Thread: Overheating SIII

Thanks John, font of wisdom as usual.

I will have someone more mechanical than me check out the carb and timing. The old girl got a reconditioned carb about 12 years ago, so it could be due for another work over.

Thanks for all the replies and advice. Will report back once I have some news.

I thought thermostat on Series III 2.25L engines was supposed to open around 72 degrees C. That's what my manual says (1976 LW, maybe some others are different. But if your thermostat is opening later than it should....

Also I have from another web page see:
How a Land Rover skirted thermostat works

that some engines require a thermostat with a skirt. This may be a hangover from earlier Series, not sure if it applies to later engines, but worth considering.

I also suspect some cooling issues with my Series III so will keep watching this thread to see what other info turns up!
Regards

Coop

Originally Posted by RaggedJoe

Radiator is a reconditioned unit, maybe 10 years ago....

10 years is actually a long time ... well overdue .... pull it out and get it rodded

Cheers
Mike

I had an 'overheating' problem that was traced to the voltage stabiliser not, well, stabilising.

New one fitted brought the needle back down, and also the fuel gauge is bit more accurate. Same circuit.

Check your temps with the ray gun. If they're OK, fit a new stabiliser. Fairly cheap and easy course of action before ripping into something unnecessarily.

Yep, will do all of the above as suggested when I can get some time in the shed!

Originally Posted by dangermousehouse

I had an 'overheating' problem that was traced to the voltage stabiliser not, well, stabilising.

New one fitted brought the needle back down, and also the fuel gauge is bit more accurate. Same circuit.

Check your temps with the ray gun. If they're OK, fit a new stabiliser. Fairly cheap and easy course of action before ripping into something unnecessarily.

In many cases it is not in fact the stabiliser, but its earth connection - you fit a new one, remaking the earth connection, and it fixes the problem - obviously the stabiliser - but could have been the earth connection. Easy to check before you start by simply checking voltage on the earth terminal. I must admit this is more likely on the Series 2a where the earth is the mounting of the stabiliser.

John

Okay, here is the update. Thermostat is opening around 74 degrees, seems fine. Not reinstalled yet as motor was too hot.

Over heating is not extreme, but it just gets hotter under load. It never used to do this. Been for a good drive, got hot under load, then cooled again on the downhills, hot again on the uphill. Not serious heat, just not like it was.

Temp differential from top of radiator to bottom is only around 3 to 5 degrees. I was expecting more....? Maybe lack of thermostat is the reason..?

Will reinstall the thermostat in the next day or so and then retest.

She is running quite nice, so hoping the mixture and timing is okay.

Cheers. RJ

Check the timing with a timing light; if it is getting too hot with no thermostat, it is bad news

If it was mine I would have the radiator out and get the core rodded. What sort of condition is the coolant in? Any brown stuff in the mix?

Cheers Charlie