Mechanics woe's - 300Tdi Disco overheating on load

Hi All,
It's been a while, but I'm Stuck.

Before we start, I've read all the previous threads on overheating and I'm an accomplished mechanic.. and run the local 4x4 club in Gibraltar/Southern Spain. (i.e don't ask me about thermostat etc).

Ambient temp 34c and slight hill climb sends the temp needle up! Stop at tickover or get on the flat and watch it go back down again!
My personal car and Auto 300TDI Disco 98 has had the following:
New Head (the one with extra cooling holes in it) as a result of the temp rocketing and not being able to stop quick enough knackering the previous head.
Kenlowe fan
Full system flush, removing all hose joints and following the system
New water pump
New P gasket (needed doing)
Fresh antifreeze
New hoses throughout.
I run 33" tyres, Straight through exhaust. Thermostat removed.

Now a few things I think may be contributing
Fitting the kenlowe does away with the cowling but then again it did overheat once or twice with the old viscous hence me spending the 130 quid to get it. But this now takes away the cooling from the intercooler?

The Diesel pump has been turned up a bit creating a bit of smoke under power, not sure if this would cause temp to rise though?

I do have lights and bull bar etc which does hamper the rad a little but only in line with others in the club who have no problems at all.



After ideas please?

Thanks

Mark:doh:

have you felt rad all over core when hot to see if its hot all over ,the biggest fault with cooling system ive found,often water goes straight in at top and straight down and out

Thanks James, that's my train of thought. MD Engineering do a 4 core (instead of 3) replacement for £200. Thats the way I'll go unless anyone comes up with something I've not thought of.

landymangib said:

The Diesel pump has been turned up a bit creating a bit of smoke under power, not sure if this would cause temp to rise though?



Mark:doh:

Click to expand...

Yes it can, if the EGT is too high it could cause problems, burnt valves being one of them, overheating that goes away when the foot is lifted is another.

Try turning the pump down again as a test, it's pretty easy to do.

Have you got a larger cooler fitted?
I ran TD5 for 4 years and after 3 years got it chipped then bought and fitted the larger intercooler this defo restricted the airflow to the rad as i heard the viscous fan cut in a few times driving the same route all year i had never heard the fan ever in the previous 3 years.
I also had overheating problems with a 300 auto minus the viscous also with electric fan and larger intercooler, i think the set up is to restrictive with the aircon fans, then the aircon rad then the engine rad, it was from that point that i gave up with electric fans on all my future land rovers, i put the viscous back on and it was never any more trouble.
So in your case i would stick with the viscous and a new radiator.
Biggest problem that electric fans cant cope with is heat soak, ie fast run pull into slow moving traffic and the engine temp continues to rise as theres now not enough air moving over the rad to cool it down, whereas a viscous shifts air all the time even whens its freewheeling.


Lynall


Lynall

Ok everyone - lesson to all. My problem, even after fitting all of the added cooling is airflow. I have a v8 disco with my ARB bull bumper and spotlights in front of the grill - no problems. However, the same set up on my 300 TDI with the smaller rad and intercooler and aircon rad and auto box cooler in the way doesn't bode well for cooling. So my advice to everyone with overheating problems, think back to when you put your spotlights on the front of the car.... I live in Spain and at the moment we have 30c heat daily and even after platering up long hills, the needle remains constant so all in all, job done - nice open grill!

thanks to all

Mark

Exactly the same symptons, changed the inlet manifold gasket and now the needle on the gauge doesn't move off the middle once warmed up, thrown monstrous hills at it and all fine. Bulls, whinch and lamps in place. Injector pump tuned up, still a bit smoky tho.

I have a 300tdi with full size Allard intercooler. I dont have a viscous fan. The previous owner fitted an electric fan but the air flow from it is, in my opinion, poor compared to a viscouse set up. The set up worked fine until I installed the Allard intercooler. I have no issue unless the air temperature is circa 25 degC or above, I am towing a heavy load up a big hill or I am doing 80 mph on the motorway.
The Intercooler it almost as big as the rad. When on turbo boost the heat impacts on the radiator. In reality, I need to go back to the viscous set up to cure the problem.
This will cost me in fuel economy so may not bother until next summer.

have you tried a new rad.because I had same problem and I put a new rad on my 300tdi and its never over heated since

you can test rad by feling the rad core all over when engines hot ,rad should be too all over core ,a hot top hose means thermostat is open

Like what they said