Vehicles

disco - Fixing lower intake manifold coolant leak

The disco was actively leaking coolant. Once heated up, it was not quiet to a stream, but a drip a second. I believe it was leaking coolant previously, just more slowly. The coolant was leaking down directly onto the driver's side front oxygen sensor. The coolant was running down an electrical connector. I could see the leak was originating from the back of the engine up high but I couldn't see from where.

Fast forward, it was leaking from the union of the coolant pipes and the intake manifold, specifically the big union on the front. The coolant was leaking out the front of the intake manifold (up by the radiator), leaking down onto the lower intake manifold gasket that (valley gasket), running to the back of the engine down the slight slope, pooling up, and finally overflowing down the back of the engine, down an electrical wire, and onto the oxygen sensor.

Fixing this required required removing the lower intake manifold gasket, something I had not done before. The procedure went well, and the leak is completely solved.

While in there I replaced the lower intake manifold gasket as a matter of course. I also finally replaced the passenger side valve cover gasket since I had to get that deep anyways.

Annoyingly, getting the lower intake manifold out requires quite a bit of dissassembly. The AC compressor and power steering pump need to get moved out of the way, alternator out, valve cover gaskets off, and so on.

It took me a while but I am very happy with the results. No more leaks, thus no more dead oxygen sensor, thus no more o2 sensor check engine light codes.

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the sensor getting leaked on
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replaced the oxygen sensor
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added a o2 sensor wiring harness extension while I was in there
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the extension makes it easier to replace the o2 sensor in the future
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connector looking slightly corroded on that one pin, cleaned up before reassembly
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dialectric grease should prevent it from getting worse
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plenty of slack on the o2 sesnor wire now
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connector now now where near where any future coolant or oil might fall
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documenting codes from prior to replacing this o2 sensor, they cleared and didn't come back
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found coolant on valley gasket
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it is frustrating you can't get that coolant pipe removed without removing alt and ac
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with ac and ps pump moved, you can finally get to the front coolant pipe which was leaking
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see the rust by where the o-ring was letting coolant past?
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Kudos to the gasket manufacturer because the valley gasket didn't let any coolant into the engine
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that stupid quick fuel line disconnect was seeping again, smelled like gas during operation
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I believe coolant was leaking on the right side for some time, but got much worse recently
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I got two sets of o-rings just in case, only needed one
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o-ring was flattened but wasn't ripped or anything
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cleaned up surfaces with steel wool
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per Land Rovers instructions, RTV where the block and heads meet only
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Per internet recommendation, hylomar (love that stuff) around coolant passages on block
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gasket is directional
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Maybe next owner won't thank me, but I made sure it wouldn't leak again, o-ring + sealant
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replaced smaller coolant tube o-ring as well, did not apply any thermostat housing sealant
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left fuel line plenty long to allow easier manuevering of fuel rail
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severed the #7 spark plug wire while reinstalling upper intake manifold gasket
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ran rough and I could see spark jumping an inch to firewall, that was wild
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Guess what, replacement same day meant buying another set of 8 wires, oh well
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topped off power steering fluid
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coolant leaking from this hose on first drive, pushed hose further down, reclamped to fix

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