Thread: Am I HOT?

You're asking the wrong people, try Mrs. Jones.

Originally Posted by simonmelb

Radiator and water pump are fairly new.

Don't forget about the radiator cap! If the thread is getting tight then fit a new one.

Took her for a spin yesterday, 40 degrees ambient, 100kph, cruise on, absolutely flat road, 95-96 degrees showing on the Nanocom.
No extra load in the car except an empty fridge, just driver, ARB bull bar, 6" spots by 2, nothing else in front of the car.
Is that to hot?

I am a bit paranoid about engine temps as I wonder if the shuffling head syndrome is related to high temps, given the length of the head bolts.( which would mean they would lengthen a lot when hot)

I have fitted a mesh grille and have no lights or Bullbar. A lot of the air is taken in under the bumper of a D2 , so I wonder if you need to look at making up a bit of a scoop from alloy or make sure there is a sealed track from bullbar that emulates the original scoop which is sealed by the undertray. Similarly spotlights if in front of the grille can impede airflow. I don't know what sort of bullbar you have but it is worth looking.

Anyway, I have a brand new radiator and water pump and 5 year old 82C Thermostat. Last weekend I went from Avoca Beach to Kellyville and the temp was 34 at West Gosford and 36 at Kellyville. The only time I exceeded 88C was on the climb out of Gosford where it got to 90C. Along the M1 at about 36C the temp stayed at about 84-85C and never went over 90c even in Kellyville at 36C.
There could be a 2-3C difference between my dry sender on the head next to the wet sensor, as I have not nanocomed it recently.

So I think your temps are a bit higher than I would like, but some attention to detail of the cooling path could bring them down.
Regards Philip A

I don't know about the TD5's But I an pretty certain that the overheating/running hot issue with the 4l petrol V8 D2's is the Major cause of the rather common head gasket failures these engines suffer from.
IMHO the cooling system for the Australian D2's should have been modified to suit or Much higher climate BEFORE they were shipped here from the UK.
The original cooling system is fantastic in a cold environment But Not so good in our summer 40c+ temps.

Originally Posted by PhilipA

I am a bit paranoid about engine temps as I wonder if the shuffling head syndrome is related to high temps, given the length of the head bolts.( which would mean they would lengthen a lot when hot)

I was more concerned that being stretch bolts they should be re-torqued on a regular basis like Saab's stretch head bolts that had to be re-torqued every 100K kms IIRC.