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fondelli

Member Since: 21 Jul 2017
Location: northern ireland
Posts: 15

TD5 cooling system pressurising

Here is my first post. I recently bought a 90 TD5 as my first Defender. It drove fine on the journey home- about 200 miles. The next morning I got up and re-checked all the levels and I had to add about 4 litres of coolant. There is no overheating (yet). So far the focus has been on peripheral things (cap, tank, rad, thermostat). However the problem still exists. There is no sign of fluid cross contamination- but I am now thinking head gasket? Any thoughts from TD5 experts?

11th Aug 2017 7:36am

diesel_jim

Member Since: 13 Oct 2008
Location: hiding
Posts: 6031

Head gasket or crack in the head

11th Aug 2017 7:37am

fondelli

Member Since: 21 Jul 2017
Location: northern ireland
Posts: 15

Thanks- Is there any difference in the level of pressure created by both issues- ie is one normally greater than the other?

11th Aug 2017 8:08am

MadTom

Member Since: 10 Sep 2013
Location: Olomouc
Posts: 564

During last 2 year I was repairing several TD5 with coolant loss - typical is bad hose clips, chuffed hoses, bad expansion cap or another leak. And because of the placement of hoses, the leaking coolant can fully evaporate without any drips od road.
My solution, how to find this, was to disconnect the thin tube from expansion bottle and pressurize the cooling system with air up to aprox. 1 Bar. Without running engine, I can hear and see some drops or escaping air.
So try this first, before dismantling engine. Start with only 0,5 Bar of air pressure.

In the expansion bottle cap, there is a valve, opening at 1,4 Bar. "Drobek" = The Small One - Discovery 2, "Blufínek" = The Blue Thing - Defender 130, and for me at least Ford Mondeo

11th Aug 2017 8:22am

fondelli

Member Since: 21 Jul 2017
Location: northern ireland
Posts: 15

Thanks for this- expansion tank/cap are new.

11th Aug 2017 8:35am

stigomery

Member Since: 10 May 2016
Location: Cambridge
Posts: 277

You say the cooling system is pressurising? If you run the engine, then let it cool down, and then open the expansion tank, is it pressurised when cold? If yes, that's you head gasket I'm afraid.

Get a garage to "sniff" the coolant, a quick check and they'll soon tell you if the coolant is contiminated.

Had exactly the same issue with my Td5 at 90k miles

11th Aug 2017 8:44am

fondelli

Member Since: 21 Jul 2017
Location: northern ireland
Posts: 15

Thanks to everyone - so far. Will investigate further. I just want to rule out any peripheral issues before the head comes off.

11th Aug 2017 10:43am

Tommo

Member Since: 19 Dec 2013
Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 830

2006 Defender 90 Td5 Black LE Java Black

Hi mate, I'm sure you know this but make sure it is OAT (red) coolant when you fill up

11th Aug 2017 6:45pm

fondelli

Member Since: 21 Jul 2017
Location: northern ireland
Posts: 15

update

Well- latest is that head came off and was pressure tested. A nice crack in one of the ports- so not the usual place. New head needed.

24th Aug 2017 7:13pm

stigomery

Member Since: 10 May 2016
Location: Cambridge
Posts: 277

Bummer mate, I dread to think how much I've forked out in the first 18 months of ownership! Right now I'm praying I ain't got more trouble with my own head.

24th Aug 2017 8:32pm

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