Slight Exhaust Gas Smell In Coolant

StefanVXR8

StefanVXR8

Member
Hey guys,

I've noticed a slight exhaust gas / fuel smell in the coolant, no signs of contamination to the coolant but when running, the car does seem to pressurise the coolant enough to dump it out through the radiator cap.

I don't get any white smoke on startup, have tried running the engine with the radiator cap off and couldn't see any obvious bubbles in it.

Thoughts, and where should I start my diagnosis?

Stefan
 
There is a device that can detect exhaust gas in coolant - see if you can find a mechanic who has one. You are loosing coolant?
 
jp928 said:
There is a device that can detect exhaust gas in coolant - see if you can find a mechanic who has one. You are loosing coolant?
Click to expand...

I loose a little but only from the cap I think, the radiator sits around 1/2 to 3/4 and will spit out anything more than that. Temp gauge remains in the white all the time.
 
Do you have an overflow bottle, like the SD1 types? The translucent (white) ones give you a visible coolant level, and enable you to keep the radiator header tank completely full.DSC_4030.jpg
 
I have been looking at the expansion bottle from a Land Rover Freelander I, it has a round design with a single foot for bolting and I wonder whether that would fit utilising the existing single bolt for the brake hardware (or with a short fabricated bracket), not sure on the diameter of the bottle though...
 
OK, so I tested using a kit today and the liquid went from blue to green after a few minutes.

So, as I don’t have any white smoke etc. is it likely to be an intake manifold gasket or a head gasket do you think?

Stefan
 
Unfortunately, I'd say it is the head gasket. The manifold gasket will need to be removed before removing the heads, so it can inspect it first.
I'm no expert in the Rover V8 engine, but it seems to a thing for the V8 engine to fail the head gaskets and pressurize the coolant.

I'm chasing the same issue at the moment. Loosing coolant with no other signs of an issue.

The cylinder pressures can escape past the head gasket into the water system, without the water passing back into the cylinders. The cylinder pressures are much higher than the coolant pressure. This is hopefully why you have no 'white smoke' in your exhaust.
If you did have steam appearing in the exhaust I'd say the problem was bigger than just changing the head gaskets, as that would point to a damaged block.
In my case I've removed my heads and found that one of the studs has pulled it's threads, raising the block face around the stud holes and I can see where the rear cylinder has been leaking past the gasket into the water system.

Gavin.
 
Thanks Gavin.

Have been deciding if it’s something I want to tackle myself or get fixed by a specialist but looking at the manual and a couple of videos it doesn’t seem too difficult.

Stefan
 
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