2004 Land Rover Discovery engine problem

DiscoKids

Well-known member
Oct 16, 2006
248
0
South Carolina
In Aug. 2011 I took in my 2004 Land Rover Discovery SE7 with 126,000 miles for an oil change; I also told them to check over because during the last month it had failed to start up immediately two or three times but would start after a short wait. They told me I needed a starter, and when they got in to repair they found it had oil in the starter and told me I'd need to have the valve cover gaskets replaced. I agreed as they said if I didn't have them replaced the new starter would go out. During the test drive after repairs they discovered another oil leak, the lower intake gasket. I decided to take it to a shop that worked mostly on Land Rovers. First, I drove it home and checked the oil twice a day. I found it was leaking a quart every 3 days. When I took it to the Rover shop they told me I needed all the gaskets replaced, head gasket and all and that I should be able to drive it another 80-100,000 miles as it ran so good. I agreed to this expensive job over $3000, and when they completed the job 4 days later they said all I needed was a full tank of gas and I could go anywhere. I drove about 5 miles and started smelling oil. I drove home and the next morning there was oil all on the driveway; it was a quart low. I drove it back to the shop after putting in oil. That was September 30th. My Land Rover has been in tha shop since that time and today is Nov. 4th. They've told me they can't get the gasket to stay on as there is pressure building up. They said it was two bad cylinders so they would need to replace the pistons and rings in those two nnd hone the cylinders. This would cost over $1000 but I seemed to have no choice and the owner said it was the problem and the pressure buildup situation would be eliminated aftr doing this. That was a week ago, and I was told yesterday that this didn't work and it needs a new motor and I should come and pay them and take it to trade in on another car. They said the gasket will not stay on as the pressure is still building up and blowing it out. I need an expert's opinion as I am worried now that a lot of damage has been done to my Rover by taking it apart and honing the cylinders. I have never had any problems with the motor before.
 

KyleT

Well-known member
Mar 28, 2007
6,059
8
39
Fort Worth, TEXAS
you need a different shop.

I have never seen honing and new rings fix a pressure building issue, or any other issue at that... either a head is cracked, or the liner is loose or the block is cracked.
 

ChrismonDA

Well-known member
May 2, 2004
1,873
0
51
NC Johnston Co
You need to turn them into the SC Attorney Generals Office sounds like you have been ripped off bad. Sorry to hear that. One question is that motor a 4.6?
 

Some Dude

Well-known member
Feb 12, 2009
1,590
0
Boise, ID
Of course it's a 4.6. All 03-04 discos have that engine.

I'm no expert but it sounds like a crack somewhere to me. I'd have a chat with the shop about the fact that they charged you out the ass per their own diagnosis and never solved the problem. I moonlight doing tech work and I've never charged a customer for a problem I couldn't fix.
 

discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,733
1,023
Northern Illinois
Wow that really sucks. How can a guy do all that work and send it out leaking that badly ? And to put valve cover gaskets on it then hit you for the whole intake gasket job was a real dick move .
 

ChrismonDA

Well-known member
May 2, 2004
1,873
0
51
NC Johnston Co
Some Dude said:
Of course it's a 4.6. All 03-04 discos have that engine.

I'm no expert but it sounds like a crack somewhere to me. I'd have a chat with the shop about the fact that they charged you out the ass per their own diagnosis and never solved the problem. I moonlight doing tech work and I've never charged a customer for a problem I couldn't fix.


My bad, I was not familiar with that soooo sorry!!!