Purchasing is easy, fitting it is not.
https://www.dmgrs.co.uk/products/re-inforced-kv6-thermostat-kit-45-zs-75-zt-2-0-and-2-5-v6-pem101050
https://www.dmgrs.co.uk/products/re-inforced-kv6-thermostat-kit-45-zs-75-zt-2-0-and-2-5-v6-pem101050
Yep, that pops up in conversation occasionally.
I think it's made is South Africa by a guy called Kaiser.
https://forums.mg-rover.org/threads/r-75-thermostat-housing.350026/
Fitting: https://forums.mg-rover.org/threads/kv6-metal-thermostat-installed.327619/
I think it's made is South Africa by a guy called Kaiser.
https://forums.mg-rover.org/threads/r-75-thermostat-housing.350026/
Fitting: https://forums.mg-rover.org/threads/kv6-metal-thermostat-installed.327619/
Arctic2
Well-Known Member
Yes they are made in South Africa by Kaiser, I presume you are talking about this below, I gave it away only earlier this year as I changed my MGZT 2.5 190 to an R40 diesel tourer. I believe this is one of the first he made, I was kindly given it at a meet by a member and because I never got round to using it I gave it away as a gift also. I can try find out more details if you like cheers Arctic.
Nodge68
Well-Known Member
That's not an alloy thermostat housing. It's a bodge to help reduce the chances of it leaking, which it won't. Besides the thermostat leaks at the O rings more often than the joint on the stat.
I don't believe Kaiser makes them any more.
I spoke to him about 6 years ago when I had my V6. He said at the time he was struggling to get enough orders to make the next batch.
Also they're not cheap, and are subject to import duty at a silly amount, so I didn't go ahead with the order.
Imo it's easy and cheaper to simply replace the thermostat assembly at 3 or 4 year intervals.
Yeah...this is exactly what I'm talking about!!...why couldn't Land Rover so-called engineers think to do it this way especially given the location of the thermostat??!!!...BTW, how does one purchase this?Yes they are made in South Africa by Kaiser, I presume you are talking about this below, I gave it away only earlier this year as I changed my MGZT 2.5 190 to an R40 diesel tourer. I believe this is one of the first he made, I was kindly given it at a meet by a member and because I never got round to using it I gave it away as a gift also. I can try find out more details if you like cheers Arctic.
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Nodge68
Well-Known Member
The KV6 engine originally had an alloy thermostat housing, and alloy inlet VIS manifold too.
However when LR was bought by BMW, the KV6 received lots of BMW "improvements" (actually cost cutting exercises) which dumped expensive alloy castings in favour of cheaper German made plastic crap.
You need to contact Kaiser, and see if he's still making them. He wasn't a few years ago, when I enquired however.
A friend of mine was able to purchase his from one Suzzy on this site but i NO LONGER HAVE IS CONTACT...I'm new here..but what he did was, somehow without opening the stat, he was able to remove the thermostat inside it..we live in Ghana on the equator where temperatures are as high as 30 degree celcius as early as 6:00am in the morning 11 out of the 12 months in the year!..at the time, I was worried he made the wrong move because the engine might never reach it's operating temperature, and also if he left it in and the engine reaches it's op temp, the stat will stay open by itself since it only gets hotter by the day anyway...he countered that the engine run cooler and the temp guage never got to the middle, rather 3/4 and stays there. Could it be that Land Rover engineers designed their cars only considering european temperatures..as Africa is just about 1 per cent of their market sales..?
Nodge68
Well-Known Member
The KV6 is designed to run at 100°C, or there abouts.
Removing the thermostat will cause it to run cold, regardless of the operating environment.
If the gauge is showing less then normal, then the engine running cold. The temperature gauge readout is deliberately augmented, to show mid point in the engine's normal operating temperature. This normal operating temperature is between 76°C and 114°C, so the gauge shows mid point when the engine is between those temperatures. If the gauge shows below mid point, then the engine is running cold, and above it's running hot.
The thermostat is designed to maintain engine at the correct temperature, regardless of the vehicle being in Iceland or the middle of Africa.
Thank you, Nodge68...but have you realized that the KV6 engine in the Freelander runs hotter than other V6 AWD cars?
Nodge68
Well-Known Member
The KV6 is designed to run hot, as are most modern vehicles. Most modern vehicles (the KV6 was years ahead in design) run hot to reduce hydrocarbon emissions.
Nodge68
Well-Known Member
Not a Freelander specifically, but I have worked in a franchise dealership. I've 20 years experience with Rover engines, and Rover's in general.
The KV6 doesn't mind lower operating temperatures, but will need regular oil changes (it gets thinner due to contaminants not burning off) and MPG will suffer.
The fans come on slow speed when the engine temperature exceeds 106°C, or the AC is on.
Thank you so much for your expertise...but what I wanted to know was...if the engine runs cold (below 76 degrees) and the temp dial stays at less than 1/2, the fans shouldn't come on at all since there's nothing to cool, right?
Nodge68
Well-Known Member
The fans won't run to cool the engine, as there's no need. However if AC is used, then the fans will run slowly, to draw air through the AC condenser unit.
mattyprice4004
New Member
Hello all, thought I'd chime in as DMGRS (linked above) now stock the 'proper' Kaiser KV6 thermostat - https://www.dmgrs.co.uk/collections...ts-rover-45-75-mg-zs-zt-land-rover-freelander
To clarify, in the past I owned the business above and thought it was worth a mention - the new owner is massively into his Freelanders as well as the MGR crop. He's just not big on his forums!
It's worthy of note that the epoxy-reinforced item above enjoyed a much better survival rate than the original item.
I've not got up to date figures, but my records from the past indicate a ratio of around 1 in 4 failures being the reinforced item; the other 3/4 being the original type.
The 1/4 failures of the reinforced item were O Ring related, thus the epoxy really does seem to prevent the centre weld letting go.
Personally, while you can't beat the sound of a V6 I'm firmly in the Diesel camp these days - but the KV6 is a fantastic engine in it's own right.
To clarify, in the past I owned the business above and thought it was worth a mention - the new owner is massively into his Freelanders as well as the MGR crop. He's just not big on his forums!
It's worthy of note that the epoxy-reinforced item above enjoyed a much better survival rate than the original item.
I've not got up to date figures, but my records from the past indicate a ratio of around 1 in 4 failures being the reinforced item; the other 3/4 being the original type.
The 1/4 failures of the reinforced item were O Ring related, thus the epoxy really does seem to prevent the centre weld letting go.
Personally, while you can't beat the sound of a V6 I'm firmly in the Diesel camp these days - but the KV6 is a fantastic engine in it's own right.
comeinhandy
Member
Thanks to dmgrs for the reinforcing idea. Interesting statistics as well. I also extended that idea by adding those paint lid retaining spring clips around the weld before adding epoxy. That weld aint moving now!Hello all, thought I'd chime in as DMGRS (linked above) now stock the 'proper' Kaiser KV6 thermostat - https://www.dmgrs.co.uk/collections...ts-rover-45-75-mg-zs-zt-land-rover-freelander
To clarify, in the past I owned the business above and thought it was worth a mention - the new owner is massively into his Freelanders as well as the MGR crop. He's just not big on his forums!
It's worthy of note that the epoxy-reinforced item above enjoyed a much better survival rate than the original item.
I've not got up to date figures, but my records from the past indicate a ratio of around 1 in 4 failures being the reinforced item; the other 3/4 being the original type.
The 1/4 failures of the reinforced item were O Ring related, thus the epoxy really does seem to prevent the centre weld letting go.
Personally, while you can't beat the sound of a V6 I'm firmly in the Diesel camp these days - but the KV6 is a fantastic engine in it's own right.
