Defender overheated first time

[fender22]

Hi all. Have an old girl 93 Defender 110, TDI 200. Has 170K'S on the clock and is in generally good order and regularly serviced. Had the radiator replaced with a new one 2 years ago. I've never had a problem overheating and the needle always sits dead centre never moves.

Going up Toowoomba range in the weekend. Only about 4k's but super steep so most of the way in 2nd or third revving reasonably hard pulling a camper trailer. The trailer is just your standard canvas topped 6 x 4 thing although does have a bit of gear / weight in it.

By the time I got near the top of the mountain I was shocked to see the needle just below red. I also noticed when I dropped the revs a bit the oil light was flickering on a little bit. Luckily got up without fully over heating and temp dropped back down when on normal ground again and the oil light sorted itself out. Later when I stopped and cooled down I checked the water and oil and all was ok. Is this normal? Anything else I should be checking?

[uninformed]

Is the radiator the only thing to be replaced in the cooling system?

How often have you flushed and changed coolant in it?

Do you have a bulbar, winch or spot lights?

I hate to be a negative nancy, but the stock LR temp gauge is a POS! by the time it moves the temp is well and truly on its way up, and being that you say just below red, id say thats quite hot.

I would be keeping a very close eye on the head gasket

[camel_landy]

The thermostat reading can be temperamental... Get it confirmed with a laser thermometer as it could be something as simple as a dodgy earth!!!

M

[uninformed]

The thermostat reading can be temperamental... Get it confirmed with a laser thermometer as it could be something as simple as a dodgy earth!!!

M

Sure could, but given it happened when directly climbing under load (Im quite familiar with Toowoomba range and its affect on engine temp) Id say it has actually got hot.

[BilboBoggles]

at slow speed - high load, the only thing drawing air over the radiator is the cooling fan. You should have heard it lock up under those situations and made a loud roaring sound that increased with engine revs and then drops off a bit at higher revs. If not then the viscous coupling is buggered and needs to be replaced. Worth doing anyway just in case.

[noyakfat]

You probably already know this, but next time in the same situation you can aid the engine cooling system a little by cranking the cabin heater on to full heat and the fan to full blast.

Not ideal comfort conditions in the cabin, but at this time of year in Toowoomba I'm guessing you won't complain too much about a bit of extra warmth :)

Also, the "normal" range with temperature gauges in most makes of vehicle is generally anywhere below the red/high level.

I know it looks freaky when it happens though, and I acknowledge that it may have indeed been getting hot as it was under considerable load.

Cheers,
Nige

[87County]

Hi all. Have an old girl 93 Defender 110, TDI 200. Has 170K'S on the clock and is in generally good order and regularly serviced. Had the radiator replaced with a new one 2 years ago. I've never had a problem overheating and the needle always sits dead centre never moves.

Going up Toowoomba range in the weekend. Only about 4k's but super steep so most of the way in 2nd or third revving reasonably hard pulling a camper trailer. The trailer is just your standard canvas topped 6 x 4 thing although does have a bit of gear / weight in it.

By the time I got near the top of the mountain I was shocked to see the needle just below red. I also noticed when I dropped the revs a bit the oil light was flickering on a little bit. Luckily got up without fully over heating and temp dropped back down when on normal ground again and the oil light sorted itself out. Later when I stopped and cooled down I checked the water and oil and all was ok. Is this normal? Anything else I should be checking?

a capilliary gauge is the only real way to tell temperature but the oil light flicker whe hot can mean either low oil pressre (thinned oil?) or a crook sended unti. Many 300tdi sender units need replacement in the 200-300kkm range so this may also apply to the 200tdi?

how long since a proper cooling system cleanout ?