Member Since: 07 Jul 2018
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 143
Found the cause of my low coolant level
Hi all,
slowly getting the D3 up to spec for a trip across france in a week or so - just had NSF driveshaft replaced, alternator, battery & full service....
Last on the list was the return of the low coolant level warning, had previously replaced the expansion bottle and thought it was time to do it again, but did note that the level was low but no leaks under the vehicle e.t.c.
topped it up (about 200ml) and drive an hour, start up and again, low coolant - decided to remove plastics and noted coolant around this piece:
It's front of the engine under the cover - coolant assembly?
Anything else to order for anyone who's done this apart from the housing itself?
2nd Aug 2020 3:03 pm
Sea Raider
Member Since: 01 Nov 2016
Location: None
Posts: 4450
Member Since: 07 Jul 2018
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 143
ah brill thanks for that - I couldn't be done with queueing to get into Halfords so ordered this from Amazon, cross checking it has the same sizes as the Halfords one:
Member Since: 14 Oct 2005
Location: Somerset
Posts: 1144
Landrover don't supply the o ring that fits it to the fuel cooler, (only a complete cooler!). You can get the o ring from Citroen/Peugeot, part number 198171
3rd Aug 2020 9:21 pm
lard
Member Since: 07 Jul 2018
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 143
I got the o ring as part of a generic kit from amazon - used a 18mm x 4mm one as the closest to the squashed one that came out - new part fitted and took about 60 mins all in
filled, drove, 30 mins in low coolant so left to cool down and topped it back up this morning when cold (took another 1/2 pint of coolant) and am now halfway between the two marks
Here's the offending part!
Can see the staining around the seam on it - will take it for another hour drive later and with luck the coolant level now stays put!
6th Aug 2020 1:02 pm
pagoda
Member Since: 13 Aug 2009
Location: Not London Anymore (or the US for that matter)
Posts: 1923
I played hunt the coolant leak on my V8 a couple of years ago. In my experience the entire plastic assembly (some 14 YO at the time) was just falling to bits and there were numerous tiny cracks. I thought I'd solved it with a new thermostat housing but it was just one crack. In the end cleaned up the engine bay with an all purpose cleaner and gently washed the areas that had known coolant leakage, then topped off, and ran the car as normal. I then used a black light in a dark garage to see where new leaks were - and there were new leaks. The coolant shows up brilliantly in black (UV) light. The black light was critical to chasing them down. Ended up replacing the entire housing. No more leaks.PAGODA
6th Aug 2020 4:11 pm
Prette
Member Since: 16 Mar 2020
Location: Previously Stoke-ST4 (pre-pandemic), Mostly The Hague (NL) partially Lyngby (DK) certainly somewhere
Posts: 160
Hi all, i may have the same issue and would like to know where exactly is located this part mentioned?
The last weeks have being veery hot here in the Netherlands and i am moving houses, so... No time to pay much attention on the car.
Strangely, driving the whole day in hot weather with AC on and car temperature is always in the middle.
Drive to my garage underground, no issue... Leave the car to cool overnight and the pond of coolant is formed.
It drops always just below the low level line in the coolant tank. But because i always had the annoying low collant message , I might have driven some hundreds miles(kms) with this issue without noticing and had no issue with overheating at all. Am i missing something. (Other than the leak whole? )
Thanks for the help
17th Aug 2020 12:09 am
pagoda
Member Since: 13 Aug 2009
Location: Not London Anymore (or the US for that matter)
Posts: 1923
As (I think it’s this thread) has been said, the gauge is not the best indicator of when you have a problem. It’s NOT a thermometer, it’s a gauge.
You need to find the leak. I found a black (UV) light really helped me. Made my leak (V8) easy to spot. Changed the part, and no trouble since.
You need to find the leak I’d suggest.PAGODA
17th Aug 2020 3:59 am
pgerman
Member Since: 16 Jun 2008
Location: Milton Keynes
Posts: 68
For the cost I would just replace the entire housing. As someone above states this housing perishes over time and starts to crack. Mine completely cracked a few weeks back when towing on the A34 near Newbury and the car lost all its coolant. Luckily I managed to get over quickly so no damage done.
Once the car was recovered home all it took was £40 on the part, £20 on coolant and less than an hour to do the job.
Paul
17th Aug 2020 6:47 am
Prette
Member Since: 16 Mar 2020
Location: Previously Stoke-ST4 (pre-pandemic), Mostly The Hague (NL) partially Lyngby (DK) certainly somewhere
Posts: 160
Of course i will look for the source of the leak. However, it would be good to narrow it down first some recurrent spots (since D3 has some few reccuring problems and spots ). Hence my question of which part is this one mentioned here? Where to find it (in the car)?
I was also surprised that the coolant only leaks after cooling.
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, I might have driven some hundreds miles(kms) with this issue without noticing and had no issue with overheating at all. Am i missing something. (Other than the leak whole? 
)
However, it would be good to narrow it down first some recurrent spots (since D3 has some few reccuring problems and spots 
