Temp gauge on my Wreg TD5 seems slow, any ideas??

[Pentland]

When I start my TD5 the temp gauge stays very low for about 4 miles then suddenly leaps to normal. I have driven over two hundred miles since this started but all else seems normal. I may be the culpret (prat) here as my water was slightly low & I overfilled it accidentally. Could I have an air block or is my waterpump (replaced approx 5 k ago be the problem? I have a 400 mile round trip booked for thursday of next week & I would really like to get home. Any ideas,? Thanks Pentland......

[Jimbo]

Both my Td5 Discos have done this, it always takes 4-5 miles (slightly less in warmer weather) for the temp gauge to reach normal. On really cold days it can take longer, depends on the type of driving and ambient air temp.

The Td5's do have a habit of trashing head gaskets - keep an eye on the coolant level, and the temp gauge (mine used to overheat if you went over 70mph !), and remember - if the gauge goes high, the ECU will limit power and you'll be restricted to somewhere around 30mph until the temp drops back to normal.

I trick for refilling the coolant is to do it with the engine running, as having the waterpump running helps to clear any air-locks.

HTH's

Jim

[Pentland]

Thanks Jim, it seems to be a Disco 'thing' then. I've had the car since Dec & only noticed this recently after I overfilled it with water. I suspect that there is a sliight leak from the head gasket as I top up every couple of weeks, or is that normal on 5's too? Pentland (Graham)

[Jimbo]

Graham,

Td5's shouldn't loose water - it must be going somewhere. Check the hoses, if you're lucky you'll find one that needs replacing, otherwise it could well be the head gasket - mine went at about 65k miles, between one of the waterways and a piston, so the cooling system was getting extra pressure (from the combustion of the engine) and blowing water out of the expansion tank filler cap. It was really weird, if I kept the speed down to 55-60mph it would go for miles, but give it a blast of 75-80 and within 5 mins the temp gauge was going for red, and the ECU started to reduce the power.

Supposedly you can't have the Td5 head skimmed, so if the gasket goes big time and you cook the thing, you'll end up needing a new head (and a second mortgage to go with it   )

Jim

[Xtremeteam]

ill 2nd you cant have the head skimed after doing a headgasket on a td5

[Pentland]

Thanks again, I've had a look at the hoses & my driveway but cannot see any water/coolant. However, I was on a run to Billinghurst shortly after I got Willie (his name- like me,he comes from Edinburgh) & when i started the engine for my return trip, he blew out a lot of WHITE smoke. It went away quickly enough but I've heard that means oil & water mixing somewhere? He hasn't had any more attacks like that but sometimes when I start up there is a fair quantity of BLUE smoke for about 1/2 a mile. Does that indicate a head problem to you?? Graham

[Pentland]

ill 2nd you cant have the head skimed after doing a headgasket on a td5

I am in Cupar about 4 times a year visiting a relative & Willie has always (both times) performed well giving a MPG of 29.6 with no hint of trouble. Thanks for your reply to my water problem. Graham