. Coming from anywhere else is generally easier.

You said a light is on. You really need to know what codes are being piosted. An auto parts store will give you a printout but I don't know anyone with a well running Disco II who doesn't have their own scanner. Mine is literally plugged in all of the time.

I guess though I generally like to tear into things, your mixture of issues does bear some more thought. Knowing exactly what the mechanic did and what codes you have is the first order of business, as Army said.

I would then check the compression on the cylinders with a rented or bought tester, or at a shop. If any of them show low, then a leak down test. That's going to tell you a lot and maybe get more specific responses here.

 

Thanks so much so far -- have a call in to original re-builder, but no response.

Reading here, it could be that radiator is still an issue. It did lose fluid after my long drive out of town, but seems to do as well as I can expect of this diva disco in town.

I'll reread the codes. I was just told 2 random misfires and a misfire on 4, which was already replaced two days before.