 | Home > Tdi > 300TDi very slow coolant loss |
 
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| landy andy Member Since: 15 Feb 2009 Location: Ware, Herts Posts: 5726  
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Is it falling below the low line on the reservoir?
Years ago I was frequently topping up the coolant on a vehicle to the max line, only for it to drop to the min mark after a while. Eventually I found that the system was pushing some out when hot and low mark is where it wanted to be. It never went below that level. Just a thought. |
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20th Jul 2024 8:37am |
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| MercianRover Member Since: 07 Apr 2022 Location: Culworth Posts: 141  
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That's an interesting thought, maybe I'll see what happens when it gets to the low level.
The only concern I have is the Land-Rover header tank cap / level switch isn't adjustable so I was using that as the set point for "not enough". That said the warning light only illuminated when the vehicle was parked on the drive (sloping) so maybe the level, although low, is actually OK. Slightly off-topic I can post the wiring diagram and parts used if there is interest - I bought the cap / level switch separately, use the "transmission temp high" light to warn (because it's red and looks a bit like a water pump) and have a latch / timer with a delay (I think 5 seconds) to prevent false alarms. Only change I'd make is to add a buzzer. |
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20th Jul 2024 8:43am |
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| I Like Old Skool Member Since: 23 Feb 2015 Location: Manchester Posts: 814 
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P-gasket. Search it, it's a common fault. Leaks when warm and engine heat evaporates the dribble before it is visible. My 300tdi was doing the same for ages until I tracked it down. Such a slow loss of liquid it makes you doubt if you even have a leak......[/url]
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20th Jul 2024 8:57am |
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| Chicken Drumstick Member Since: 17 Aug 2020 Location: Near MK Posts: 751
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I wouldn’t worry too much. The Tdi is a stout and very simple engine. If the leak isn’t obvious just chuck a Radweld or similar in it and only sort it out if it becomes a bigger problem down the line. |
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20th Jul 2024 9:20am |
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| Mdm Member Since: 11 Sep 2013 Location: Sunny Lancashire Posts: 1623
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small leaks can be hard to find . pinhole in a pipe , leaky p gaskets are quite common.
easiest way is to pressure test the cooling system. most 4x4 garages will have a tester and dont charge a lot to do it. if no visible leaks then a sniff test or coolant test to see if you have a blown head gasket. im not a fan of radweld etc as a 1st line of fixing a leak. its a temp solution and is know to gunk things up, small water ways etc. if i was to use it i would drain the coolant. use product until leak stops. drain system and add fresh coolant. |
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20th Jul 2024 2:28pm |
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| TomB8 Member Since: 17 Nov 2022 Location: West Sussex Posts: 115 
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If you've checked everything else thoroughly, I'll second the p gasket recommendation. I wasn't going to go that far when I replaced my water pump but glad I did as the p gasket was original and in a bad way.
There was no obvious signs of leaking as shown on YouTube videos, just a very slight loss of coolant over time - not as much as you're reporting. The gasket is about £1 and takes a couple hours so well worth it to eliminate that as a point of failure. For the sake of a few more quid you could go ahead and replace all the coolant pipes... Sounds obvious but make sure none of them touch pulleys. Found one of mine almost worn through and I'm pretty anal. The other place mine likes to leak is the bottom rad hose if the clip isn't tightened right down, no idea why it needs to be so tight but there we go. You could modify your old coolant cap and make your own pressure tester if you are so inclined. |
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21st Jul 2024 10:43am |
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| Mo Murphy Member Since: 01 Jun 2008 Location: Letchworth Garden City, Herts Posts: 2244 
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P gasket or core plug would be my first places to look.
Mo The Land Rover 90 - Many are called, few are chosen. 50 Shades of Pennine Grey |
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21st Jul 2024 6:51pm |
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| MercianRover Member Since: 07 Apr 2022 Location: Culworth Posts: 141
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It's the P gasket, I stopped a trickle this morning.
Thank you for the interest. |
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27th Jul 2024 11:45am |
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| sako243 Member Since: 08 Jul 2014 Location: Wales Posts: 1223  
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I wouldn't bother, Radweld and similar are supposed to be put in then have the entire system drained and refilled so it doesn't clog up the internals of the cooling system. They're not difficult engines to diagnose or find issues on and they're pretty robust so just find and fix the issues properly. Ed 82 Hotspur Sandringham 6x6 95 Defender 110 300Tdi |
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27th Jul 2024 12:17pm |
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| MercianRover Member Since: 07 Apr 2022 Location: Culworth Posts: 141
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Predictive text replaced "spotted" with "stopped".
I spotted the leak by the P gasket. Since it needs surgery at some point to cure an oil leak in that area I'll get that fixed at the same time. |
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27th Jul 2024 4:10pm |
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| I Like Old Skool Member Since: 23 Feb 2015 Location: Manchester Posts: 814
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I would like to say I told you so  |
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27th Jul 2024 9:31pm |
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