have someone check your cooling system for leaks with a cooling system preasure tester. And see if they put 30 wt oil in the last time it was changed

 

Just pray that the clanking sound is not a slipped liner!

 

Actually you didn't get taken, you just got in a little over your head... Consider this the beginning of your learning curve :-)

The clatter could be thin oil... check the windshield sticker to see if it says what type was used.

Then have the oil changed by a Rover Specialist (not dealer, not foreign car shop) who uses one of the better detergent oils... Like Shell Rotella 15w40. Unless your engine if completely falling apart this oil should smooth it out.

You should also be using premium gas from a top tier station, Shell/Chevron/etc... and if you have been using regular grocery store type gas, buy some Chevron Techron fuel system additive or Seafoam additive and put that in the gas tank before every oil change. This will clean and keep clean the fuel injectors making for a much smoother engine.

 

You guys are awesome. thanks so much for taking the time to answer.

 

we do not own these trucks just cause they look cool, we own them because we like to curse and fix it.

 

Oh man, I feel for you and the disappearing coolant is a bad sign (likely head gasket). Diesel sound is possibly a liner. Both point to $2-6k repairs if so. These cars (out of warranty) are meant to be owned by mechanics, experienced DIY mechanics, or people who like to throw away money. I'm sorry this has happened to you, but hopefully you learned a lesson. Next time, buy a Honda or a Toyota. Yea, for the same price of your disco, you will get a lot less as far as capability and luxuries go, but there is a reason they are priced the same yet so different. One offers luxury and off road capability at the expense of diligent upkeep (Rover), the other offers bare basic necessities with 'normal' carefree upkeep (Honda/Toyota). Good luck to you, and we will try to help you on here as much as possible.

 

First of all whatever you do, just make sure that it doesn't run completely out of coolant or oil. That is the fastest way to have a boat anchor. I did my head gasket myself for about $600 and I learned as I went. Between the RAVE manual and the forums it got me through. The hardest part I thought was getting the old head bolts loose and making sure you do the tightening pattern that comes with your kit from atlantic british. As far as the front driveshaft goes look to see how many nipples are on it for grease. Are you sure they put your tires on and torqued them down when they did the rotation?? It's a long shot but maybe that is what your vibration is. (I had that problem once)
Good luck!

 

Miss Linda,

The potential for the vibration to be the front drive shaft about to split and tear up transmission is real. Worth having some one check it out.

As for the coolant loss -

If white smoke out the tail pipe after engine warmed up, probably head gaskets.

If no drips on ground, on clean cardboard - consider that coolant cap could be venting while driving. Easy to replace.

Parts store renst pressure tester, or indy shop can use one to pump up cooling system to 15 PSI and wait. Within 30 minutes leaks usually show up.

Head gaskets can also leak into the oil, making oil level rise and look like a milkshake.

There is a chemical test that can be run on the coolant to determine if exhaust gas is leaking into coolant. Changes color, about $60. Also tends to make a sound like bubbles in pipes under dash. Exhaust gas in coolant is almost always head gasket related.

If engine makes ticking noise not at start but after it has warmed up, could be a cylinder sleeve that has begun to slip up and down and hit the head gasket.

 

Linda,
Like it has been said, find a good Indy LR shop to do a once over. Hopefully someone here knows one by you. As far as the truck, I don't think it is a lemon. I don't care if you buy a Toyota or Rover....a 10 year old vehicle will have things go wrong. If someone could go pay $10k for a $40k truck and drive for years without issues, nobody would buy new!
Get it checked over, and that should tell you if you should cut bait or hold onto it. Do it quickly though, and make sure they check the driveshaft.

 

Tis true, but let's be honest, a Rover has much more than most. Especially, expensive things.