Cool Running 200 tdi

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mikescuba

mikescuba

Well-Known Member
Posts
2,731
Location
France, Loire, Rhone Alpes
I have a 200 tdi, 110 Defender which just doesn't get warm in the winter time. I have removed the Visco fan and replaced it with a Kenlow electric fan which I have had on for the last three years during which time I think I have heard it come on about three times. I have changed the thermostat three times. Once for a 88 degree one which came in a blue box. I thought that might be the problem so I recently changed it for a Bearmuch one. I have replaced the sender unit twice, Flushed out the heater matrix but my engine still takes ages to get warmed up. I have to drive for 15 KLM before the temperature gauge is where it should be running at. The heat coming out of the vents is what I would call warm. I have tried running it with a Rad muff which didn't seem to make much difference if any at all. Does any one else have this sort of problem or better still know how to resove the problem with a 200 tdi?
 
I know the 200tdi's are very over cooled, takes mine a good few miles to warm up. You can check the temperature that the thermostat opens at with a thermometer and a pan of boiling water but if you've replaced the thermostat thats probably not the issue.

I drove mine around with no fan (electric or otherwise) and the temp still takes a while to creep up to optimal. If its not overheating then most likely nothing serious is going on.

Has it always been like this or is it a new thing?
 
Sounds perfectly normal to me.
On a 10 mile trip this morning, mostly around 40-50mph, my 2.5 N/A temp gauge just got as far as 1/4 way. In the summer, its 1/2 way. The Warmish air was enough to demist the windscreen. Come winter, I find a supply of clean rags essential to demist the screen.
My 200tdi was the same. Buy a hat? :pound:
 
payydg said:
I know the 200tdi's are very over cooled, takes mine a good few miles to warm up. You can check the temperature that the thermostat opens at with a thermometer and a pan of boiling water but if you've replaced the thermostat thats probably not the issue.

I drove mine around with no fan (electric or otherwise) and the temp still takes a while to creep up to optimal. If its not overheating then most likely nothing serious is going on.

Has it always been like this or is it a new thing?
Click to expand...

3 Summers ago I drove my Defender without the Visco or electric fan down to Montpellier. It was 35 degrees and it didn't over heat at all. Going up a long hill the gauge did move across to just below the red but soon came down once I had reached the top of the hill.
Looks like the only way I'm going to get warm is to buy myself a new coat then.
 
mikescuba said:
3 Summers ago I drove my Defender without the Visco or electric fan down to Montpellier. It was 35 degrees and it didn't over heat at all. Going up a long hill the gauge did move across to just below the red but soon came down once I had reached the top of the hill.
Looks like the only way I'm going to get warm is to buy myself a new coat then.
Click to expand...
Or, only drive uphill;) Mines the same BTW.
 
My 2.5n/a gets toasty and the temp gauge needle stays in the middle. Do I have a problem:D
 
my 300tdi is the same. My cuddy box contains 3 different thickness hats, a pair of gloves and i got coats in the back for all occasions. Also a waterproof for when it rains :D least you saved me trying to buy one of them rad covers if they dont work
 
sounds about right to me our 200 never get above 1/4 on the gauge i have a electric fan but i put mine on a switch so i can use it if i need it off road!

ours get quite warm but it is a pickup so less air to warm up!
 
Think I will have to find a way to blank off the back area so it is more like the size of a pick up cab. See if that works. Otherwise I suppose I will just have to look at it as part of the joys of having a 200 tdi Defender.
 
mikescuba said:
Think I will have to find a way to blank off the back area so it is more like the size of a pick up cab. See if that works. Otherwise I suppose I will just have to look at it as part of the joys of having a 200 tdi Defender.
Click to expand...

you can stick up a fume curtain or cut a bit of heavy canvas
 
I got some thin see through PVC (the flexible stuff, got mine from Dunelm Mill) and made a curtain to go on the dog guard down to the bulkhead in my 90. Made a noticeable difference to cab temperature. Will be soon same to the 110, as well as foam and carpet board for the sides.
 
Take the fan off completely, they don't need them, added bonus you should get more mpg, gained 5 mpg on my 200 tdi 110.
Perfectly normal, drove mine 400 miles last month and on arrival took the header tank cap off and water was Luke warm, they have a great cooling system, only downside is winter, get some gloves, at least you'll never get stuck in the snow
 
I’m now really worried. My 1989 defender 110CSW over heated two months ago, this led to the head gasket blowing.
It took some time but I had the head gasket replaced, the head serviced, valves etc. A new thermostat, new water pump, oil filter, oil, antifreeze etc.
As the engine was in bits I had the cam belt replaced at the same time.
Just as the head went the mpg dropped to 20mpg compared to the 24mpg I used to get.
After the landy came back the temperature gauge now reads hot used outside the red. The mpg returned to 25mpg but only for the first fill up.
Iv now done 500 miles since getting her back the mpg has dropped back down to 20mpg, the temperature gauge still reads just outside the red, if I switch the fan on it makes no difference. I have replaced the water temperature sender switch thing and that too makes no difference.

I’ve used a laser heat gun reader, the top hose reads about 84, the bottom hose reads about 45, and the water pump itself reads about 54. The hoses to the heater matrix also read about 54.
I’m not too shocked because our local main dealer sold me the correct thermostat and that’s not even open until it gets to 88.
The heating in the truck is always cold, I can breathe warmer than it blows out even on full. The area in the cab where the heater backs on to gets very warm but no heat comes through.
So now having read the responses to this thread, I can’t help but think I must have a serious problem with my landy.
 
Nevets22002 said:
I’m now really worried. My 1989 defender 110CSW over heated two months ago, this led to the head gasket blowing.
It took some time but I had the head gasket replaced, the head serviced, valves etc. A new thermostat, new water pump, oil filter, oil, antifreeze etc.
As the engine was in bits I had the cam belt replaced at the same time.
Just as the head went the mpg dropped to 20mpg compared to the 24mpg I used to get.
After the landy came back the temperature gauge now reads hot used outside the red. The mpg returned to 25mpg but only for the first fill up.
Iv now done 500 miles since getting her back the mpg has dropped back down to 20mpg, the temperature gauge still reads just outside the red, if I switch the fan on it makes no difference. I have replaced the water temperature sender switch thing and that too makes no difference.

I’ve used a laser heat gun reader, the top hose reads about 84, the bottom hose reads about 45, and the water pump itself reads about 54. The hoses to the heater matrix also read about 54.
I’m not too shocked because our local main dealer sold me the correct thermostat and that’s not even open until it gets to 88.
The heating in the truck is always cold, I can breathe warmer than it blows out even on full. The area in the cab where the heater backs on to gets very warm but no heat comes through.
So now having read the responses to this thread, I can’t help but think I must have a serious problem with my landy.
Click to expand...
If its a standard engine it shoudnt have elec. fan?
I would try and find out why its overheating before using it. Have you flushed rad?
Heater could be airlocked or blocked, matrixs get tired after 100k or so.
 
Thank you Turboman

The readings from the lazer heat reading gun all indicate that the engine is running fine. I'm not loosing any water or oil, I have no odd smoke coming from her either. In fact since the head gasket etc have all been done she runs and sounds ace.

The heater matrix was replaced at the same time as the head, that's almost three weeks ago now so if I had an air block i would ave thought it would have cleared by now.

The only indications that anything is wrong is the sudden drop in mpg again, the heater not pushing heat into the cab and the temperature gauge taking ages to get hot, but going up to just outside the red.

I just have no idea whats wrong.
 
Nevets22002 said:
Thank you Turboman

The readings from the lazer heat reading gun all indicate that the engine is running fine. I'm not loosing any water or oil, I have no odd smoke coming from her either. In fact since the head gasket etc have all been done she runs and sounds ace.

The heater matrix was replaced at the same time as the head, that's almost three weeks ago now so if I had an air block i would ave thought it would have cleared by now.

The only indications that anything is wrong is the sudden drop in mpg again, the heater not pushing heat into the cab and the temperature gauge taking ages to get hot, but going up to just outside the red.

I just have no idea whats wrong.
Click to expand...

did the temp sender get changed?

is this an orig 200tdi and not a disco conversion? i thought 200's were 1990+
 
Last edited:
Hi everyone,

Trax, the sender got changed about ten days ago and the gauge reads the same, just outside the red after about 10 miles of normal driving, top hose only ever gets to about 84.

Mikescuba, I thought about a ceramic heater, but when I looked into it must people a divided against it saying it would drain the life out of the battery.

I know this thread is about engines running cool but what do others think about cab heating.
 
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