Thread: D2 overheating TOTALLY FINALLY solved v8 and Tdi

That Murray is one Cool Dude. 😄😄😄👍👍👍

Greetings thermostat fans
In Brisbane today at Milton near the centre of the city, it is 33C+degrees. My external temperature sensor is showing 36C. My engine watchdog at ambient having not been started for 24 hours was showing 38C, and I suspect this was because the car is parked in the sun. I started the engine and idled with the aircon on the lowest setting. 30 minutes. Now the water temp coming off the block via OBDC is 90c and engine watchdog showing 90c. The in-line termostat at 82 is perfect.for this season. In May I may change to an 87c. Thanks to all the contributors as now I can keep my disco, but before this was sorted it would have eventually have gone.
The total fuel economy is higher due to the idling. It sits around 18 litres per 100 k around town.
See 'American know how' by Pedro the swift for more details

Originally Posted by hoges5

Murray did my p38 as well with the inline thermostat. After several years of chasing the overheating issues - including regular maintenance, a blown radiator, plus another replaced and two water pumps - Murray has apparently cured mine as well.
After 5 minutes of driving, from cold overnight, the P38 was at 108 degrees. After the surgery, it now sits constantly about 85-87, even during a week on the beach in 35 degree weather.
Early days but have a great sense of relief, that Murray has found the answer.

hi Hoges5

could you share some pics, i also have a 2000 p38. im particularly interested as to what was done with the original thermostat, if an adaptor was made.

cheers Paul

Originally Posted by Hammer H

hi Hoges5

could you share some pics, i also have a 2000 p38. im particularly interested as to what was done with the original thermostat, if an adaptor was made.

cheers Paul

This is a D2 but very similar
Engine water outlet to thermostat housing
Other side to top of radiator with an in line bleed screw (very easy just an insert tapped to allow bleed) some elevate the overflow bowl to allow it to bleed air up
Bottom of radiator to engine inlet
NBNB
1. Ensure you have a small bleed hole drilled into the thermostat
2. Place hole uppermost to allow air to pass but importantly a small amount of water to pass into and around the radiator before the stat opens
3. Bleed system properly and fully
4. Get either a nanocom or obdc sender and fusion app for iPhone or an engine watchdog
Murray is working on a low cost monitor.
Depending on your location in hot areas use an 82c and colder 87c or 93c

Swapped out unmarked stock thermostat for 82 deg C (unknown bypass spring rate). Can report idle temps have dropped from 95 to 88 deg C at 30 deg ambient. Running temp not yet known.

Can now confirm V8 D2 with factory configured 82C thermostat with unknown bypass spring rate idled, ran on highway, climbed 3km 1/7 grade hill and ran in heavy city traffic, all at >30C ambient temps, topped out at 90C.

Nice.

I understand why someone would bite that bullet and change the way the coolant works in a D2,,
A D2 V8 is worth nothing once it overheats, and if the whole car has cost you peanuts then why not?

BUT once you've spent some serious money (invested in the car or) on rebuilding one,,
its not so simple,,
I have absolutely NO inclination to have my block go
hot-cold-hot-cold-hot-cold,
because however you describe the new system, the manufacturers system is all about a constant engine block temperature,,
is it set too high from the factory?
Yes!
Can you reset it to run at the SAME temps as this thread says?
Yes!

You guys go hard,, I hope your system stops the liners from dropping,,
but as the rate of different metal expanding with heat is the problem, I really cant see it,,

just my opinion,,

Ballbag's 82c OEM Sat sounds great. I never got there. My in line stat has a drilled bleed hole. It stops the cold shock as the water heats more gradually. BUT I don't know what temp the radiator water is as it enters the bottom of the block having been cooled. All I know is that exit water from the engine is now sitting happily at 80 to 90c not 95 to 105c. Maybe I should have gone for an 82 OEM BUT I chickened out. Lots of people in USA find it works. I trust landrovers before BMWs. Time will tell BUT I am much happier and for me that's the test.
Cheers and thanks for the discusssions