Thread: Over heating problems in a TD5

Feel if the radiator is hot, if it isn't hot then this will lead you to the water pump and thermostat. For me, the pump failed at just a fraction over 300,000km and I did the thermostat (and power steering pump) at the same time.

Also check the radiator is not clogged full of mud, they do this very easily. If thats the case, it may even come down to stripping it all and cleaning the mud out of the entire pack. DONT disturb the ATF cooler or its lines ever. Actually the ATF cooler blocks with mud pretty quickly too.

Good move doing it before going to Fraser Island, all of your cooling systems will get worked very hard there.

Originally Posted by Slunnie

Feel if the radiator is hot, if it isn't hot then this will lead you to the water pump and thermostat. For me, the pump failed at just a fraction over 300,000km and I did the thermostat (and power steering pump) at the same time.

Also check the radiator is not clogged full of mud, they do this very easily. If thats the case, it may even come down to stripping it all and cleaning the mud out of the entire pack. DONT disturb the ATF cooler or its lines ever. Actually the ATF cooler blocks with mud pretty quickly too.

Good move doing it before going to Fraser Island, all of your cooling systems will get worked very hard there.

Yeah the car is on 276,000 Km’s roughly, when you say to feel if the radiator is hot, when would I feel for that? Right after driving, or leave it for a bit first? It is a manual, so when you say ATF cooler I assume that it’s still relevant for the r380 oil cooler? I’ll check if the radiator is clogged but I dis several coolant flushes when I did the head gasket on it.

As far as the power steering pump is concerned, I have been considering repairing that too anyways as I’m pretty sure it’s leaking. Are there any decent rebuild kits out there? As the cost difference between a decent OEM one and a rebuild kit seems significant.

When you say the temp gauge ... do you mean the dash gauge?(or do you have another temp gauge too?)

If you mean the dash gauge, then I'd start to worry. They are notorious for showing increases at very high temps! IIRC could be up to 115°C or more.

If you can, coolant pressure is a good indication of hot, or really really hot. Start car and get it to run at normal temps on the gauge, which is generally about half way on the dash gauge. I'd guess that you should have a normal coolant temp after about 5 mins driving. Keep engine running and under bonnet squeeze the coolant hoses to feel how much squish they have in them.

If the engine is actually getting hot(if the dash gauge shows this) first thing you will notice is that the coolant hoses are very very hard by comparison.

If you have a nanocom, good idea to run it in instruments mode and watch for engine temp.
If you don't have a nanocom ... should get a nanocom!

Originally Posted by AK83

When you say the temp gauge ... do you mean the dash gauge?(or do you have another temp gauge too?)

If you mean the dash gauge, then I'd start to worry. They are notorious for showing increases at very high temps! IIRC could be up to 115°C or more.

If you can, coolant pressure is a good indication of hot, or really really hot. Start car and get it to run at normal temps on the gauge, which is generally about half way on the dash gauge. I'd guess that you should have a normal coolant temp after about 5 mins driving. Keep engine running and under bonnet squeeze the coolant hoses to feel how much squish they have in them.

If the engine is actually getting hot(if the dash gauge shows this) first thing you will notice is that the coolant hoses are very very hard by comparison.

If you have a nanocom, good idea to run it in instruments mode and watch for engine temp.
If you don't have a nanocom ... should get a nanocom!

Yeah I do mean the dash gauge, I’ll run the nanocom today to see what’s happening. Which coolant hoses are you referring to to squish? The bottom ones where the thermostat is? The top radiator hose? The inlet or outlet pipes for the radiator?

I have an exhaust temp gauge, and they seem to be normal enough not getting any crazy spikes.