My 2000 disco is dumping coolant intermittently. I drove it about 75 miles on Friday night, I than parked it and drove it again for probably about 15 miles on Saturday and than on Sunday I drove it 3 miles and when I parked after the 3 mile trip it dumped anti-freeze. I had a local shop come and pick it up and they say I have a warped head and blown head gasket and it will cost me $2000.00 to fix it! If the head was warped and the head gasket were blown wouldn't the compression from the motor be pushing all the coolant in to my over flow and dumping coolant every time I ran it? I started it today after refiling it with coolant and got it up to temperature and ran it for about 20 minuets and nothing happened. There is no water in the oil either, please let me know any ideas or tips thanks for all your help.

 

1. The heat gauge is not to be trusted, it is built to show 50% over a very wide range, like 150F - 240F. So you don't know things are running way too hot. Use a scanner to be sure.

You could also try changing the coolant cap.


2. HG leaks usually make steam out tail pipe, or milkshake of the oil, or just leak down the side of the engine. Yes it can steam the coolant and cause overflow, but head may not be warped enough until it gets up to a higher temp. There is also a cracked block that can cause furious bubbles and steam in coolant jug.

3. There is a chemical test for about $50, some parts stores loan it out, that changes color if products of combustion are found in the coolant.

4. The spec for a warped head is anything over 0.002 inch from flat. That is half the thickness of printer paper. Parts and machine shop are about $500. 12 - 15 hours most shops. Or two weekends of wrench work with machine shop inbetween.