Is this normal? It's not a heavy smell and I only notice it when the engine is running hot or I need to accelerate in a hurry. The head gaskets were just replaced a couple of months ago, I'm hoping this is just residual? Or should I take it back to the Indy who did the head work?

 

Back you go. If you hear water running thru pipes under dash can be air bubbles or exhaust gas in coolant. Can also be coolant leak from heater core or one of the hoses under the hood. Plumbing plan below.

 

Thanks Buzz, so you think the only way I'm still smelling cooked coolant is if there is a leak? I don't hear water running and the temp gauge never creeps above half way, so it's staying very cool. But that smell is unmistakable.

 

Hope leak is just a hose clamp. If all you have is the gauge you only know temp in a broad range, a scanner can show digital temps. But if your are smelling it, should also notice coolant getting lower in the reserve container each day or two.

 

Hot water pressure wash the engine and the entire engine bay back to the bell-housing. Pull each spark plug wire and blow out the wire andf plug with compressed air. Replace wires after filling with dielectric grease. See if the smell is gone after.

 

Wouldn't the smell from spilled coolant be gone after two months of driving?

 

That makes sense but if it's a faint smell...

First thing I would do is rule out residual slob mess left by a sloppy tech.

It's the cheapest way to go. Then, if you still smell coolant, you know you are chasing a real issue.

 

As long as it gets done before the warranty runs out.....

 

What warranty?

Or was that a snyde remark that EVERY Rover leaks coolant? Mine doesn't.

You can be a lot of help but like DiscoMike, you guys have your head up your asses at times.

This isn't the Space Shuttle. It's a Land Rover Discovery.

Every vehicle has it's issues. The Disco 2 is no different.

Understanding those issues is the first step to solving them.

 

Space shuttle had tons of issues. Never mind it blew up on the launch pad
killing everyone.
Never mind it came apart over Texas killing everyone.
Yet most launches were safe.

As far as the Discovery - it is heartening to know that when you turn the key - you probably will not die a death by fire or from it coming apart at 90 miles an hour piece by piece.

The antifreeze smell is either:

Antifreeze on the top of your engine baking from a hose leak. Look for orange or green where it burned off.
Also - could be getting in from a leak of the preheater or onto the top of the engine.

Antifreeze in your cat converters ruining them from an intake gasket leak

Antifreeze in your cat converters from the coolant jackets into your cylinders.

Can be leaking from the two screws holes at the top of the radiator which crack.

People here scoff at me, but, Barr's leaks works. It can go a long way to
plugging a simple leak.

Jaguar would put Barr's leaks in the XJS at the factory.

Still, the Discovery II is an awesome machine.
Respect on either side is mutual.