possible head gasket?

[az_max]

Over the past year I've had issues with the cooling system over pressurizing. It took out two hoses, a coolant over flow and a heater core. I don't have steam out the tailpipe, no coolant in the oil and the Autozone test kit didn't report any gasses in the coolant. Just keep blowing hoses. I've been smelling coolant for the past week since I took my trailer up to Prescott. I didn't see anything dripping, and didn't seem to be losing any coolant. But this weekend, I picked up the trailer and headed over to the garage to work on it and was greeted by a puddle under the truck. It's leaking between the engine and firewall, I think on the firewall side. I don't see anything wet on the heater pipes, so I'm guessing it's the heater core again. :banghead:

Does this sound like a head gasket is letting loose?

 

[az_max]

oh, all new hoses in the past year and the lower one is bulging out at both ends of the tee

 

[robisonservice]

Whenever you have multiple cooling system failures you have to ask if excess pressure is the cause. If so, the usual reason is cracks in the block behind the cylinder liners. I've written a number of articles on Land Rover block and liner failure. Obviously we are just speculating based on what you say, but it's a very common situation especially on 2003-4 vehicles.

They will not fail a combustion gas test like you did in the early stages of failure.

 

[KyleT]

Bosch? Thermostat.

 

[az_max]

This is a 90 RRC, 3.9 gems.

 

[eliaschristeas]

never under estimate the power of a fucked radiator. can create a host of symptoms that look like HG problems... have you ever serviced the heads on that thing? go get your radiator rodded.... also... you will "pass" a block test if coolant is leaking out of the motor... as opposed to a break in a fire ring meeting a water jacket....

 

[az_max]

I have a new thermostat on it's way (as well as the radiator fill plug that broke). I can R&R the radiator this week. I'll need to bypass the heater core as it leaks out most of the coolant overnight.

 

[az_max]

never under estimate the power of a fucked radiator. can create a host of symptoms that look like HG problems... have you ever serviced the heads on that thing? go get your radiator rodded.... also... you will "pass" a block test if coolant is leaking out of the motor... as opposed to a break in a fire ring meeting a water jacket....

Took me longer than I had planned. Radiator rodded ($160) and awaiting installation. Rad company said it was 95% blocked. Hard to believe since the cooling gauge never went above 1/3.

I got a compression tester and will run that this weekend to see if the back cylinders are down in compression.

 

[kk88rrc]

Hard to believe since the cooling gauge never went above 1/3.

Check it against an IR thermometer. It may be hotter than you think.

My gauge is similar. At first I thought it was just running cold but now that I'm almost done the the top end rebuild & temp gauge install I think differently. I suspect the sender or voltage regulator now. VDO gauge will be much better.