Thread: Summer High temperatures, Td5 temp gauge never moves?

You won't find it via google or on the TM or Engine Saver sites - give David at Engine Saver a call

Willis

Originally Posted by Willis

The TM2 combo (from Enginesaver) has the low coolant sensor in the bleed screw of the top radiator hose - so alarm will go off if its low, and also has the temperature sensor that bolts to the side of the head which has an electronic display as well as an alarm which can be set to go off if the temp exceeds the level you set. Mine is set at 102C but this may be too low..... Seems to cover both bases and easy to install. I mounted mine in the Map Holder just above my head - easy to see and doesn't disttact me at night - there is a good thread somewhere about how to do this - took me about an hour and a half to do (but I'm a real ditherer so someone with half a brain would be a lot quicker!)

Hope this helps - one of the best accessories I've fitted!

cheers

Willis

Interesting, I've set mine to 95oC and it generally runs around 88oC, but I have seen it peak at 91oC once. So what does everyone else have theirs set to?

Mounted mine in the same place as you, took the power feed from behind the panel above the interia mirror.

I bought mine my PMing Davy via AULRO, nice and painless plus turned up a couple days after I paid. Well happy

FYI - Prado gauges are the same. They don't move regardless of the temperature if everything's ok.

I have always found the TD5 gauge did what it claims. In all but one situation (and the engine was already in trouble) the gauge gave warnings as it should.

I had an incident with my previous TD5 couple of years back, we were holidaying in Qld and had towed my previous van (19ft 2t) there. While driving on Bribie beach went through a washout (NOT QUICK) and around 5-10k's down the beach went to turn into a campsite and struggled to move. Sand was soft so I thought well stick it in low and then it basically shutdown, I literally had no throttle. I thought bugger the tide was racing in and I was stuck below hightide mark. My eye caught a red light come on on the dash and was the temp light and just then I relised the guage was past the red and on the other side of it and I thought ""Bother"". I got out and smelt coolant, when I lifted the bonnet the whole engine bay was red. Long story short I had put the fan through the radiator in that washout and didnt know it. Well I thought I'm stuffed I couldnt drive it as the water I was putting in came out quicker than it could be poured in and I thought I have probably just done the head and I had to still tow my van back to Vic. I was lucky, well sort of it cost I think it was around $1800 to have it recovered and repaired (new radiator) I was sweating on the head status I can tell you. Unfortunately I never saw the guage start to move so yes definately a problem thing.
My problem is though I'm a worry warden and I dont know that I'd like to watch my engine temp fluctuateing that much or knowing its going that high. I would be stressing!!.
I know its silly but I sometimes think I would rather not know thats going on.

Steve

Problem as you describe above is that a major coolant dump - such as the event you had - won't register on most vehicles.

The coolant sensor must be immersed to function. Once in steam it cannot get a reading so often wont give any warning on any gauge.

Only type of sensor that can do that then is a low coolant alarm style. Which a majority of vehicles don't come with standard anyway.

Originally Posted by Tombie

Problem as you describe above is that a major coolant dump - such as the event you had - won't register on most vehicles.

The coolant sensor must be immersed to function. Once in steam it cannot get a reading so often wont give any warning on any gauge.

Only type of sensor that can do that then is a low coolant alarm style. Which a majority of vehicles don't come with standard anyway.

Can back this up with experience, you won't get any warning on the gauge at all in the event of a major coolant dump, either mechanical or electric.

Originally Posted by kelvo

Interesting, I've set mine to 95oC and it generally runs around 88oC, but I have seen it peak at 91oC once. So what does everyone else have theirs set to?

According to RAVE the thermostat is fully closed below 82°C and doesn't fully open until 96°C. That means that the radiator isn't getting maximum flow of coolant until temp goes above 96°C.

For the Td5 the engine cooling fan (without air con running) turn on temperature during normal running is 110°C, and switch off temp is 105°C. If LR have designed the cooling system so it doesn't require fan assist below 105°C it's pretty safe to assume that this is well within normal operating temperatures.

Bear in mind that a 50/50 ethylene glycol mix has a boiling point at atmospheric pressure of 106°C vs pure water 100°C, and that cooling systems usually run at about 14psi which increases boiling point by a further 25°C.

On the South African forums there is discussion on warning temps, and some specific recommendations made by a LR garage which fits the Madman gauges. For the Td5: EGT 750°C, Coolant 115°C - another mechanic (know as DiscoJakes on AULRO) suggests 110°C is a safe limit with no risk of damaging the head, Oil 130°C.

I'll now return the discussion to the worrywarts.

cheers
Paul

Originally Posted by OffTrack

According to RAVE the thermostat is fully closed below 82°C and doesn't fully open until 96°C. That means that the radiator is getting maximum flow of coolant until temp goes above 96°C.

For the Td5 the engine cooling fan (without air con running) turn on temperature during normal running is 110°C, and switch off temp is 105°C. If LR have designed the cooling system so it doesn't require fan assist below 105°C it's pretty safe to assume that this is well within normal operating temperatures.

Bear in mind that a 50/50 ethylene glycol mix has a boiling point at atmospheric pressure of 106°C vs pure water 100°C, and that cooling systems usually run at about 14psi which increases boiling point by a further 25°C.

On the South African forums there is discussion on warning temps, and some specific recommendations made by a LR garage which fits the Madman gauges. For the Td5: EGT 750°C, Coolant 115°C (another mechanic (know as DiscoJakes on AULRO) suggests 110°C is a safe limit with no risk of damaging the head), Oil 130°C.

I'll now return the discussion to the worrywarts.

cheers
Paul

Tridon also state that a t/stat isn't fully open for around 15K after the crack point.

The switch that drops out the a/c at high coolant temps doesn't trigger till 115*C on most Land Rover engines.
AFAIK that applies to Tdi's, TD5's and V8's.