Defender overheating - normal or not?

[Ranga]

On the way out past Cunningham's Gap on Saturday, I noticed the Defender engine temp heating up just after Aratula.

The original temp gauge started creeping (I've never seen it go past half way before) to about 3/4, and the TM2 starting getting into the mid-80s.

By the time I got to the top of the Gap, the TM2 was reading about 92, and the gauge was a couple of mm off the red zone. Naturally, I stopped and let it cool down whilst the wife fed the little fella. About 30 minutes later it was back down to the low 80s, so I continued. It stayed there until we reached our destination about 40 minutes later.

Now, the old girl was loaded up a fair bit, including a roof-rack full of swag, tent etc. and the back was full of gear also. This would have meant a couple of hundred kg extra weight tops, and a little bit of wind drag. I must also mention is was a warm day, around the mid 30s. A few other cars were pulled over at the top of the gap with engine temp problems also.

So, the question is, is this normal, or should I be getting it checked out at MR Auto (or anywhere better that someone can suggest on Bris northside)? I'm sort of hoping that it's not normal, because after cooking a 4.2 Toyota engine a few years ago, I never want to experience that again!

[Yorkshire_Jon]

Assuming its only just started getting hot and has been running fine up to now?


If its a V8 then I dont know... no experience there.

If its a tdi then you probably need to start looking at how to change the head gasket... Done several over the years, all start to go the same way and its usually between the back two pots.

The good news is if you catch it early there will be no long term problems - they are pretty tolerant in that regard. Just make sure you torque the head up properly.

Jon

[dullbird]

personally before you start panicking about a head gasket I would be inclined to get your radiator checked....

get it checked for external and internal blockages.....if you don't get your radiator serviced regulary this could more than likely be the cause. if you dont go off road and play in muddy water which can block it externally it can still get blocked inside by deposit build up from your coolant and the fact that old radiators over time do start breaking down internally.

I had the same thing on my disco sometime ago climed the big hill to the blue mountains by the time I got to the top it was almost in the red..pulled over let it cool down drove it home without the temperature guage moving.. took the radiator out 20% blocked internal and 90% blocked external from a recent trip in the muds (we thought we had washed it down obviously not well enough) so the car had no chance under load.

[Blknight.aus]

I'll back dull bird on this one, cooling system inspection and service first and then jump on the conclusions that come from that.

[The ho har's]

Sooo where did you go camping then;)

We had a good time :D


Mrs hh:angel:

[justinc]

Like Dave and DB say, anything around 20% blockage with a Td1 it'll get hot up hills etc. Get it rodded out and check the viscous fan hub BEFORE it gets hot enough to blow a head gasket

JC

[Ranga]

Sooo where did you go camping then;)

We had a good time :D


Mrs hh:angel:

Just did an impromptu trip to Gordon Country, once we realised we had a few days to kill after all.

Would have loved to have gone to Rover Park though... maybe net time :D

[Ranga]

Any recommendations on a good radiator place on the north side of Brisbane? Maybe I should just call MR and see if they can check it or recommend someone.

[woody]

G'day,

Funny thing is that I had a similar thing happen last Wednesday on the way home from work so I stopped and checked the coolant level to find it was down a little. Being paranoid and protective of my little girl I stopped off at my mechanic for him to find a weeping welch plug and the seam in the coolant tank leaking.

hopefully my little girl gets out of hospital tomorrow

[slug_burner]

I would not panic, a hill climb will push up the temp on any vehicle. 92C doesn't sound like the end of the world. Most pressurised systems will get up above 110C.

[camel_landy]

Yep, I'd re-iterate what DB, Dave, etc... have said... Check the cooling system first.

Also, don't always believe what you see... If you're still having problems, check the temp with a different thermometer as faulty earth connections can make the engine look as though it is 'Overheating'!

HTH

M

[ellard]

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

[Ranga]

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?

[flagg]

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)

[isuzu110]

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.

[5teve]

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

[Blknight.aus]

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.

[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

[bosvit]

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:D

[CraigE]

Depends on the day, but my Defender TD5 runs mid 80's to about 92 on a hot day doing 110kmph or under heavy load.

[PAT303]

My Tdi runs low 80's,quite often 70's with no load and my gauge needle moves to halfway at 92-94.It takes a 45 degree day to get into the 90's. Pat

[5teve]

Depends on the day, but my Defender TD5 runs mid 80's to about 92 on a hot day doing 110kmph or under heavy load.

the day i monitored it was on our way up to kalbarri on a 40 degree day (in perth) and with 4 people and a full load in the back.. so that helps... it was only hitting high 90's at the tops of long hills...
Ta

Steve

[Ranga]

Where are you guys monitoring your temps? I had mine down on the block, but have since moved it onto the water pump, and imagine the temps I were getting were possibly less than accurate.

[isuzu110]

I am measuring mine in the top of the thermostat housing where the brass bung is. There may be slightly better places, but this one was quite easy to set up.

[CraigE]

With Nanocom.
Obviously temps may vary by a couple of degrees with placement.

[CraigE]

the day i monitored it was on our way up to kalbarri on a 40 degree day (in perth) and with 4 people and a full load in the back.. so that helps... it was only hitting high 90's at the tops of long hills...
Ta

Steve
Steve,
I would take that as being normal for the conditions you mention. Over 100 I would start to think about it.
Craig