I have a coolant leak from the head gasket into the 'V' of the engine in my 2014 Vogue .

I live in Newark and I took my car to my local indie Garage in Grantham.
I've added dye to the coolant, my local indie took pics of orange crystals forming but but said he could not manage to shine his blue light and use his endoscope at the same time to show any green dye lighting up a leak.

The mechanic said he would not do the head gasket because it means taking the engine out.

Having made enquiries it seems it can be done elsewhere for 3-5 thousand pounds.
The car is somewhat of a money pit and I really do like it, but, I need to draw a line somewhere.

I've never heard of a head gasket failing on the 4.4. Are you sure its not the EGR cooler leaking as this sits in the v of the block. I'd suggest a coolant system sniff test to confirm the presence of exhaust gasses in the coolant as a first step before condemning the head gasket. How much coolant is it losing and is the coolant system remaining pressurised after the engine cools down after a run? L405 SV Autobiography LWB SDV8, finished in Aston Martin China Grey by ETO division.

Add a couple of uv dye bottles to the coolant and buy a uv torch and look around when it’s dark. This sort of stuff… don’t be shy in adding it in , the L405 coolant capacity is larger than a lot of cars. The stuff I used is no longer available, but this kit looks spot on as it includes the torch. I’d throw both bottles in from the outset .

https://amzn.eu/d/7fWlG7F

Once you’ve found the source , then can figure out the fix.

For me, it was the o-rings of the big coolant hoses on the thermostat leaking into the V. There is a thread on the wiki page about replacing them.

It’s not likely to be a head gasket … probability would say it’s more likely a leak from the stuff that sits in the V .

https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic66813.html V8 or else ...

4RRS wrote:

I've never heard of a head gasket failing on the 4.4. Are you sure its not the EGR cooler leaking as this sits in the v of the block. I'd suggest a coolant system sniff test to confirm the presence of exhaust gasses in the coolant as a first step before condemning the head gasket. How much coolant is it losing and is the coolant system remaining pressurised after the engine cools down after a run?

fisha wrote:

Add a couple of uv dye bottles to the coolant and buy a uv torch and look around when it’s dark. This sort of stuff… don’t be shy in adding it in , the L405 coolant capacity is larger than a lot of cars. The stuff I used is no longer available, but this kit looks spot on as it includes the torch. I’d throw both bottles in from the outset .

https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic66813.html

Last comment for the moment … don’t assume it’s only leaking at the V area.

The coolant pipes running to the rear are know to become corroded and leak, and so are the small breather type pipes all around tops of the radiators are known to go brittle and leak.

So worth looking underneath with the uv torch as well. Look everywhere. This was the leak from the orings running down the v and the back of the bell housing. Photo taken from below the car.

Was the indie, Range Rover World? If so good.luck with "Charles" (which isn't his real name).

My advice would be steer clear!! L405 SV Autobiography LWB SDV8, finished in Aston Martin China Grey by ETO division.