Coolant leak...

[swrye]

I have a coolant leak and it seems like it is coming from the back of the engine near the ignition (between the block and the firewall but close to the top of the block). Did the pressure tests for the cylinders and the block seems fine. No coolant in the oil or vice versa. I took it to two places and they both did pressure tests on the coolant system and they could not find the leak. Does anyone know what's back there that would be causing the leak? The space is to small for me to get to and I would like to know where to start.
Thanks...

Sorry... Its a 2000 Disco II

 

[joey]

Intake gasket is leaking

 

[cookwithgas]

When you say "Intake gasket" is that the top one or the two at the bottom (or both)? I have a new to me 2000 Disco II and it is leaking coolant near the back between the transmission and the engine. I'm hoping it is the top intake gasket because I just ordered one.

Any advice on where I could find the torque values and sequence would be helpful. I have an old land rover (1990) book and haven't looked to see if there is a 4.0 reference in it.

Thanks,

Scott Laughlin
Omaha, Nebraska.

 

[joey]

I would beat on the valley pan gasket....i.e. the bottom ones.

Don't have my manuals with me or would get the specs for you.

 

[cookwithgas]

So if it is the bottom gaskets, does the top one need to come off too? Sorry for the dumb question.

 

[joey]

99.9% sure it does. I know mine has been leaking slightly for almost 4 years... one of these days I may just fix that. But I might just wait till I have to change the engine.

 

[Ace Cafe]

is it an agressive leak? don't know how closely plumbing is between 2000 and 2003...but, i recently had a coolant leak on my 2003 disco that was coming from the back side of the engine...couldn't for the life of me find it. finally noticed coolant on the passenger side valley up front. With the engine running, found the leak coming from the hose connection running from the intake manifold into the firewall (heater core). the connection coming out of the manifold is a one-bolt compression fitting...o-ring failed...85 cent fix.

 

[cookwithgas]

An 85-cent fix would be a good thing. The snow is finally melting a little here in Omaha and I have a break from work and the Christmas parties this weekend so maybe I'll pull her into the garage and see what I can find. The funny thing is that it stopped today and I can't see (or smell) that it is leaking at all. Very odd. It only has 62,000 miles so I would hope all the engine gaskets are holding strong at this point .

Thanks for the input.

Scott Laughlin
www.cooknwithgas.com
Omaha, Nebraska

 

[cookwithgas]

OK, here is where we are. I am 99% sure it is the intake manifold "Valley Gasket" that is leaking. I have pulled the Disco II into the garage and removed all the bolts, wires, hoses, etc. and the plenum (top manifold part) is loose and ready to come off. Except it won't come off.

There is something in the back holding it in place. I removed the two little screws that look like a bracket for the plug wire coils and this bracket must have bolts below it but I can't get to them. The bracket is keeping the plenum from coming free. Also, there is a heater tube that the geniuses at L.R. used a stud to hold in place instead of a bolt. This hard tube is restricting removal of the plenum.

Any ideas on what is holding the intake plenum in place? It is completely free and lifts up an inch or so in the front so it is not a bolt. I ordered a CD manual but it has not arrived so I'm flying blind right now.

Thanks for the help in advance.

 

[cookwithgas]

Nevermind! I found it. There are two additional bolts that seem to be accessible from the drawing on the FREE RAVE cd I just downloaded - NICE. I actually paid a guy on Ebay for a manual and I bet it is the same as this free one. Dumb Tax paid up for the month.

Copy the link below if you do not have this CD. You will have to write it to a CD with the download from this page (also free so don't buy from some CD jockey on Ebay):
http://www.imgburn.com/index.php?act=download

RAVE CD download:

http://green-oval.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=7&Itemid=29

I'll post some pictures and provide an update on what I find in a few days. I plan to powdercoat the top manifold for a better looking engine bay. Photos to follow.

Scott Laughlin
Omaha, Nebraska
(where it is very cold right now)