Hello everyone,

I am new to Land Rovers, purchased my first one two days ago. Wanted a project and now I definitely have one. I have a 2005 LR3 v8 HSE. Runs great! As I was driving it home an info code came up on the dash “low coolant” I checked it on the road seemed to be full. When I got home I put less than a 1/4 cup of dex cool in the overflow res. The next morning I drove it down to the store and when I returned I had a major coolant leak pouring off the passenger side rear of the engine. It appears to be coming from under the manifold, I can only see it pouring off the back of the engine block. It never overheated, no white exhaust, no foam on the oil dipstick... it emptied out the entire overflow reservoir in just a couple of minutes!!

Has anyone ever had this issue? Any help would be very much appreciated!

let the project begin....

 

Remove the beauty cover (captive screws) and take a better look. The lines for the front and rear (if equip) heater cores are on the passenger side You will get a better view with them off. Its possible a hose blew off I suppose.

 

I did remove the cover. Upon inspection the hoses to the heater core look good. I used the camera on my phone and got a video of the coolant leaking from behind the engine engine and running down the side of the transmission. I removed the lower skid plates and still no luck on pin pointing the leak. It appears to be coming from somewhere under the exhaust manifold??? On the passenger side of the engine.

 

Then it may be leaking out from under the intake manifold. This could be the thermostat housing/cross over seemly itself. Which you can easily see at the front, its one large black part that also houses the t-stat. Or there could be a hose on the bottom back of that housing. Sorta straight down from the throttle body and back a little. That hose runs to the back of the engine. There is noting under the exhaust manifold except the starter.

 

Thank you! I am thinking it is that hose that runs to the back of the engine. Just not sure how to access it as it does not appear to come out the back side of the engine... Looks like I will have to remove the exhaust manifold to see where it goes?

Thanks again for your input.

 

You seem to be really obsessed about that exhaust manifold. There is no need to touch it.

 

Really? That one black hose you mentioned seems to be running right underneath it. It goes in just to the left of the thermostat housing and disappears. That’s why I was thinking you must need to remove the manifold to see where it goes. I think it is the hose that is supposed to have a bleeder T valve, but mine seems to be spliced strait through?

 

That would be the intake manifold, not an exhaust manifold.

Also that is not the hose I am talking about but could also be an issue. There is a much larger hose. Or the housing itself is cracked.

edit: Found a thread that may help a little.

https://www.landroversonly.com/forum...a-only-145082/

 

Oops! Totally messed that up didn’t I. Thank you for setting me straight!

It was hard to see, but the back of the thermostat housing did not seem to be gushing fluid. I could see a small puddle on the left side of it, that was all. So I guess my next step is to remove that intake manifold? I know all of the main radiator hoses were just recently replaced by a certified mechanic.

Would there be be a specific place to look under the intake manifold?

Thank you you for the help!

 

See that thread I linked to, has a picture.

I have yet to replace my t-stat assembly/housing. I would look into that procedure first. In fact, they tend to last about 100k miles and if yours may be factory I would order a new OEM unit before proceeding. For the sake of replacing AND if you do find its at fault you have the part. But I would start there before removing the intake. Also if you do pull the intake, I would recommend getting appropriate gaskets for it and the throttle body. You want this all on hand before proceeding.

Did you buy this private party? Most states require a 30 day minimum warranty on sold used cars. The exception being private party sales. Something like this really should be address by the place that sold it to you if it was a dealer.