Hey, new to the forum
Just got a 2001 disc 2
Of course it is pissing prestone from the back of the heads, I am completing every couple of days and so far it worked, I am planning on fixing it once the temps outside get better..
Here are my questions?
1 anything special about the head bolts? I am thinking of using arp, if they don't have one they can make it.
2 what is causing the heads to leak? should I bother resurfacing the heads?
3 is the block cast iron or aluminium?
4 are there any aftermarket exhaust manifolds available, stainless steel???

Tx

 

You must use new head bolts.
Your head gaskets are blown, thats why they are leaking.
The entire drive line is cast aluminum.
If you over heat your engine once you will have a $7,000 (cost of a new Rover engine) boat anchor.

 

I know they are blown, my question is what is the cause for them to blow, I understand that this a common problem for these cars but is it caused by the studs that stretch over time or is poor casting, design etc etc...My brother owned this car, previously was owned by a woman, it was absolutely not abused, It is out of common for an engine to blow head gaskets out of the blue..
If it is caused by the blots then i would replace the oem ones with arp..

 

It's not caused by the blots. Over heating the engine is the most common cause.
You can get ceramic coated cast iron exhaust manifolds - they are supposed to reduce engine bay temps significantly.

 

The engine never overheated, it started leaking about a year ago, every 2 days I have to add some prestone to the tank, other than that it drives just like before.

 

The heads are most probably warped, which lead to hg failure and the leak you have. Either that or the hg was damaged when installed. Hgs just don't start leaking for no reason.

 

It is good practice to have the heads checked and re-surfaced. If you get the head gasket kit from Atlantic it also comes with new valve stem seals. I'd have these installed while you are at it.

From the little bit of research I have been doing on these engines, this is a very common problem. I think it mostly comes back to the cyl heads warping from heat. The head bolts are a torque to yield design and can not be re-used, so buy new. I'm not sure about using different brands, or studs as the torquing procedure requires an initial torque of 15 ft lbs, then two 90 degree turns to get to the final torque. If you change the bolt it will change the clamping load, and this procedure may not work properly...

 

I wouldn't worry about what took your gaskets out, I am worried that you think you are going to drive it till the weather gets better and at that point you will have a boat anchor under the hood.

 

Many things cause them to blow head gaskets, the number one cause is the coolant.
Dex-Cool is corrosive.
http://www.sancarlosradiator.com/dex-cool_pics.htm
http://www.sancarlosradiator.com/dex-cool.htm

The DII came with Dex-Cool from the factory.
Land Rover says to change the engine coolant in the Discovery Series II every 45,000 miles or 36 months, whichever is sooner.
Why? Its a 150,000 mile 5 year coolant.
They must have known something.
How many people do you think actually change their engine coolant in their DII every 3 years?

 

So what coolant should I look for... In the Audi I use this pink coolant, I think it's phosphate free...Would that work???

I have the gaskets, i will need the head bolts, where from? dealer or is another place that I can get them from???