Landyfox
Well-Known Member
- Posts
- 4,489
Just when everything was running smoothly.... Or so I thought!!!!
Normally my old girl (94 Defender 300TDI) is able to reach its regular temperature within 2-4miles of driving, if sitting idling it takes a good 15/20 minutes. The normal temperature is usually represented on the gauge as 3/4 (just over halfway), and will sit there all day long without any problem. However, 3 month ago when collecting a classic mini on a Brian Johnson trailer and driving it back under load the temperature appeared to rise significantly on two separate occasions whilst climbing two pretty big inclines. Before allowing it to reach the red mark, I pulled over and stopped for a short while (15 mins max) allowing it to cool down which it was able to do successfully before setting off again. Once I reached home I give the landy a once over and found everything to be as it should. No coolant loss or oil in the water, no oil loss or water in oil and so on. Since that journey I've not had any further overheating issue until last Friday when I was doing a 60mile motorway drive. Everything appeared fine, temp gauge sitting normally around the 3/4 mark costing at 60mph. I must have covered maybe 15 miles whilst travelling 70mph when I noticed that the temperature gauge had move up towards the red, not touching but pretty damn close to it. I immediately eased up on the peddle and completed the remaining 40mile doing 50/55mph with gauge dropping slightly and maintaining its position.
Upon inspection:
- No coolant leaks visible. Water pump dry, P-Gasket Dry all pipes dry and intact, heater matrix no obvious leak (I normally top up coolant once every 2/3 months with no more than 1/4 of pint needed - is this normal.?!
- The heater gets warm, not hot, hot but could be argued my warm is LR hot.
- All the pipes are warm as expected.
Radiator warm all over, cooling slightly towards the bottom.
- Full coolant system bled via thermostat housing and rad (both have brass screws).
- Expansion tank appears intact with no sign of leaking or bubbling with engine running at start up.
- I've not been able to verify thermostat as I can't get the bloody bottom bolt out, the head is completely round - even a 3/8 socket just turns on it. (I wouldn't have thought the thermostat was to blame as its only used to get the system up to running temperature quicker.?!
- Oil is clear with no mayo or sludge visible, likewise no oil is evident in the coolant.
- Water pump can be heard but nothing which would concern me, no high pitch whining etc.
- Viscus fan spins as it should.
- No sign of blue or white smoke at start up or whilst driving.
Since Friday I've completed the same journey twice but never exceeding 60mph and everything has been fine.
I would like to get to the bottom of this, in fact I would love the temperature gauge sitting at or below the halfway mark and not at the 3/4. Sadly I'm not in a position to just throw cash at it and hope that I eventually find the cause by process of elimination. Obvious concern is a HGF. Timing belt was changed last year and the old girl idles nicely and pulls generally okey. I have noticed that she doesn't pull that well up hills, although can do it comfortably at 50mph or pushes to do it at 60mph. The turbo is ok with no sign of free play or any sign of oil in the filter.
I'm not sure whether I should spend £100 on a new Rad and hope that's the problem or spend the cash to replace the HG and get the head skimmed as a preventative measure.
Has anyone experienced these symptoms.?! I'm at a total loss
Any advice would be much appreciated and suggested order.
Normally my old girl (94 Defender 300TDI) is able to reach its regular temperature within 2-4miles of driving, if sitting idling it takes a good 15/20 minutes. The normal temperature is usually represented on the gauge as 3/4 (just over halfway), and will sit there all day long without any problem. However, 3 month ago when collecting a classic mini on a Brian Johnson trailer and driving it back under load the temperature appeared to rise significantly on two separate occasions whilst climbing two pretty big inclines. Before allowing it to reach the red mark, I pulled over and stopped for a short while (15 mins max) allowing it to cool down which it was able to do successfully before setting off again. Once I reached home I give the landy a once over and found everything to be as it should. No coolant loss or oil in the water, no oil loss or water in oil and so on. Since that journey I've not had any further overheating issue until last Friday when I was doing a 60mile motorway drive. Everything appeared fine, temp gauge sitting normally around the 3/4 mark costing at 60mph. I must have covered maybe 15 miles whilst travelling 70mph when I noticed that the temperature gauge had move up towards the red, not touching but pretty damn close to it. I immediately eased up on the peddle and completed the remaining 40mile doing 50/55mph with gauge dropping slightly and maintaining its position.
Upon inspection:
- No coolant leaks visible. Water pump dry, P-Gasket Dry all pipes dry and intact, heater matrix no obvious leak (I normally top up coolant once every 2/3 months with no more than 1/4 of pint needed - is this normal.?!
- The heater gets warm, not hot, hot but could be argued my warm is LR hot.
- All the pipes are warm as expected.
Radiator warm all over, cooling slightly towards the bottom.
- Full coolant system bled via thermostat housing and rad (both have brass screws).
- Expansion tank appears intact with no sign of leaking or bubbling with engine running at start up.
- I've not been able to verify thermostat as I can't get the bloody bottom bolt out, the head is completely round - even a 3/8 socket just turns on it. (I wouldn't have thought the thermostat was to blame as its only used to get the system up to running temperature quicker.?!
- Oil is clear with no mayo or sludge visible, likewise no oil is evident in the coolant.
- Water pump can be heard but nothing which would concern me, no high pitch whining etc.
- Viscus fan spins as it should.
- No sign of blue or white smoke at start up or whilst driving.
Since Friday I've completed the same journey twice but never exceeding 60mph and everything has been fine.
I would like to get to the bottom of this, in fact I would love the temperature gauge sitting at or below the halfway mark and not at the 3/4. Sadly I'm not in a position to just throw cash at it and hope that I eventually find the cause by process of elimination. Obvious concern is a HGF. Timing belt was changed last year and the old girl idles nicely and pulls generally okey. I have noticed that she doesn't pull that well up hills, although can do it comfortably at 50mph or pushes to do it at 60mph. The turbo is ok with no sign of free play or any sign of oil in the filter.
I'm not sure whether I should spend £100 on a new Rad and hope that's the problem or spend the cash to replace the HG and get the head skimmed as a preventative measure.
Has anyone experienced these symptoms.?! I'm at a total loss
Any advice would be much appreciated and suggested order.
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