I think its broken.

[Capri]

Hi Im new to this forum and I'm already asking for help as I think we may have a bit of a problem.  My mate has a discovery 300 Tdi (he bought it I just drive and fix it) which has started to overheat, I diagnosed what I thought to be either an airlock or faulty thermostat. The car was overheating and the was no heat coming out of the vents. I have swapped the stat and refilled the system, and this is were my problems started. I was using a haynes manual (not always a good idea I know) and this states that when refilling the system that I fill it from the cap on the thermostat housing but by doing this the expansion bottle is overfilled. After doing this I ran the car (not knowing the bottle was overfilled) and the car overheated again and threw all the water out of the said bottle.  I have tried to sort this several times and always end up with the same results car overheats, expansion bottle over flows and the thermostat housing and top hose of radiator end up empty of water.  I hope this makes sense and you guys can help me.

          Cheers
          Capri.

[kwik.kwak]

if filling from the  thermostat housing, as soon as the water reaches its correct level in the expansion bottle, put the lid on and it wont fill anymore, just carry on filing till  engine is full :) hope this helps, and if it doesnt, best go and buy a head gasket and have ur head skimmed :)

[Capri]

I will try that tonight, but I suspect you maybe right and I might be getting the spanners out, it has got 170000 miles on the clock so I wont be that shocked if the head gasket has gone.

Thanks.

[winchman]

Paul the best way to sort this is buy an old Toyota to run around in whilst you fix the Disco.
I just happen to know where there is one?

[muddyjames]

 My mate has a discovery 300 Tdi (he bought it I just drive and fix it)

You sound like the ideal mate. Are there any more of you around?? :lol:

[Capri]

My problem is I'm very keen and quick to take things apart it just takes me a while to reassemble things.  The Disco is with anothner mate today whilst he does a gas test to check out the head gasket.

PS, I still dont want that Toyota.

[Capri]

Well things didnt get any better while Ive been away,  we tried several things new thermostat then a new radiator (the old one was blocked) we gas tested it (nothing found) but the problem is still there. A mate of mine has suggested the head is cracked and I think I agree with him. Can anyone give me some ideas of prices for a new head and maybe some suppliers.

Cheers

Capri

[Tyke]

Might sound a bit obvious but is the rad clogged with mud/muck ?

Does sometimes get overlooked if you've been out playing  


Edit:-

<Doh . . . just seen you said the old one was clogged . . . . . silly me . . . . note to self: engage brain before typing  :oops: >

[muddyjames]

Well since I put a new rad into my disco it hasnt over heated once yet and also no water loss either.

I gave my old one a good clean too put still it over heated. Before you spend loads of money on a new head etc I would really try a new rad first. How old is the rad?

[Capri]

Unfortunately the rad is brand new, so its not looking too clever at the moment. It was blocked solid with radweld and gunk.  I think this is gonna get exspensive.

[Disco_Dunk]

Have you tried draining the sump (even just a bit) to see if there's water in there? - the water should come out first as the oil will be sitting on top...... might help to confirm the cracked head.

Dunk

[Capri]

Oh well A quick pressure test on the head (not so quick to take off though, mind) and proof that the head is cracked . I'm now looking for a supplier, the cheapest I have been quoted is £250 plus VAT for a bare head. Is this good, Im used to paying £50 for an engine (capri's are cheap to run)

Cheers

[muzzer]

Hi have you tried ebay as you somtimes get heads on there cheap, or a breaker, look in a landrover mag.Hope this helps.