98 Disco V8i Head Gasket Problem

[nowearshoes]

98 disco
228K miles
leaks oil.
runs good/does not burn oil
good brakes

I have a 98 Disco I and now I have an exhaust leak. I took it to a mechanic and he indicated that the head gasket (HG)needs to be replaced.

A few months back, the disco broke down and I had work done at the LR dealer in vegas and they said it was a matter of time before the HG would need to be replaced as there was a minor leak at that time. However the noise subsided after two days, I assumed due to carbon deposits, and just came back last week......after 5 months???????

From my own experience, you can tell a bad HG by the dramatic loss of power and loud noise. I mentioned this to my mech and he said that was the baffling part as my disco had only the louder noise.
and no loss of power.

He gave an est of 1500 to replace the gaskets but also said the head may be damaged and may need to have some weld/machining done if there are cracks or warped which will require mill work to flatten the G surface. Topping out at about 2500 depending on the severity.

Any ideas of how to isolate the problem?
Where would the head gasket have to leak from to maintain compression and power.
I have a shop and can do the work myself...more of a pain in the ass.
Any tips on removing the head?

thanks
mike

 

[joey]

Head gaskets... if on the compression side will provide loss of power, if not it will cause coolant leaks.

Unless I am mistaken... if you have no loss of power, then it isn't the compression side.

You don't mention abnormal coolant usage. Keep in mind all rovers use coolant

 

[nowearshoes]

98 Disco head gasket problems???

I have not had any coolant usage problems yet.
Are there any areas at the gasket head interface where the gasket could blow out and not cross over the water jacket?

Mike

 

[joey]

Normally it will either blow out on the compression or water side. Other wise it really wouldn't be a bad gasket.

 

[nowearshoes]

98 disco head gasket

Under conditions other than normal ones, where else could the exhaust blow from across the head gasket?

thanks mike

 

[nowearshoes]

head gasket light bulb

Joey,

By compression or coolant side you meant head or block side respectively yes? Took me a bit for it to sink in.

 

[joey]

correct.

 

[LR_TANK]

have you consider taking a look at the gaskets for the exhaust manifolds? because that's the same problem that i'm having with mine (again) and i know is not a HG becuase i re-built my engine last november. the 1st time it was the exhaust manifold gaskets that were bad so take a look at those and if you live in Las Vegas there is an independent shop that only works in rovers that you should consider its by the Rio hotel and casino.

 

[basstard440]

Check around on the web, I had a cracked block and found a turnkey motor with 23,000+ on it for $3500.00 shipped to my mechanic.

 

[nowearshoes]

98 Disco w Head gasket problem

I replaced the exchaust manifold gaskets a year ago. Note, LR had a recall on the driver side exhaust manifold due to stress cracking on one of the down ports. LR will replace it at no cost.

Itook it to a mechanic and the problem, head gasket, has been fixed. He also replaced the other gaskets with a complete set including the timing chain cover gasket that was leaking also.

He also had the head surfaced and mag checked for cracks and all was good.
total cost was 2 grand.

Thanks all

mike