Small Coolant leak...Blow Head Gasket?

[maverick544]

Hey all,

Just took the 02 LR DII to the mechanic to have the downpipe gasket for the exchaust fixed and got some bad news. They stated that their is a "blown" Head Gasket and that their is a small coolant leak on both heads although the driver side is the worse of the two. They quoted me $1300 bucks to get fixed. Now, I haven't noticed any difference in performance, any coolant discoloration, any temperature increase, any coolant leaking on the ground or even a decrease in coolant in the past 6 months. Now before I go throwing money at them, I'm thinking about getting a 2nd opinion from the LR Dealership here in Tampa, they said they will look at it an run some pressure test for $106 which I think might be the best idea before I throw all my money at them. I have also read that LR's are notorious for coolant leaks and that most people just live with them and check their fluids routinly. What do you guys think?

[ealex]

Having just experienced a headgasket failure, I have a few thoughts for you:

1. The indepedent LR shop here wanted $1800 for the job. (The dealer was more) $1300 is a bit low - look out for non-genuine parts.

2. Most likely the dealership wants to do a compression test. The equipment required to do one yourself is around $30. The process is simple. If that's all they are doing for $106 - do it yourself.

3. If there is no intermixing of oil and coolant, or no adjacent cylinders are low on pressure, the head gasket can still be blown. Diagnosing that can be a bit of

Good luck!

[Steph]

And if there's no trace of oil in the coolant creating a chocolate milkshake type of liquid that will show on the dipstick, no trace of oil in the coolant, no white smoke on start-up from the tailpipe, or no black smoke while running, again from the tail pipe, all mean that there's no internal leakage and the situation can wait a little if you keep on monitoring the symptoms listed above.

It doesn't mean that these symptoms will not come, but asince you're not loosing coolant....... I still think that a coolant pressure test is a must a.s.a.p

Some people have driven as long as a few years with an external HG leak, by closely monitoring all the levels and watching for symptoms.

Steph.

[wimp]

although, if they are going to use quality gaskets and factory head bolts, etc. and they also do the valley gasket, $1300 is a deal for a fresh set of installed gaskets. depending on the year and mileage of the car, have them do extra stuff while they are in there (wires maybe, scrub intake, etc) anything that they expose while doing the gasket jobs should be done in my opinion (depending on mileage of course).

just my .02

[Disco Mike]

I agree with the other posts. I am also one of those that went for a good 2 years with coolant seeping from the front corners of the heads, granted I checked the coolant level all the time, usually adding a pint every two weeks of normal driving. Finally went and changed them when the left head started blowing bubbles between number 3 and 5 cylinders.
I paid $1420 for my head gasket replacement, they did you all factory parts and I supplied the engine oil and filter.
Also as mentioned, you don't need to spend $100 plus at the dealers for a second option, go by a radiator shop, they normally have the tools to do the same pressure test.
Mike

[Steph]

I'd like to know what you guys think about the kit from Atlantic British, that claims to have gaskets that are coated to avoid the returning of the HG leakage. That's the kit I am intending to get eventually, but would like your inputs. The way I see it, is that it's illogical to go with the same factory kit that started leaking at such early mileage. Unless, they corrected the material of the gaskets.

Wadayatink???

[Disco Mike]

The kit that the factory is now selling is an updated kit that became available little over two years ago, probably the same kit that AB is now selling.
If you don't wont to mess with the kit, just by pass the t/body and put a small piece of copper pipe between the two hoses, I did that 2 years ago and haven't looked back.
Mike

[Steph]

The throttle body gasket was changed last febuary, along with the intake manifold gasket. The throttle body doesn't leak, and actually never did. They just recommended changing it and I gave them the O.K. As far as the intake goes, I guess that they'll have to do it again when they do the head gasket

If you think that atlantic British is selling the updated Head gasket kit, that's great!!! Cause it's about half price of what the dealer wants for it. and that's complete with the bolts and all.

[Phlawed]

my small leak turned out to be a disaster for me. They ended up having to do a complete engine oil/coolant gasket replacement on entire engine. $2000 from independant shop.

[stolenheron]

i've blown engines before (not in rovers) but its never been a fun or cheap experience. best of luck