This is my first post so here goes.

I have a problem with my lovely 98 Disco we bought new.

Or I could say several problems.

On a recent trip back from the mountains the temperature needle was in a slightly below center area. Suddenly it jumped up to H in the white area for around 20 seconds then returned to normal.

This happened around 10 times in 50 miles. Never into the red and just high for a short period of time. Since that trip the temperature needle has done the same about 10 more times in 2 weeks.

On opening the engine bonnet the overflow tank showed sign of the relief valve having blown several times. The overflow tank was empty on the 50 mile return trip the radiator was down very little at around 2 ".

It did not seem that the fluid was down enough to over heat at all much less just a slight peak and down again #@%#@???. Of course the up and down swing does not make much sense at all as well.

On the other times (maybe 8 times in two weeks) there has been very little loss of fluid again through the relief valve. The overflow tank has never been empty again. Just slightly down again not to a level of too low.

I bought a new relief valve for the over flow and a new fill cap for the radiator that needed to be replaced.

Since the original issue a check engine light came on - codes were P1316 and P0300 Misfires. Engine has run great from day one but it ran rough on one occasion since the swing in the gauge occurred.

Light was reset.

Sorry for the long first post but I could not access the proper area.

Can this be moved to the proper locations?? If it does move will I be able to read the posts for replies? Private messages would be fine for anyone out there to assist.

Thanks for your assistance ahead of time.

Ron

Newport News, VA
98 Disco

 

How many miles? Almost sounds like a thermostat sticking. It's a cheap and easy fix.
Replace thermostat, flush/fill/bleed system.

Eric

 

Hi Eric

Thanks for your reply.

I have 117K miles on the vehicle. As they say in football, on further review, since my original post I have found a couple of very little bubbles on my dip stick. So I put some stuff in the radiator to seal leaks. My neighbor who owns a engine replacement shop told me about a GM product that is tablets you break up and put in the radiator.

I have driven the Rover less but it has not got hot again and it is hot as ---- in Virginia. So now I'm still think the head gasket may be the issue.

It seems like a thermostat would open and stay open. Does anyone have experience with a fluctuating thermostat.

As we have a cabin on a remote mountain top in VA, we need something very reliable. We have been up there two feet of snow with drifts up to 8 feet.

We have driven on sheer ice coming down steep grades. At my age and especially my health I really should not being doing that anymore but the Rover only got stuck once. So we love the Rover but the time maybe up for us and the Rover.

What do you all think??

Thanks again Eric.

Ron

Newport News, VA

 

A thermostat can be stuck in the closed position if there is air in the system.
Bubbles on the dipstick? You might be getting coolant in the crankcase. Stop driving before you destroy the engine! You should drain the oil and get it analyzed to see if you got water in it. You may have a bad head gasket. That stop leak is ok for some things but it just buys time. If you are getting misfire codes, that could be from the coolant leaking into the combustion chamber. Try and find a reputable shop, not the dealer, that can check it out. A new engine isn't cheap.

Eric