Hello all,

As described in a previous thread, I've had some issues with a coolant leak for some time now (about 2 years). Symptoms are:

1) faint smell of coolant burning
2) slow loss of coolant (if I don't top off every 2/3 weeks, the reservoir goes empty)
3) after the engine is stone cold if I unscrew the reservoir cap, the system depressurizes and coolant flows back in to the tanks while engine not running
4) has overheated twice in the last two years because I got lazy and didn't top off coolant but hasn't happened in over a month (blew rad hose on the home but I was just around the corner). I never ever let it get too hot: when I saw it going past normal I turn in heater and shut engine off right away
5) rushing water sound from under passenger side after about a week of topping off coolant (my heater core is in good shape and not leaking)

Its 19 degrees F here in Montreal today and i don't have a garage i can put the disco in. I put some dye in my coolant today and I'm attaching some pics of what I found. I think I know it's my head gaskets but I'm homing someone can tell me otherwise. The leak is on the passenger side right against the firewall.

My dilemma is that if its in fact the head gasket, how have I been able to drive this for so long without issues? Ive blown head a head gasket on another car before and the amount of time it took to go from small leak to undriveable was under a week. Buzz mentioned in another post that it might be the back of the intake manifold but I could trace it higher (plus after ten minutes at that weather and 40mph winds I couldn't take it anymore. My plan is to wait for it to hopefully get a bit warmer so I can shove a mirror up there.

Anyone have a guess as to what it can be?

 

Forgot to mention that when I checked the oil filler cap or the dipstick after letting it run with the dye in the coolant, there was no trace of it in the oil...

 

That probably is the head gasket.
As it is coming out the back.
There is only 2mm most of head gasket sealing up the back port.
I would put a bottle of Barr's leaks into it. The original formula.
Bet you a fondue that it will work.

Buzz is right, could also be the intake manifold valley gasket.
But, then you would have antifreeze in your oil too I bet.

That is most likely the head gasket.
Just put in Barr's leaks. Two bottles.
You'll not leak after that.

yes, it is a dumb chemical - but it does stop leaks where the leak hits air.

Or else replace the head gasket.

Between spending $2500 to $3000 CAD on a head gasket or $10 on Barr's leaks.
I pick Barrs leaks.

 

Thanks for the idea jfall! i thought it might be the head gasket but i was hoping not... If I pour in that chemical, will it gunk up the oil? Can it cause any harm?

 

If going the liquid elixer of engine life, I would prefer KSeal. Any sealer may work (for an unknown period of time), but problems increase when extra material clogs up radiator that may already be almost clogged to begin with. KSeal comes in a very small bottle. Pix of head gasket area. The rectangular water channel is visible, and the gasket has blown out from cylinder to outside block, this one was leaking into cylinder and out the block on the outside.

 

head gaskets fail in all different ways.
Yours is not leaking antifreeze into the oil.
It is not leaking compression into the cooling system.

Your head gasket is simply leaking coolant out the back.

I would put in the least complex chemical - which is Barr's leaks
standard original formula.
Used since the 1940's.

It does not fix head gaskets. But, it does fix simple leaks in the coolant system.

Technically your head gasket has a simple coolant leak - just like a hole in a radiator.

And, Barr's leaks will fix that.

When you don't want it any longer - just flush the system.

Been running it in my D1 since 1999.

No problems.

OK, try one bottle and leak will stop.

I have used this on a 1991 Rangie that I was driving from Seattle to Chicago.

I started getting white smoke out the tail pipe.
Put in a bottle of this - after I got into Indiana - the white smoke was gone.
Mind you it was probably 10 degrees out.

Your problem is not compression related. Your head gasket got thin
from the jacket to the outside and you are leaking.
Barr's leaks will fix that in - 15 min or less.

Haha or your money back.

That's how sure I am on your specific case.

 

addendum
running in my D1 since 2009

find the head gasket pictures and look at the coolant jacket to the outside
not much width

Flickr: Landroverdude2's Photostream

 

you also have heater hoses above
i would check the clamps and condition of the hoses

angle of flow points to those mostly --
looking at it again

head gasket would not go this high up

barrs leaks would fix it

but do it right first if possible

 

Thanks guys for the input. Just a quick question, do you have to put in more Bar's at all or does the one bottle cure the problem?

 

Could also be the valley pan gasket. The lower intake bolts will work themselves loose over time and start leaking coolant Could be as simple as tightening these up. You have to remove the upper intake assembly to tighten the lower bolts though. And if you haven't changed spark plug wires, now is the time since you will have the upper intake off anyway making the job much easier.