I'm about to book the old girl for her annual health check and spa treatment so I'm preparing a list with all the things I want done.

Since the HG and chains job last year, I've had to top off very small amounts of coolant (<50ml) every couple months or so. Granted I drive a lot, 2,5 K km a month on average it doesn't feel like much. Now It seems to have gotten somewhat worse and I think I might have found the culprit.

Amazingly, this is a 13 month old hose, replaced as part of the investigation before deciding on having the HG done.

But my question is, should I replace this hose or is this is of no real concern? It's not a matter of money, it's about keeping hands off, unless necessary.

Other jobs on the to do list:

Drop links front + rear (front going into 2 years but not happy with Moog)
Oil change (every 10K km)
Cabin filter (Yearly)
Gearbox oil + filter change (1 year, turning 25K km)
Air filter

Click image to enlarge

Looks like it's failed at the hose to plastic end joint, is it original or pattern..??

You should also consider the lower temp thermostat modification, it will help no end...

https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic39362.html

 Pete
__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

Thanks, it's a pattern "Gates" one, that's what we could pick up then. I will have the garage order an original part on Monday. While I agree with the lower temp mod, I prefer to keep the thing stock. At least until something forces me to reconsider. I'm enjoying a pretty good mileage, too. Got 15,3 Lt/100Km mixed (part heavy traffic) in winter and 16,2 with full blown AC in summer. Highway at 120km/h gets me 12,5 Lt/100Km

Read the first part of that thread.... BMW originally designed the engine to run cooler, they were forced to make it run hotter for part throttle emissions, no other reason, when the engine was fitted to the Range Rover. All you are doing is returning the design of the cooling system to what was originally designed by BMW.....

I appreciate people like to keep the car original but this seems to be a worthwhile exception....  Pete
__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

Thanks Pete. Yes I've read the whole thread quite a few times over the years and also done my research and do agree on the merits of this modification. And indeed may be Especially beneficial considering the climate and driving conditions here. I had a new thermostat electric circuit fail on me last year so next time I need a thermostat or water pump replaced, I may just go ahead with the mod anyway.

Now my garage won't be able to accommodate me before next Monday 30th which on one hand gives plenty of time to have the OEM hose but would also mean some more driving around with the failing one. I hope it lasts one more week ...

It should be fine for another week, the leak will probably get less as the coolant seeps out and dries it tends to help seal the joint... just don't touch it and knock the red fur off...

If your going a distance carry some water and maybe some self amalgamating tape...  Pete
__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

Thanks, Pete. I'm keeping my hands off until it's replacement. I do carry some water with me at all times and fortunately the weather is too mild so I won't be going on any hunting trip this weekend or the other.

 Pete
__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

Ducks will rejoice Time to free up some space in the freezer.

Well, it turns out that the Gates hose is failing in more than one way. Did a close-up inspection of all hoses and couplings and, sure enough, the thin hose's lower coupling to the radiator / gearbox thermostat is also sweating. The two points of failure seem to fully justify the amount of coolant loss as of late.

Will replace with a JLR part on Tuesday and have the system pressure tested for good measure

Now, I suspect the reason it failed isn't just the quality but also perhaps the fact it has been removed and te-fitted at least twice and who knows how it was handled. But this is not the first time I'm running into a bad spare part for the FF. I had an OEM electric thermostat circuit fail in just a few months and it came from a sealed box

Having to revisit already repaired critical systems due to defective parts is a tough pill to swallow especially when I'm not making botches. Quite frankly, beingblet down this way, puts my patience to the test and had I not been watching out the way I do, I can see how things could go seriously wrong for stupid reasons, really. But I guess some extra due diligence is required when you daily a 19yo FF doing 25-30K Km a year...