Coolant - Disco 2

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hywy61

Well-known member
May 25, 2004
725
0
atlanta, ga
What coolant for my Disco 2?

I used the Land Rover XLC last time but now I have a leak. Still diagnosing the issue as the expansion tank only seems to go low after a few days. I have a new cap on order to test that first. Meanwhile need to know what pre-mix 50/50 solution I can use to top it off. Zerex? Any OAT?
 
Howski

Howski

Well-known member
Oct 19, 2009
1,493
211
Alabama
In my and other experience Dexcool tends to kill headgaskets on the RV8. I always immediately swapped to standard green coolant with no issues whatsoever
 
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boxster

boxster

Well-known member
Jun 1, 2009
479
96
Fallbrook Ca.
hywy61 said:
What coolant for my Disco 2?

I used the Land Rover XLC last time but now I have a leak. Still diagnosing the issue as the expansion tank only seems to go low after a few days. I have a new cap on order to test that first. Meanwhile need to know what pre-mix 50/50 solution I can use to top it off. Zerex? Any OAT?
Click to expand...
A pressure tester will give the best results when looking for coolant leak. Coolant reservoir will leak a the seam. Tighten hose clamps first. Then do a pressure test.
 
StangGT5

StangGT5

Well-known member
Feb 4, 2019
295
131
Atlanta, GA
Green coolant is ok. If I buy a Rover that's running it I'll keep it that way until a rebuild or flush.

Zerex G05 is my gold standard coolant for aluminum engines.
 
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hywy61

Well-known member
May 25, 2004
725
0
atlanta, ga
Not switching coolant types. I have used the orange for all these years and the truck has 134K with no issues. Can i just top off with the Zerex G05?
 
StangGT5

StangGT5

Well-known member
Feb 4, 2019
295
131
Atlanta, GA
hywy61 said:
Not switching coolant types. I have used the orange for all these years and the truck has 134K with no issues. Can i just top off with the Zerex G05?
Click to expand...
No, you should not mix Zerex G05 with Dexcool.

If you're married to the orange sludge, that's what you need to "top off" with. You can get "universal" coolant, but Dexcool doesn't play that well with it and you're at the parts store already.
 
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hywy61

Well-known member
May 25, 2004
725
0
atlanta, ga
K-rover

K-rover

Well-known member
Jan 15, 2010
2,174
67
Raleigh, NC
hywy61 said:
This is what I currently have. I guess I can just buy this again but is there anything else I can use?

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The point is that it doesn't matter what you use, but you shouldn't mix different types. So if thats what you've used. Thats what you top it off with.
 
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BarryO

Well-known member
May 15, 2018
98
8
Bend, OR
I just had my head gaskets done so I could have gone with whatever I wanted; my mechanic uses the yellow P-HOAT "universal" coolant in Discos. That's fine w. me since that's what I was using to replenish the levels beforehand. It's nice since I'm lazy and I can pick it up pre-mixed at the Home Depot nearby.
 
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hywy61

Well-known member
May 25, 2004
725
0
atlanta, ga
This leak has me confounded. Can't see any fluids on the ground nor in engine compartment. I don't have a pressure tester. Overflow tank has been low. I filled up to cold level. Son drives to school on secondary roads about 20 miles round trip. Coolant level drops only after a few days. Not consistent. If there was a leak it would seem like every time he drives, it would drop. I just replaced the overflow tank cap as I know those go bad sometimes and haven't tested that yet. Hopefully that is it. I have replaced the water pump before when i saw coolant trickling down so it's not that.

2000 DII - 135K
 
boxster

boxster

Well-known member
Jun 1, 2009
479
96
Fallbrook Ca.
hywy61 said:
This leak has me confounded. Can't see any fluids on the ground nor in engine compartment. I don't have a pressure tester. Overflow tank has been low. I filled up to cold level. Son drives to school on secondary roads about 20 miles round trip. Coolant level drops only after a few days. Not consistent. If there was a leak it would seem like every time he drives, it would drop. I just replaced the overflow tank cap as I know those go bad sometimes and haven't tested that yet. Hopefully that is it. I have replaced the water pump before when i saw coolant trickling down so it's not that.

2000 DII - 135K
Click to expand...
Have you checked the oil dipstick for coolant, could have head gasket or intake manifold also front cover leak. Might be worth getting it pressure tested to see where it’s going.
 
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kris812

kris812

Well-known member
Jun 11, 2014
266
93
Tucson AZ
I've had a slow coolant leak from my radiator on the oil lines for years. It will leak down the radiator and puddle underneath on the tray. So until it leaks a lot, it doesn't drip.

It's a Rover, if it ain't leaking, it's low on fluids.

It's a Rover, it's sweating horsepower.
 
JUKE179r

JUKE179r

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2016
767
95
Suffolkshire, UK
I don’t know why but the Brits over here love the orange DexCool for their engines.
I drained all of mine and added 50/50 Zerex G04 coolant to my Thor petrol engine.
 
mlnnc

mlnnc

Well-known member
Mar 23, 2008
267
31
Charlotte
hywy61 said:
... I don't have a pressure tester. ...
Click to expand...
If you are in the U.S., the major auto parts chains all have loan-a-tool programs where you can check out a pressure test kit for $0 net (after you return it).

I've used the kit from AutoZone. The part number is 940427T. The orange adapter fits the DII coolant reservoir. You just screw the adapter onto the reservoir, attach the pump, and pump up the system to 18 psi. Do not overpressurize the system. Then grab your flashlight and check for leaks. You likely know the throttle body heater gasket is a well-known failure point.

 
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