Hi
I posted below but it's potentially got worse. The garage tells me they suspect a head gasket is the problem causing the EGR cooler to split, so my leak.

Does this seem feasible ? it's an 80k mile engine and I've not heard this is a weakness ?

Help !!




EGR Cooler Leaking ? Is this common ? 4.4 SDV8 Report post

Hi all

I've had a slow coolant leak for a while, so the car went into the garage. They've said there's a split in the EGR cooler casting and it's weeping from there.

They're a bit concerned as to why it failed and if there's something else causing the failure. They don't want to replace it, to find we're back here in a few months. Especially at the cost !!

Are these prone to failure ??

Thanks in advance !

Are you sure it's not split from being overtightened, quite possibly it's had an oil leak at some point and someone has tried to solve it by overtightening it (I saw one recently when a guy brought one in to a neighbours business hoping it could be welded, that looked like it was due to over tightening)?

I doubt that a leaking head gasket would provide sufficient pressure to cause an aluminium casing to crack.

I assume they have done a 'sniff test' to detect combustion gasses in the coolant, or are they just guessing? L405 SV Autobiography LWB SDV8, finished in Aston Martin China Grey by ETO division.

I agree with 4RRS. It does sound rather odd. Head gaskets are pretty robust on these in my limited time on the forum. 2012 Vogue TDV8 in Aintree green over sand

Thanks

They did do a sniff test which was inconclusive (I recall from phone call earlier) it wasn't a slam dunk positive but they say they can see coolant from the head gasket area, that's why they're reluctant to take it any further, but "suspect" its the head gasket.

I'm only the second owner, the first was franchise RR servicing from new, so douby anyone's been there before to over tighten it.

That said the famous intercooler gasket failure was done a couple of years ago by my garage, would the EGR cooler have been removed as part of those works ??

Yes and if it was overtightened when replacing the cooler gasket, that's the likely culprit for the leak now. I'd be very surprised if a head gasket is the culprit, more likely leaking coolant is pooling on the seam between the head and block. L405 SV Autobiography LWB SDV8, finished in Aston Martin China Grey by ETO division.

I am not aware of the intercooler gasket, but the EGR cooler is on top of the V under the oil cooler.

Tricky but I would DIY it with new EGR gaskets unless it is really cracked then I'd source a new EGR cooler before tackling any head gaskets. That sounds a world of pain and ££s plus the garage isn't sure (a familiar tale). 2012 Vogue TDV8 in Aintree green over sand

4RRS wrote:

Yes and if it was overtightened when replacing the cooler gasket, that's the likely culprit for the leak now. I'd be very surprised if a head gasket is the culprit, more likely leaking coolant is pooling on the seam between the head and block.

I saw one literally a few weeks ago. Ask yourself this; how are exhaust gasses in the coolant, which will cause an increased pressure in the cooling system going to crack a very thick cast aluminium housing without first damaging a radiator or splitting hoses, all of which would be much weaker.

The fact they say the sniff test was inconclusive rings alarm bells, it's either a pass or a fail.

Personally I'd pick up a secondhand egr/cooler for the casing (loads on ebay like this one https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/177090790114?) and get it changed, because if you go head gasket route it's engine out and a whole world of expense.

It'll be the EGR assembly casing that has been damaged as opposed to the oil cololer that sits on top of it.

Look at the diagram here to get an idea: -

https://parts.jaguarlandroverclassic.com/p...and-rover/ L405 SV Autobiography LWB SDV8, finished in Aston Martin China Grey by ETO division.

Not seen a head gasket fail on one of these, I work in an LR indie where we work on these daily, plenty of cooler failures, usually the rubber gaskets but never a head gasket, also as 4RRS says there would have to be enormous pressure to crack the casting

Thanks everyone, it's helped me a lot. I'm getting the cooler replaced and leaving it there.

If I could do it myself I would but time is always against me.