New to the Landrover community.
Recently acquired a project 2011 LR4 with 120,000 miles.
- slow coolant loss
- failed block test
- suspect head gasket failure
I will use this thread to document progress and share lessons learned.

 

2 hrs invested on diagnosis. Suspect small leak as it took almost 20 min to get a positive "block test".

 

2 hrs

removed air boxes and intake pipes
removed battery and battery box

 

2 hrs
Removed driver side electrical box

 

2 hrs
drained coolant
Removed t stat and associated coolant lines

 

2/10. 2hrs
Lower intake removed. Unfortunately as I was trying to disconnect the small coolant line that runs underneath the intake and connects to the rear crossover pipe I broke the little plastic nipple on the crossover pipe. Not really a big deal as that should probably be replaced anyway in light of known failures and 120k on the plastic already...

2/12 1hr
Cooling fan and clutch removed.

 

Missed a few nights of progress in documentation, but just finished pulling the left head. No obvious gasket failure point here.

 

Fantastic thread... Please keep the posts going!

 

2/14 - 3hrs
Driver side engine harness, coils, fuel rail and injectors removed

2/14 - 3hrs
Passenger side engine harness, coils, fuel rail, injectors and rear crossover pipe removed

2/20 - 2hrs
Driver side valve cover and front timing cover removed

2/21 - 3hrs
Crank pulley removed
This was very tedious and definitely made easier by the appropriate tools. In the LR4 the clearance between engine and radiator is really tight so the long threaded bolt used on the tool needed to be ground down to fit. I also considered pulling the radiator out but That looks to be relatively involved. There's really no need for the bolt to be as long as it is. The tool still worked fine after a ground off approximately 1".

2/22 - 6hrs
Passenger side valve cover removed. Driver side cams removed. Driver side timing chains removed. Exhaust pipe disconnected. Power steering pump removed from block/head. Head bolts removed. ( I couldn't lift the head out because the 02 sensor was still plugged in and time ran out.)

2/23 - 1hr
Remove the driver side 02 sensor heat shield. Provided access to plug which was then able to be disconnected. Lifted the driver side head out.

2/25 - 3hrs
Passenger side cams removed. O2 heat shield removed. 02 sensor unplugged. Exhaust bolts removed. Head bolts removed. (Come to find out there are a few fasteners underneath the oil filter on the front of the passenger side head. Even with all the head bolts out the head won't lift off without removing the fuel filter and getting at the bolts underneath. I don't currently have the oil filter wrench and I don't want to scuff up the cover just because I don't have the right tool. Will work on cleaning the shop up over the next couple days while the tool comes in.

 

"12.9" = reverse thread