Vanishing Water

[K2]

OK got a poser here and wondered if anyone has come across this before. It's the N reg 300 tdi I bought last year that blew it's head on the motorway. It will go along for weeks and then suddenly the heaters go cold and this makes you look at the temp guage which is fast approaching red Always the same thing I pull over stop the engine open the water filler and the whole lot has gone so I have to refill it while pumping the hose to the radiator to get it all circulating again. There is no method to it as it seems to go through spates and can be after to 2 miles of 20. Yet it towed the horses a couple of weeks ago and was fine, there is no leaks anywhere and of course we keep it topped up and coolant in. It seems to never loose water (we check daily) then suddenly ditches the lot. I am getting desperate now as the weather is getting warmer but I have to dirive around with heaters on to warn me when a problem is going to appear. Any ideas?

[Range Rover Blues]

It's probably loosing a tiny amount all the time, they seem to go for a while then spipt the dummy out.

I've had one go a thousand miles after putting a brand new head on, and it seems I'm not alone in that, guys here advised I only use an OEM gasket for one thing.

Another issue could be the rad is on it's way out, or the viscous fan, or both.  If it gets to a certain point and then overheats, it's a sort of "no-return" and keeps on heating up, that could be the fan.

We also had a member who found out his fan was running backwards, check for that :shock:

Try adding some K-Seal, it will find tiny gaps and leaks and put them to rights, even a failing gasket, both ours have gone between the block and the water pump housing after replacing the water pumps, couldn't be bothered int he dead of winter so I K-Sealed them both.

[K2]

Thanks for that, I will check the fan. I know it;s not the rad as it got a new one last year along with water pump as we were towing the boys a lot. I think OH put in K-Seal in the other night. I think I am going to put my old 200tdi back on the road as he is far more reliable.

[Range Rover Blues]

If you have done the water pump then check for signs of a water leak on the front passenger's corner of the engine block, moslty on the side below No1 exhaust elbow ;)

[4 landies]

 If it has only started since the head was done signs point to the gasket. Was the head skimmed before refitting ? Ive known a few people refit without having the head done and ended up having to do the whole job again.

[K2]

Thanks for all the help guys, nothing appears to apply to this one. When the head was fitted it was brand new along with all valves ect (it was Brit parts) It does not appear to loose water daily for an example I can leave the house and drive to the Spar which is 3 miles and it is up to temp. Leave it for 10 mins drive away and within a mile temp guage goes into red, heaters go freezing and it has ditched all it's water. It's just like it blows a hose and looses all the water except when you look there is no evidence :roll: But it does this with no pattern, no one knows the answer even Landrover, I think this is why the head blew in the first place, we were on the motorway suddenly lost power, back window filthy and temp guage had rocketed into the red. We pulled over and it had blown the head, want to avoid this again if I can.

[Range Rover Blues]

Souonds a bit like it's loosing it's water when you turn it off then.

What brand of head gasket did you use?

[4 landies]

Thanks for all the help guys, nothing appears to apply to this one. When the head was fitted it was brand new along with all valves ect (it was Brit parts) It does not appear to loose water daily for an example I can leave the house and drive to the Spar which is 3 miles and it is up to temp. Leave it for 10 mins drive away and within a mile temp guage goes into red, heaters go freezing and it has ditched all it's water. It's just like it blows a hose and looses all the water except when you look there is no evidence :roll: But it does this with no pattern, no one knows the answer even Landrover, I think this is why the head blew in the first place, we were on the motorway suddenly lost power, back window filthy and temp guage had rocketed into the red. We pulled over and it had blown the head, want to avoid this again if I can.

 Same thing happened to my 300 , kicking muck out the back and straight into the red with loss of power.

 That appeared to be the head but once in the garage and stripped it became much worse.

 Needed new head, new pistons, new rings , crank regrind and new radiator ( which was almost new at time ) along with a few other minor items ( wont mention the final bill )

 So without upsetting anybody it may be more than the head you damaged and may well be causing a knock on effect to your cooling system.

[Ja1983]

thermostat stuck?

could be intermittant, sometimes opens fine, others doesnt.... water boils, blows out of the expansion pipe.....

but if your having trouble with water i would definaatley keep an eye on the temp guage, as boiling it dry will do a lot of damage if you drive it till it dies!