Problems with anti-freeze levels

[JungleRR]

I have a 1988 RR and since i bought it I have been having the same problem with the anti-freeze levels.

When I go on a long ride (two-two and half hours) I turn the car off and walk away for two + days. (I usually only go on long car rides when I go camping) Anyway. When I come back the light is on saying the anti-freeze levels are down. I have had it checked for leaks with no luck. I check my fluids about once a week and when I don't drive it for long rides it's fine.

Anyone else have this problem?? Thanks for your time!

[Disco Mike]

So the big question is, are you having to add coolant, and how was it tested for leaks?
Mike

[ryanc8514]

yeah i seem to have the same problem..i think i fill up my coolant every 2 weeks. i cant find a leak anywhere and i dont know if my engine running hot (i think from low vescocity oil) has anything to do with it

[Disco Mike]

Originally Posted by ryanc8514

yeah i seem to have the same problem..i think i fill up my coolant every 2 weeks. i cant find a leak anywhere and i dont know if my engine running hot (i think from low vescocity oil) has anything to do with it

Your oil won't cause it to run warm, I would suggest you have some mechanic pressure test your coolant system and if need be do a chemical test for a head gasket failure.
Mike

[daway]

i had the samething happen to my RR last summer after i had to replace the rad. w/ new coils. i had the original in it still and the person before me didn't clean it out and the old copper coils got clogged up. after all that work the light started to go on again. things to check or replace or clean out:
the 2 wires that are connected to the cap, see if there lose or need to be replaced.
open the cap and see if the white sensior need to b cleaned out.
those were 2 things that worked for my RR.
good luck

[GKChesterton]

Some thoughts: It can leak out of the waterpump in a slow fashion and not very visible way but you should be able to smell it evaporating. Only other thing I can think of is its getting into the combustion chamber--headgasket/crack as was said above. Go to a radiator shop they can test for both under a 100 bucks. Best to get it over with instead of guessing.

[bullmkt]

I have a 1994 county 3.9 liter.. I was having coolant leaking out of the radiator cap. found one through DAP... Fixed that but still loosing some coolant with the sensors saying low every few days. Turned out the radiator had a slow leak, very hard to see. Replaced it and the waterpump at the same time. Expensive work but good for 100k now.

Paul

[kdkg]

Originally Posted by JungleRR

I have a 1988 RR and since i bought it I have been having the same problem with the anti-freeze levels.

I have your rigs twin... 88 artic blue. I also have a slight coolant leak. Mine is leaking at the neck. Hard to see since it goes under the intake. You can smell it though. I have given up trying to fix it. Replaced that seal way to many times. We (me and the rover) have a unspoken agreement now.

[JungleRR]

Originally Posted by kdkg

I have your rigs twin... 88 artic blue. I also have a slight coolant leak. Mine is leaking at the neck. Hard to see since it goes under the intake. You can smell it though. I have given up trying to fix it. Replaced that seal way to many times. We (me and the rover) have a unspoken agreement now.

Oh man... you only need to have the pedestrian pusher... then we'll be twins! That's awesome! I've only seen one other artic blue RR! Have you seen many before?

[kdkg]

I have a LR grill guard on my 90.

I have seen a few artic blue rigs.

I am more unique than yours... I have one white door. Results from a snowy day.

[Greg M]

Sorry to hear that. Definetly start with the other suggestions to eliminate the possiblities of a leak, but if you don't have a leak its only going one other place - out your exhaust. Blown head gasket my dear.

I've stated this before in other threads but EVERY motor pre 96 has a leaking headgasket to some degree.

If you look at your cylinder head, you will notice 14 bolts holding it on. The problem is the number 11 - 14 bolts (across the bottom) tweak the head gasket just enough to pull the upper head away from the block. It took rover 25 years to figure this out. New composite gaskets have eliminated the lower 4 bolts holes. They also recommend that anyone using a new steel shim gasket only torque the those bolts to 20lbs.

The only other cause is a slipped liner. However this was only a problem on the 3.9 (which you don't have). In an attempt to meet demand in the US for more HP Rover solved this cheaply by boring the 3.5 into a 3.9. The problem is it is very thin between the cylinder bore and the water jacket. Normally a cracked develops there over time. Since aluminum heats at a rate of 2x that of cast iron (liner), the liner eventually slips, and you will lose coolant into the pan. This is a bit over simplifying things, but i am tired of typing.

[mensley]

Originally Posted by JungleRR

Oh man... you only need to have the pedestrian pusher... then we'll be twins! That's awesome! I've only seen one other artic blue RR! Have you seen many before?

I've seen two, one was the parts car that I bought my interior off of , and the other runs around my neighborhood... they look pretty cool

my '88 is weird about coolant, it always pisses out coolant from the overflow on the resevoir everytime I park it... I'm replacing my fan blade, clutch & thermostat this weekend to quell my warm engine syndrome.

[OkieRover]

Are you all having the famous "head gasket leak"?
I know that was my problem with coolant blowing past the expansion cap.

[JungleRR]

Hey guys... going to check out your ideas today and tomorrow since I don't work....

Thanks again for all your ideas... I'm so thankful for the advice!