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Home > Technical > coolant leak |
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chicken george Member Since: 05 Dec 2007 Location: N. Yorks Posts: 13289 |
my Audi did same, it was thought to be the exhaust gas recirculation, turned out to be a cracked head, warranty job in my case At work
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31st Mar 2011 4:17 pm |
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superspark Member Since: 24 May 2009 Location: Devon Posts: 877 |
If your oil is normal " no milkey colour " and theres no oil in your water then the head and gasket is fine.
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31st Mar 2011 5:27 pm |
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Past master Member Since: 30 Jun 2010 Location: Isle of Ely Posts: 2710 |
Traditionally the first step is to check for coolant leaks, the second is to replace the pressure cap in case it is opening at the wrong pressure. If this was a TD5 I'd say you very likely have a cracked head, but I'm not aware of similar problems (yet) with the FR2 engines. Heater matrix is indeed another possibility: smell of anti-freeze in car. If it's a cracked head you will probably eventually notice white smoke (actually steam) from the exhaust. |
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31st Mar 2011 5:33 pm |
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sufe Member Since: 31 Mar 2011 Location: kent Posts: 8 |
Went into dealers yesterday. Leaking radiator drain plug replaced. |
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20th Apr 2011 6:35 pm |
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Mona Geeza Member Since: 22 May 2010 Location: Devon Posts: 1293 |
Bit easier than a cracked head then. were there no drips on the floor as a giveaway or was it all in the sump guard? I was only wrong once and thats when I thought I was but wasnt. 2010 Freelander 2 XS Stornaway Grey 2010 Aston DBS Morning Frost 2010 Bentley Continental Brooklands Green |
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23rd Apr 2011 3:35 pm |
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Cagliere Member Since: 19 Sep 2010 Location: London Posts: 10 |
I had a similar problem back in September 2010. Loss of coolant started after a trip to the lake district. 500 ml. Problem has got a lot worse and yesterday after a trip from London to Liverpool lost 2 litres of coolant. Started up car today and wham!White smoke pouring out of the exhaust for a mile then nothing. Checked over car, no sludge in the oil filler cap nothing untoward in the expansion tank and nothing on the dip stick. Can smell coolant coming out of exhaust. I would hate to think that this model has a head gasket problem, it might be the egr valve blowing coolant from it's cooling sleeve straight into the inlet manifold but I will find out tomorrow when I take it to the dealers.
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29th Apr 2011 4:59 pm |
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alex_pescaru Member Since: 12 Mar 2009 Location: RO Posts: 4642 |
That it's normal. It's the water that condense on the cold exhaust pipes and then slowly evaporates during heat-up of the pipes. Sometimes you will even see water pouring out from the exhaust tailpipe of a car during a sporty take-off... This of course, only during warming up stage of that car's engine. |
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29th Apr 2011 5:47 pm |
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Past master Member Since: 30 Jun 2010 Location: Isle of Ely Posts: 2710 |
But Alex, normal exhaust condensation would not smell of anti-freeze. I have had these symptoms three times on different cars and it was a cracked head each time, although as I wrote above, I'm not aware of cracked head problems on the TD4 engine. TD5 is another matter. |
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29th Apr 2011 10:17 pm |
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superspark Member Since: 24 May 2009 Location: Devon Posts: 877 |
water will always build up in the exhaust pipe this is due to moisture in the atmosphere which is drawn into the engine during the normal running conditions. As the exhaust gases cool the water vapour condenses inside the exhaust pipe returning to water droplets, these build up and run out of the pipe from time to time, thats why exhausts usualy rust out from the inside out.
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30th Apr 2011 9:32 am |
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Cagliere Member Since: 19 Sep 2010 Location: London Posts: 10 |
It is definitely not condensate. I put two litres of water in a cold engine having covered 240 miles in a day. Fired it up and the smoke was incredible! As I said before no oil loss or build up of gunk ie oil and water mix in any of the normal places. Took the car to the dealer this morning. Unfortunately he is booked up for three weeks and I have to be back in London tomorrow. Told me it could be the egr valve the head gasket or the intercooler. I am going to go for intercooler or egr valve. A blown head gasket is too expensive to contemplate and not logical anyway. Am quite disappointed with the fault as the car still performed perfectly even since the start of the leakage.
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30th Apr 2011 12:57 pm |
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Past master Member Since: 30 Jun 2010 Location: Isle of Ely Posts: 2710 |
Pressure test may not find the problem - especially if the dealer doesn't want to do a warranty repair! When I had a head gasket go on my TD5 the Park Royal people (it wasn't Lookers back then) pressure tested it and said it was fine. A week later it was relayed back to them to do the head gasket, which they grudgingly did on warranty (and not a very good job either, but no reflection on Lookers as it was before they took over). The problem may only be occurring when engine is hot (this would allow water into cylinders, egr or whatever once it stops, which explains the clouds of steam when you start it).
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30th Apr 2011 1:09 pm |
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Cagliere Member Since: 19 Sep 2010 Location: London Posts: 10 |
Thanks for the advise. I noticed that I do not lose any coolant until I switch off the engine and on fire up and a few hundred yards travel, the coolant warning light comes on. My theory is that the residual pressure on the system is somehow helping to exit the coolant into the engine area and perhaps straight into the exhaust system. The water loss stops when the pressure has dropped sufficiiently to prevent the leak. I have no problems starting it and so do not suspect coolant in cylinders which should give a problem starting the car. There is no pinking or loss of performance.
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4th May 2011 10:14 pm |
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Past master Member Since: 30 Jun 2010 Location: Isle of Ely Posts: 2710 |
For anyone else reading this, coolant loss after switching off usually indicates a knackered water pump bearing. I've had that on several cars but not on a Land Rover. However your coolant seems to be finding its way into the exhaust, so it's not a soluition for you, I'm afraid. |
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4th May 2011 10:26 pm |
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Cagliere Member Since: 19 Sep 2010 Location: London Posts: 10 |
OK
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12th May 2011 12:44 pm |
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