Engine Seems a tad warm - V8i, Disco Mk1

[beattiedh]

Hi All

Recent member and new owner. The engine seems to heat up gradually to the middle bar on the temp guage then if i stroll onto a bypass and trundle along at 60-70 then it heats up to the third. Back to normal driving and back down to in between the second and third.

Sometimes i have to pop the heating on to keep it cool.

I have done the usual checks, fluid level, fresh coolant, oil levels etc.

Any ideas.

thanks

Duncan

[Wanderer]

If you've taken it off road do you have any mud in the radiator. It can cover the bottom of the rad and reduce its efficency (spooling)
Is the thermostat working properly. It may not be opening.
Air flow through the radiator OK?
Mine gets up there on hot days when towing but if you're solo it shouldn't really be happening.

Ed

[Digsit]

Hi

As per Ed's comment, check your radiator is clean top to bottom. My Tdi went off the scale a few weeks ago. I'd neglected to wash off all the mud from the weekends off roading, there was loads 'hiding' down at the bottom.

Now its clean and guage doesn't even reach half way when towing the caravan now!!

[fesuvious]

Had a V8 range that started out doing this and it ended up being the stat that needed doing.
For the sake of 15quid and half hour it just might be worth doing?
cheers

[ChrisW]

My Tdi was doing something similar, running around town and short motorway journeys fine, do a few more miles on the motorway and the needle starts crawling up - not much fun driving 200 miles with the heater on full blast!!

Run a hosepipe through the radiator from the engine side out to clear anything in the fins, I did it and reckon I must've had about half a bucket of crud come out.

Not done a long enough journey to test if its cured it or its something else yet - looks like the trip to P'boro Sunday will be the real test!  :shock:

[thermidorthelobster]

If you've backflushed the rad and it still doesn't play ball, it could be time for a new rad, or a recore.  If it's a J reg, you'll probably not get too much more life out of it.

David

[beattiedh]

I have noticed in the last few days with the weather being cooler the problem has subsided somewhat however i am going to give the blades a bit of a wash through this weekend

Thanks for all of your advice.

PS if there is anyone in the Reading area who wants to try some greenlaning please mail me at beattiedh@hotmail.com

yours

Duncan

[pritch]

Just remember; hose, not pressure washer.