Thread: Defender overheating - normal or not?

Hi there all

I have found with my defender the same.....the other day whien driving home from Roxby Downs (Monday) the outside temperature was around 45 plus.

The Defenders speed is governed by the temperature Guage (but should hold 100-110 with the A/C on) - but point it towards a hill/incline - and yes the temperature guage with climb.

The best thing I did - I removed the plastic filler on the thermostat housing (this is the hottest point of water leaving the engine) and fitted a aftermarket temperature guage as the orignal ones are not all that accurate.

I honestly believe the radiators are a little small for the enigne - but mine is an early Defender.

Wayne

Well, I've just returned from the radiator place that MR put me on to. He admitted he had never dealt with a Defender radiator before, and after a bit of a look he quoted me about $350 to check it out (with him removing it). I believe this included rodding it and coolant. Another radiator place quoted me $335, or $110 if I removed it myself.

I never realised the labour cost would be so much to remove the radiator.

Now, I've spotted a brand new Britpart radiator for $385 delivered. I'm wondering what would be the better option - remove mine myself to have it looked at, or remove it myself and replace it. Obivously there's $275 difference. Maybe I should just remove it myself, pay the $110, and if it's no good get the new one. Then I've only really lost the $110 for the service on a buggered radiator.

Despite all this talk, I'm an IT guy, and pulling spanners isn't one of my greatest talents. How hard is it to actually remove the radiator?

Originally Posted by Ranga

Now, I've spotted a brand new Britpart radiator for $385 delivered.

have a search around as IIRC there was a thread or two about fitting these non-genuine ones.... (britpart ones from ebay)

I drove up Cunninghams Gap on Sunday in my 300TDI Defender. My temp gauge rose from above half way to about 2/3rds on the gauge. I have an EMS2 and I was getting around 87 degrees as measured in the top of the thermostat housing. I'm not worried about that temp given the weekend was pretty hot (~35 degrees back at Aratula)


2 Christmas' ago, I did the same trip on a warm day but pulling a camper trailer. I had to nurse it the last bit of the way up the gap to stop it going into the red. When I got home, I had the rad checked and it was partially blocked. I ruled out a rodding as some of the fins were starting to disintegrate so I had it recored.

Since the recore, the temps have been much better, especially on long hill climbs with towing.

sorry to change the topic a bit... but 92 sounds quite cool? or does the 300tdi run cold?

According to the nanocom the td5 defender i have runs around the 89-90 mark normally and then under load (climbing loaded at 100k's) gets up to the 96-98 degree mark.... so you guys talking of backing off etc gets me thinking!

The temp gauge (as its normalised) never really moves...

Thanks

Steve

this post is the very reason it doesnt move till its actually getting close to being dangerous..

can you imagine how many calls the LRA help dep would get if the TD5, which got a nasty rep for blowing up if you cooked it, had a temp gauge like a series?

"OOOHHHH MY GOOOOD THE temperature gauge MOOOOVED... ITS OVER HEATING ITs GOING TO BLOW UP... I Want a new cooling system....."

urmmm hang on sir/mam what were you doing at the time?

"Urmmm climbing the toowoomba range, with 4 t on the back, with a tail wind on a 40 degree da...."

Click... beeb beeb beeb......



trust me, It'll move when you get to the end of the normal operating range then it'll go up smartly into the "you just cost yourself several grand" marker. The engine even clicks back onto the low power map.

IceFyre knows about it... he blew the hidden hose no-one seems to know about on the way back from the cape.

understand about the gauge on the td5's etc etc... and your right... if it shifts most people would panic!

I guess my main question was... does the 300tdi run significantly cooler than the td5? or am i getting unusual temps? (im guessing not as the disco runs at about that too)

Thanks

Steve

Originally Posted by 5teve

understand about the gauge on the td5's etc etc... and your right... if it shifts most people would panic!

I guess my main question was... does the 300tdi run significantly cooler than the td5? or am i getting unusual temps? (im guessing not as the disco runs at about that too)

Thanks

Steve

My 130 TD5 Seems to sit at low 80's until I work it hard, eg 2.5 tonne boat 1/2 tonne crap in the tray and doing 100km/h on 30+ days then I get up to low 90's when going up hills or pushing into big head winds.

I was worried about this but on reading this thread am feeling a little more re-assured