Overheating, Defender 110.

Hi Everyone.

I am currently on a trip though the Balkans in my 110.
We are just over 2 weeks and 2000miles in (in Bosnia) and we have started overheating.
The problem is at all speeds, obviously especially bad when going uphill (~100c) but also at 50mph on a flat piece of road or just pooteling along a gravel track in 1st.

After idling for 10 minutes or so she returns to her usual 93c not a problem but as soon as you move off again, temps rise until they are pushing 100c almost immediately.

We only had a service just before we left

Following Haynes:
We have plenty of coolant
Have not checked thermostat until we have some antifreeze.
Grill on the rad is clear
Cooling fan spins up great.
Top tube is squidy.
We aren't losing coolant in 2 weeks.

Maybe I'm just being paranoid and or the gauge is faulty although would be surprised that it has suddenly gone.

Any help or ideas greatly appreciated.

Elodie said:

Hi Everyone.

I am currently on a trip though the Balkans in my 110.
We are just over 2 weeks and 2000miles in (in Bosnia) and we have started overheating.
The problem is at all speeds, obviously especially bad when going uphill (~100c) but also at 50mph on a flat piece of road or just pooteling along a gravel track in 1st.

After idling for 10 minutes or so she returns to her usual 93c not a problem but as soon as you move off again, temps rise until they are pushing 100c almost immediately.

We only had a service just before we left

Following Haynes:
We have plenty of coolant
Have not checked thermostat until we have some antifreeze.
Grill on the rad is clear
Cooling fan spins up great.
Top tube is squidy.
We aren't losing coolant in 2 weeks.

Maybe I'm just being paranoid and or the gauge is faulty although would be surprised that it has suddenly gone.

Any help or ideas greatly appreciated.

Click to expand...

Thermostat....

Why wait for antifreeze ? I don't think its freezing anywhere in June ?

Air Lock?
thermostate - thermostate>radiator hoses getting warm ?
Blocked Rad - is rad getting warm evenly?

It is possible that the impeller has come off the water pump, so the water is not circulating.

Not sure if this could be the case, but have a feel of the vanes on your radiator. I have had two where when touched they just turned to dust, so no heat transfer.

Both my radiators looked fine, but a different story when you touch them!

Welcome .

Its warmer over in the east.
Feel the rad, hot at the top, but is it hot or cold in the middle and cool down to the bottom.

Take the stat out of the equation its easy and quick. Also agree no anti freeze needed at this time it wont hurt to run water till sorted.

Drove a pickup for 2 weeks with no issues until it was loaded with a loaded trailer, Rad felt cool over a lot of the center area it was blocked.
Managed to get the Rad company to pick up the rad from the Hilton carpark (after I had taken it out in the carpark) They recored it and delivered it back (2 nights if I remember) we continued on our way to the ferry in Dover then to here BG, But that's another story.

I take it as you have embarked on this journey you have some tools with you. If you have a problem dont rush. Where are you going?

J

model of land rover would help as marjon says its normally hotter here my defender runs a bit hot in the summer so I run more of a coolant than a antifreeze hope you have A.C. but if you get stuck their are some land rover service shops around
Sorry just seen it tdi

I would check the radiator first, one of the first signs of a blocked, restricted it fins corroded is over heated when under load, if you don't sort it, it will just get worse and worse. Like other have said, feel rad for hot and cold spots. Remove thermostat and see if it still happens if you want as it could be thermostat but my money is on radiator.
My disco have same issue and the defender before that. When on long incline that needs a bit more grunt it would rise, once on the flat again it would drop.