megliam
30th Dec 2007, 16:06
Hi folks, new on here,
just done a private deal on my first freelander, 2000, 3 dr hardback 1.8xei, 68k.
Drove back this morning from Edinburgh, approx first 100 miles drove superbly, then noticed the temp up near red, had been ok as was monitioring, pulled in right away and switched off engine, fans brought temp back down.
Found no water in expansion bottle, removed exp bottle top slowly and the bottle began to fill up again,bubbling and under pressure, slightly brown coloured liquid, removed top completely and water disappeared again after settling out, took approx 4 pints of water to top up after that,
Checked oil filler cap and exp tank top both clean, engine oil at correct level and no emulsifying.
fair bit of steam from exhaust, but temp was -1.
Drove it again gently on test seemed ok initially but then lumpy and underpowered, temp guage was at normal but dropped off completely, stopped after after this, total test approx 1 -2 miles and checked again, exp tank empty again and refilled itself when I removed exp bott top slowly again.
does this sound like a head gasket failure, can they go suddenly like this ?
Bit I dont get is the exp tank empty and then refilling when top removed.
Left car at a friends house some 40 miles away so to avoid any further damage until I can contact my local garage
Can this be cured by a simple head gasket change as I have read some horror stories of complete engine change required.
totally gutted as was looking forward to my first 4x4.
all info gratefully received
just done a private deal on my first freelander, 2000, 3 dr hardback 1.8xei, 68k.
Drove back this morning from Edinburgh, approx first 100 miles drove superbly, then noticed the temp up near red, had been ok as was monitioring, pulled in right away and switched off engine, fans brought temp back down.
Found no water in expansion bottle, removed exp bottle top slowly and the bottle began to fill up again,bubbling and under pressure, slightly brown coloured liquid, removed top completely and water disappeared again after settling out, took approx 4 pints of water to top up after that,
Checked oil filler cap and exp tank top both clean, engine oil at correct level and no emulsifying.
fair bit of steam from exhaust, but temp was -1.
Drove it again gently on test seemed ok initially but then lumpy and underpowered, temp guage was at normal but dropped off completely, stopped after after this, total test approx 1 -2 miles and checked again, exp tank empty again and refilled itself when I removed exp bott top slowly again.
does this sound like a head gasket failure, can they go suddenly like this ?
Bit I dont get is the exp tank empty and then refilling when top removed.
Left car at a friends house some 40 miles away so to avoid any further damage until I can contact my local garage
Can this be cured by a simple head gasket change as I have read some horror stories of complete engine change required.
totally gutted as was looking forward to my first 4x4.
all info gratefully received