 | Home > Puma (Tdci) > Coolant bubbles |
 
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| Ianh Member Since: 17 Sep 2018 Location: Essex Posts: 2408  
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I’ve never looked inside the header tank, mostly as it’s the standard one so no sight glass on side and the bonnet in way to look in top. So bubbles may be normal, especially with the cap off.
If not normal, then there is a possibility of the EGR cooler letting a small amount of exhaust gasses into the coolant.However failure of the EGR cooler is mostly associated with the 2.2 not the 2.4. To test you could temporarily remove the coolant hoses from the EGR and join them together. Run engine and see if bubbles are still there or not. Ps, does the IRB heater valve give more control over the heat into the vehicle, the standard one seams to be more of an on / off device . Last edited by Ianh on 8th Jun 2025 2:06pm. Edited 1 time in total |
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8th Jun 2025 2:04pm |
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| SilverPuma Member Since: 27 Oct 2023 Location: Devon Posts: 51 
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EGR cooler bypassed years ago so not in play 👍🏻 2010 2.4 TDCI Puma Defender 90
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8th Jun 2025 2:05pm |
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| MK Member Since: 28 Aug 2008 Location: Santiago Posts: 2475  
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IMHO it does not look normal. For a peace of mind I would run an exhaust fume test. Puma 110" SW
............................................................. Earth first. Other planets later |
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8th Jun 2025 2:08pm |
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| Ianh Member Since: 17 Sep 2018 Location: Essex Posts: 2408
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Good point , A RELD test is a relatively cheap thing to do with a cheap tester priced at around £20. So worth a go.
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8th Jun 2025 2:31pm |
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| SilverPuma Member Since: 27 Oct 2023 Location: Devon Posts: 51
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Sort of knew this was likely solution but wary of the results I guess! Like I say no other issues at all…… 2010 2.4 TDCI Puma Defender 90
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8th Jun 2025 2:33pm |
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| Ianh Member Since: 17 Sep 2018 Location: Essex Posts: 2408
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Men treat Head gaskets and our own health in the same way. We have a strong feeling of what the issue is, but avoid testing in case we are proved right
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8th Jun 2025 2:56pm |
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| Johan_B Member Since: 20 Sep 2024 Location: Gothenburg Posts: 106  
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I had the same last time I looked this fall. Received same advice but couldn’t find a RELD and then more acute problems emerged elsewhere on the truck which caught my attention.
What I did do before I forgot about the problem was to attach a small plastic bag with a rubber band instead of the cap, and then ran the engine for 5 minutes. My thinking was that if all these bubbles was exhaust gases they would inflate the bag. But nothing. The bag was one of those to freeze food in and hadn’t been fully opened, so even small amount of gases should have shown. Still not sure if this is a good way to judge the problem. |
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8th Jun 2025 3:12pm |
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| SilverPuma Member Since: 27 Oct 2023 Location: Devon Posts: 51
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Thanks all. Block / gas tester ordered, just needed that final nudge
 2010 2.4 TDCI Puma Defender 90 |
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8th Jun 2025 5:31pm |
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| jbcollier Member Since: 29 Apr 2024 Location: Edmonton AB Posts: 249  
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If the head gasket/head is leaking, then the cooling system will pressurize. Major gasket failure is obvious but minor issues can be tough to diagnose. With a completely cold engine, check the coolant level. Then check it after a good run. Is the coolant level lower? Does the level go back to normal if you release the cap? Is it still pressurized even after it cools down? These are all signs of a head/head gasket leak.
If you engine was chipped, I would change the head as well. Mine had micro-cracks that even passed a machine shops pressure testing but would still slowly pressurize the cooling system. |
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9th Jun 2025 1:44pm |
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| bear100 Member Since: 22 Mar 2010 Location: South Wales Posts: 2015  
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Top tip do the RELD test with a good warmed engine, an hour drive at least.
i had issues with mine and the RELD would show normal if i went on a round the block 30 min drive which threw a spanner in the works! my symptoms were after a 3 hour drive the coolant would escape through the cap and as time would go on the heater matrix would air lock. i ended up changing the head gasket (head was skimmed and passed the pressure test) for it to only last a few months, in the end it was the head that was faulty with micro fractures. i done the job myself with a new head which was daunting at the time but really enjoyed it and now the engine is back to normal and rock solid. I'm only a heating engineer but i would say bubbles is not normal. 2023 Defender L663 V8 2016 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 TDV8 (gone) 2010 110 XS Utility 2.4TDCI 2010 Range Rover Sport TDV8 (gone) 2007 Discovery HSE TDV6 (gone) 1993 110 csw 200 tdi (gone) 1994 90 HT 300 tdi (gone) 1994 discovery 300tdi (gone) 90 hybrid 3.5 v8 (gone) Range rover bobtail 3.5 v8 (gone) |
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10th Jun 2025 7:31am |
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| SilverPuma Member Since: 27 Oct 2023 Location: Devon Posts: 51
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How long would you say it took to change over the head in hours? 2010 2.4 TDCI Puma Defender 90
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10th Jun 2025 9:51pm |
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| jbcollier Member Since: 29 Apr 2024 Location: Edmonton AB Posts: 249
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After a pressure test, my machine shop declared my head good despite micro-cracking in the combustion chamber. I fit a new head, regardless. They are not very expensive measured against the expense of doing it twice.
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11th Jun 2025 1:02am |
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| jbcollier Member Since: 29 Apr 2024 Location: Edmonton AB Posts: 249
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You are an experienced mechanic, all the parts and the manual to hand? 3 to 4 hours.
You are reasonably competent but forget to order a few things and occasional find yourself scratching your head as to what's next? 6 to 8 hours spread over 2 to 3 non-consecutive days. |
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11th Jun 2025 1:19am |
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| bear100 Member Since: 22 Mar 2010 Location: South Wales Posts: 2015
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As JB said, but it took me a bit longer because i wanted to clean and freshen up the some of the parts in there.
i used the Land Rover manual, Haines manual and youtube to help me along with it. if you thinking about it i can list the bits you would need. 
 Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge 2023 Defender L663 V8 2016 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 TDV8 (gone) 2010 110 XS Utility 2.4TDCI 2010 Range Rover Sport TDV8 (gone) 2007 Discovery HSE TDV6 (gone) 1993 110 csw 200 tdi (gone) 1994 90 HT 300 tdi (gone) 1994 discovery 300tdi (gone) 90 hybrid 3.5 v8 (gone) Range rover bobtail 3.5 v8 (gone) |
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11th Jun 2025 7:00am |
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