Laila - 300TDi getting hot, (Again)

[Ollie]

I posted a thread a few weeks ago about Laila getting hot:
http://forums.mud-club.com/viewtopic.php?t=17478&sid=47e58126ef4257ed5f4cfbba68ba9bb6
I changed the thermostat, water pump and drive belt.
I was in Germany for a few days, so she was parked in the airport. Coming back last night, it's -1 outside temp, the gauge moved to the 'Normal' position. She normally runs just under, but this is OK, as the heater works better if she's a little warmer. I'm nearing home, travelling at about 60mph, when the gauge starts rising, stopping at about 70%! I exit the motorway, and she immediately cools to normal again????????

The coolant is new and about 40-60 split, I have a Allisport full length intercooler, (fitted for some months now with no problems), current milage is only 70K!

Any suggestions?

Cheers
Ollie

[timberdog]

Could be a air lock in water pipes/block??

I had this problem for two weeks and had to flush the system about 10 times!!

or blocked Rad either way try flushing and back flushing remove the Heater matrix pipes and do that as well ..

The header tank does not pressurise does it??

Faulty Sender unit?

Loose belts??

Hope these all help??

[Henry Webster]

Sounds like there is a good chance that the radiator needs replacing.  Are all the fins intact behind the rad?

I replaced one that didn't look too bad (in the car - after flushing made no difference) and that solved the problem.

H

[BigA]

i had exactly the same problem in my 90, and oddly also after replacing hoses, pump, thermostat etc. It turned out to be an air block in the radiator, i had refilled too quickly. to be on the safe side i completely flushed the radiator, and then refiled, ensuring no air lock, and all was OK after that  :?

good Luck,

Andy

[Hangover]

Radiator.Did you check to see if the rad was hot accross all of the matrix,you would have been better buying a radiator than a water pump as they very rarely pack up internally.Your rad will have to be in ip top condition if you have a aftermarket intercooler.
Kev

[Ollie]

Cheers for the advice guys, but I'm confused as to how an air lock can suddenly appear :?:
After installing the aftermarket intercooler, I replaced the coolant as per hand book. She has completed 3K miles since then over many months without a problem, (on and off road).
Is it possible for an air lock to suddenly appear :shock:
Bearing in mind I have since flushed and re filled the system.

The rad 'appears' to be in excellent condition.

If there is an air lock, surely this will cause the system to heat up within 20 mins or so, not 40 minutes :?:

I'll go with your advice, if you can convince me of the above.

Thanks again,
Ollie.


System

[Henry Webster]

How closely have you inspected your radiator?  Mine looked very good from the front and the bit you can see around the fan area at the back. However it was actually missing quite alot of fins from the engine side.  Something that you couldn't really tell without rmoving the cowl etc.

Mine took the normal amount of time to get up to heat, but once it had it ran much hotter than usual.  It was especially noticeable on fast/mway journeys and not so much pottering about.

HTH

H

[Ollie]

H,
I had the rad out when I installed the aftermarket intercooler.
I inspected it then, and it looked to be in execellent condition, very few fins missing. The 110 is 11 years old, but has only covered 70K miles with two previous owners, FSH.

If it's the rad, I'll replace it, but I don't want to find I've done this needlessly as they are on the expensive side.

Cheers
Ollie
Milton keynes

[Hangover]

I presume the intercooler sits in front of the rad so blocking some air flow,unless you have powerful electric fans you engine fan won't pull any more air through so your poor old tdi rad has to cope with less air than normal and if some waterways get blocked something has to give,on the other hand it could be the head gasket just starting to go which would cause an air lock, but i hope that's not the case,everything points to the rad.
Kev

[Ollie]

Cheers Kev, I'll start looking into a new rad.

Sooooooo, where's the best place to get one, go new or re-cored?

Just the wife to convience now - more work and money required for Laila :shock:

Ollie

[Hangover]

Have you got a radiator specialist near you,at least that way they will be able to re-core yours and tell you what condition internally it was in,if you buy off the shelf i think they are about £120,there was somebody selling new ones on Ebay for £100 plus postage but i think they have gone up a bit since i last looked.Don't buy secondhand though.Hope you get it sorted.
Kev

[Xtremeteam]

i know that where i work sell brand new radiators for £150+v which is slightly cheaper than getting it recored

[Hangover]

Plus i hope it is the rad or i will look a right fool. :)
Kev

[Ollie]

No worries Kev, at least I'll have a spare rad :(stoopid):

Ollie