Landcrusier Question

[Tikafr]

I have owned a 1998 Landcruiser colorado for the past 18 months. It is the diesel auto model with approx. 200,000km on the clock.

Unfortunately a few weeks ago it started to be a bit lazy when starting, followed by a couple of lumpy/smoky seconds then all seemed fine.

Then one day it got hot and I feared the worst. I took it to the local garage (who had recently given it a full service including a new timing belt) and they feared that the head gasket had possibly gone too. However their investigations were inconclusive at that time and so they fitted a new thermostat and sent me home to use the car daily to see what happened next if anything.

In short, nothing happened.

However with a trip to Europe looming I thought it sensible to have the garage do another health check. The car required topping up with 2 litres of coolant....

The garage then did some kind of dye testing to assess if the head gasket was failing (I think the dye turns from blue to yellow) - to no avail i.e. the dye remained blue.

I now have the car back again but I'm not happy that I neither have a sound prognosis (or a fixed car!) and wondered if anyone had a similar tale, experience or suggestion?

Thanks in anticipation.

Kate.

[Andy]

The water must be going somewhere, have you checked the rad cap and water pump, also another area that might leak is the heater matrix, you will find wet carpets on the left hand side if it is leaking.

[Tikafr]

The water must be going somewhere, have you checked the rad cap and water pump, also another area that might leak is the heater matrix, you will find wet carpets on the left hand side if it is leaking.

Andy,

Thanks for this and you were right! I discovered the carpet on the left hand side is wet so hopefully this explains the water loss.

Kate.