Thread: 300Tdi temp

The normal location for the coolant sensor on a ecu engine is in the cylinder head. Now as the thermostat works the coolant temp will range accordingly and the OEM temp gauge will show this as a steady normal reading only rising into the red once a maximum temp is reached forcing the newer engines into limp mode to protect them. I have a Puma and use a scangauge 2 as an engine monitoring system and on the puma once warm the coolant temp (cylinder head) ranges from 88C (90C is the normal temp) to 99C when working the engine hard. So the fluctuating readings are an accurate indication of the actual coolant temp at the cylinder head sensor, now as I have never owned a 300tdi engine I am assuming it will be along the same lines. Personally as long as it doesn't go to far above 100C I would relax and not worry about it. On the plus side it would give you a heads up on a faulty thermostat/problems with the coolant circuit.

i have a 300TDi with an EM2 monitor, these fit on the metal themselves and measure the temp of the head not the water (if any there) mine sits around the 80 mark going to near 90 when working hard (when i had a thermostat in it) 100 is said to be the top limit although some have said 106 for a short space of time is acceptable.
above all make sure the radiator is CLEAN/CLEAR

I run a "Temperature Watchdog TM2" fitted to the head on my 300 Tdi Defender. It runs normal at 86 and the highest it has got up to so far is 89. I have the alarm set at 96 but would be prepared to let it get up to 100 before I panicked.
Kind regards... David

Naradaranto,
as has been written several times.
The defender temperature 'gauge' is setup from the factory to display normal (half way) for a temperature range from about 80 - 105 degrees. So when a defender gauge starts to move north your already up around 110 degrees.

You are now actually measuring the temperature. This is a good thing!!!
IME a 300tdi needs three things for long life. TBelt changes, a low coolant alarm and actual measurement of the coolant temperature.

I monitor with an EMS2 and use a VDO sender in the factory location between thermostat and head.

Your coolant wont begin to boil/ventilate the impellor until 120ish degrees.

Towing loads up big hills in summer up here I have let the coolant hit 115 a couple of times, knowing the ridge of the hill is just ahead, and once over there is a good cooling opportunity. As long as coolant is still pumping your better to get over the hill and cool the system on the down run than shutting down and having heat soak?

IMO the standard 300 radiator could be more efficient at dealing with heat. Especially in the north. Im looking at options that are easy and most importantly reliable.

Steve

My Tdi sits on 90ish but in the summer heat it will go to the mid 90's and with a load it will see 100.For a reliable Tdi you need to keep the cooling A1,patch the bypass hole in the baffle and rod the core and then flush EVERY year and keep a good eye on the fan and use common sense when driving with a load in summer and you'll be a happy Tdi owner. Pat

Resurrecting the thread for a minute...

I finally bought a VDO water temp gauge and, to do the job once, the VDO sender as well...

Now, I looked at the stock sender on the engine and the connector is the spade type...my VDO sender is button type...of course

So...
1)would the VDO gauge work fine with the stock LR sender?
(I know every gauge should have its matching sender)
2)I found this spade type sender, I'm not sure about the "dual FG/dual station/floating ground" thing tho???!!??
325-002 Temperature Sender 250°F/120°C DUAL FG 1/4-18NPTF.
3)What sender did you guys fit in the end????
The LR plug on mine is square, the VDO sender above has a round terminal instead...

Michelle,
Those "round" buttons on the VDO senders are in fact made for spade connectors. The spade is pushed across the button as in 90 degrees to the flat of the button.

I cant remember the VDO part number for the sender BUT I do recall that the thread size is M10 by 1.0 pitch. So that one you have listed with 1/4-18 wont screw in to the 300tdi head.

Steve

Steve, the 300Tdi sensor thread in the head is 1/8-27 NPTF.

I use a VDO mechanical gauge and that's what the supplied thermowell is and it screws straight in.