2003 V6 Freelander runs very hot. Is this normal?

Are the Freelander 2.5 V6 petrol models supposed to run very hot? After only a few miles of normal driving, the fan kicks in and it sounds like a jet is about to take off! It's very noisy! Even when I turn the engine off it stays on of about 2-3 mins to cool the engine. Is this normal?? My temp gauge in the car stays bang in the middle by the way.

Also, when I first start the engine from cold it sounds like there are stones rattling about in the engine! when it gets warm the rattling dies down. But then the fan kicks in like I said above...

I'm a new Land Rover owner and also posted this question in the 'introduce yourself' thread when saying hello.

Thanks,

Andy.

P.S. Could anyone recommend a good independent LR specialist in South Wales? My usual garage is excellent but they admit they know nothing about Landys.. I would like to take mine to a specialist to give it the once over. Thanks again.

Its a crap engine im afraid second only to the 1.8 or are they just as crap as each other

Could be another head gasket failed. Post in the ga - I mean freelander section for a better answer.

KV6 engines do have a high normal running temp, though don't go by the gauge on the dash. The gauge on the dash rises as the engine warms up then at a certain temp goes to normal and stays there until the engine starts to overheat at which point it will rise very quickly. Alot of Land Rovers are like this so the driver doesn't worrie about fluctuations.
You need to get a proper diagnosis, block test, water in the oil, oil in the water etc
The K series engines are ok when they are built correctly, you can't remove the head, have it skimmed and slap a new gasket on and expect trouble free motoring. Attention to detail is key. I have a friend with a 1.8 in a MG ZR that he rallies, it makes 275 bhp and revs to 9000 rpm, he has just done a full season no probs.
The rattling could well be the VIS flaps in the inlet manifold, they are crap and expensive. Also head gaskets on a Freelander KV6 are a big job, many special tools are needed, though if the engine is ok and you just need a new Manifold that is an easy job.

Could you investigate the live engine temp by plugging in a diagnostic - Hawkeye or Nanocom?

Hi all,

Thanks so much for the positive responses and good advice.

I called parts supplier called 'Foundry 4 x 4' who are based in Tredegar, South Wales the other day (I was pricing up prop shaft bearings that need replacing) and the guy on the phone was very helpful. I explained that even though the garage that I used for my regular car is excellent, they admit themselves they know nothing about Freelanders because they've had no experience with them. I asked the guy from Foundry 4 x 4 does he know of any independent specialists in the Cardiff area and he suggested a place called 'Autocraft' on Maindy Road, Cardiff who should be able to help. I will call them and ask them how much they'd charge me for a health check on the Freelander and give me their expert opinion on what they find.

From the paperwork I had with the Freelander, I see that the last owner spent HUGE money (from memory £4800) on a new engine block and over £2K on a new auto transmission box so I'm hoping, just hoping the head gasket isn't on it's way out. I will certainly mention all you've suggested, particularly what Owl said to my fitter.

I was going to buy a replacement cap for the expansion tank anyway but when I removed it the other day I saw lots of cracks in the plastic around the collar so I will get a new tank too. One question - is the fluid inside the expansion tank supposed to bubble a little? When the car is running hot, the fluid goes a dark colour and it kinda looks like a percolator! Gulp!

Thanks again for any help guys!

Normally There are bubbles visable in the expansion tank. usually when the head gasket goes there is oil in the header tank.

Thanks Owl. Yes, there are bubbles in the expansion tank. It gets wayyy hot. Sorry for my ignorance but I don't know what you mean by the header tank but I'll mention it to my fitter anyway (He'll probably slap me for telling him to suck eggs but hey ho! haha).

Hi all,

Just to let you know, I took my Freelander to that independent Land Rover specialist. They did a health check; they took it for a road test, up on the ramp for an inspection and put it on their machines (dip test in the expansion bottle) and they said it was fine. Phew! They said there were no abnormalities in the coolant (no oil on the water or vice versa, etc) and said they didn't suspect any head gasket failure. I asked about the fan kicking in so soon and they said obviously because its a big engine it is going to get hotter faster than smaller engines and the fan was doing it's job as it should, albeit a little noisy. They said I could change the fan to a less noisy one if I wanted to but I'm happy to live with it as long as I know it's not going to blow up or take off!

I also asked about the otherwise strange running noise. I described it as (especially when cold or when I put my foot down) little stones rattling up in the engine. Please excuse my ignorance as I may not remember exactly what the mechanic said but it was something to do with the 'Air Intake Flaps'? - Owl, is this what you meant by the VIS Flaps in the Inlet Manifold? Otherwise he said they weren't a problem and I was ok to drive it as I normally would. Would just be a little noisy. What do you guys think?

Otherwise he said the Landy was otherwise surprisingly good (he said they don't see Freelanders in their garage so much these days) and it looks like I've had a good buy (hope I'm not jinxing myself there! Gulp!) but he did laugh when he said I bought the most expensive one to run! Typical of me!

Thats good news then. The Variable intake system isn't normally noisy but is prone to fail at which point they start rattling.
many people think their manifold is gone when it rattles. This isn't necessarily the case and the rattle could just be the vis motors.
Pull off the rear motor and check the movement of the rod connected to the butterfly valves. If the rod moves in and out smoothly the manifold is ok, if it is flopping about some of the ball joint have probably popped off and it is broke.

If you want to see what is going on inside
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_K46ZfIXSQ

Wow, thank you very much Owl. You really are an expert! I will have to take my Freelander into my friends garage and ask him to investigate what you mentioned.

So if there is an issue with the VIS flaps / motors, would this cause a problem for low mileage driving? As in, do I have to get it fixed otherwise it will cause further damage elsewhere or can I continue to drive it and just put up with it being a bit noisy? Is it an expensive job to get fixed?

I have noticed shortly after turn over when the engine is cold, the noise is louder. Also when I accelerate the noise is there but when I drift it stops. Does this sound right?

Thanks again for all your help.

No it won't damage your engine, you just loose some low down torque.
If you need a new manifold to fix it they are expensive
MG ZS ZT V6 KV6 Rover 75 2 0 2 5 Inlet Manifold Upper Rover 45 | eBay
If it is just a VIS motor they are about £70 on the bay

If you search on the net you can find folk repairing their manifolds, I have seen some that have removed all the gubbins and glued the manifold back together.

Shhhhhugar! They are expensive! I guess I'll find out exactly what I need when my mechanic gets under the hood. I'll let him know everything you said anyway. And let you know in due course of course! It may be a case of just having to live with the noise... Thanks Owl.