How long will it last?

[Zeus]

99 disco

What is the expected life of a disco engine?

I have 80k and a the head is starting to leak a little coolant.

Should I drive it till it blows?
Can I use stop leak to prolong the agony?
Should I get a motor job done now?

I would really like to wait a year if I could.

 

[blitzkreig]

Are you talking anti-freeze into your oil?

 

[Zeus]

No coolant in the oil. I just changed it 600 miles ago and the oil is clear of water.
The leak is on the front of the head. Just a thin stream snaking down the block.
The coolant level hasn't moved really since it started. Just stinks once in a while and leaves a drip on the the driveway the size of a quarter.

 

[blitzkreig]

OK. No direct Disco experience but I had the same issue last summer at the intake manifold in a Ford Econoline Van.

A gasket job would cost maybe $500.00 as it is so hard to get to because the engine is so far into the cabin in a full sized Ford van. I think you actually have to get to it through the "dog house" in-between the front seats.

I got some aluminium based radiator stop leak stuff at NAPPA for about $5.00.

It stooped the leak in about 10 minutes ... I think there is a risk that you might plug up your heater core but I had no problems.

 

[LMRW]

the engine should last a long time , providing you mantain it! keep up with the preventive mentance . it will would probablly only last a year if you never changed the oil and last maybe twenty minutes with no coolant. so...........

 

[Todd Nash]

93,458 miles

The answer to your question is 93,458 miles.

That's how long my 99 DI engine lasted.

Nash

p.s. Results may vary.

 

[hywy61]

common problem on DIIs - Zeus

You don't need a new engine. The intake gasket/valley gasket is bad. When they replace that have them do the spark plugs wires if they are close to needing replaced.

 

[Zeus]

I have already tightened the intake manifold and stopped that leak.
My plugs and wires are up todate.
Valve cover gasket is sweating - not leaking.
The coolant is coming out between the head and the block.
If the engine is going to need to be rebuild, say around 120k, then I would juice it up with some Bar's Stop Leak.
Or should I just rebuild now?

 

[LMRW]

how much money do you have? now later its up to you.