Got check coolant couple of times this week. It's been freezing when starting car so restarted after arriving at work and it doesn't detect it again. Just checked and I know it's dark bit it looks a milky white colour! What does that mean?

Not good news - sounds like oil in the coolant. 2005 FFRR Td6 Vogue
1991 Defender 90 200Tdi

So what does that mean?

I have issue with noise that its going into Land Rover with on Tuesday. Could this be related?

Other thread is http://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic14656.html

What engine do you have? Milky coolant is a typical sign of head gasket failure, but I don't know L322's well enough to know whether or not this is a common problem. Is your oil level ok, and the oil a decent colour? 2005 FFRR Td6 Vogue
1991 Defender 90 200Tdi

well in easy terms it means some where the oil in your enginre is getting in to the coolent, head gasket is a favourite one but it can be other things...my mate had it on his xr3 years ago,went in to fords and came out with a large bill..3 weeks later in conversation his wife mentioned that she topped up the oil in the wrong bottle. there was never a prob with the car... they will do a sniffer test on the coolent system and it will detect any engine gases, do you have any over heating issues. V8 facelift Range Rover Autobiography 22" wheels.
1976 Harley Davidson Iron Head Sportster

It's TD6.

Oil level and colour looks fine. No overheating issue, just this error on dash last couple of days.

This is photo of coolant.

Click image to enlarge

Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated

Is it milky under the oil filler cap ?

Normally a major issue occurs when the water goes into the oil, as the oil is watered down and can't do what it should anymore. Ignore that and you will have a seized engine.

Oil can also get into the water, whilst not ideal, does not cause as much an issue as the above. Generally you will find that the coolant level drops, and the oil level rises.........due to having water added.

Thats worse case scenario, obviously.

Sometimes you can have a bit of a creamy deposit on the underside of the oil filler cap, due to repeated cold starts and the engine not getting properly hot before its turned off again. Condensation forms and makes the creme.....

When you start the car, does the water level change in the tank, and then go back when you stop the engine ?

In saying that, I don't think you can see the level through the tank can you......

Perhaps look when the car is cold and try with the tank cap off so you can see.

Stone cold though..........

Check it all now.

Put your mind at rest.......... 2011 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8

Previous cars :
2003 Range Rover Vogue TD6
1999 Discovery Td5 ES
1995 BMW M5 3.8 6 speed
1992 Range Rover 3.9 Efi Vogue
1992 BMW M5 3.8
1988 BMW 735i SE
1989 Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9i
1981 Ford Fiesta Supersport

Cap looks fine.

So starting the car with the coolant filler cap off- what am I looking for?

Have you tried pulling the dipstick out to check the colour of the engine oil?
Should be black.

Engine oil is black.

There are two sources of "oil" that could contaminate the coolant, engine oil via the head gasket and transmission fluid via the transmission fluid cooler.
If its an oilway leaking at the head gasket you would need to take the head off to find it.
If an oilway is leaking it doesn't necessarily mean there is a cylinder gas leak.
If your oil level isn't rising in level and its black it tends to suggest there's no contamination of the oil, I'd still change the oil if you find a head gasket problem just to be sure.
You should have the tranmission fluid drained to see what condition it's in.

I'm not a massive expert here, not sure exactly why technically, I just know what you see as an end result, If you see what I mean. but if the head gasket is starting to / has gone, the oilway tends to connect with the waterway, so when the engine is running pressure getting where it shouldn't can do weird stuff.

A friend of mine had a td6 a few years ago, and when he started the car, the water disappeared from the expansion tank. Gone. Empty. When he stopped the car, it magically came up.

The mechanic said something about sump pressure forcing air into the water system and the air "bubble" rose to the highest point...........

As I say, don't understand it fully, but take the cap off, remember the level, start the car.......is the coolant level the same ?

My mate ended up having the head gasket done. Problem solved.

Could be nothing. If the oil still looks good and the same level, it could be something else entirely, but a costly mistake if it isn't ! 2011 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8

Previous cars :
2003 Range Rover Vogue TD6
1999 Discovery Td5 ES
1995 BMW M5 3.8 6 speed
1992 Range Rover 3.9 Efi Vogue
1992 BMW M5 3.8
1988 BMW 735i SE
1989 Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9i
1981 Ford Fiesta Supersport

Thanks for replies. I'll get Guy Salmon to look on Tuesday.

If its head gasket- how much to fix?

If its transmission fluid cooler- how much?

Thanks again, reply appreciate people's help.

Transmission cooler will be significantly cheaper than head gasket, but neither will be cheap. Do you have a warranty? I would definitely recommend using a decent independent rather than a stealer. 2005 FFRR Td6 Vogue
1991 Defender 90 200Tdi

Only had car 3 months and if you read post mentioned earlier in topic you will see I've been having another issue. In summary it had no oil in front diff and dealer has finally agreed to get new diff fitted at Guy Salmon on Tuesday. He's paying to get this fixed too! My worry is what else is wrong with this car!