Thread: 300 tdi engine temps

I've never had them come on by them selves only with the a/c as there meant to i should check the switch is functioning as it should This afternoon in the cool a/c on humid as hell just before the rain flat out and it never cracked 78c ambient about 32c

Hmm... Mine rarely strays above 82/3. Long runs on the freeway at 110k will see it climb to around 90, probably needs a rad clean. Last week though, in Melb on the 41 degree day, I was out and about. Went to my mum's house and parked it for about half an hour. When I came out the temp alarm went off as soon as I turned the key ( set at 111 when I got it, left it that way cos I didn't know any better ). Temp came down to around 100 about 1 min after I started it, but claimed again to maybe 109 when I drove. Factory gauge started going up. No thermo fan activity. I turned on the A/C switch ( no belt fitted, so no actual A/C. Did I mention it was 41 degrees? )

and the temp started coming down. Idled it down at home for a few minutes and it was back to low 80s. It showed no sign of boiling, and it seems fine now, but I've been worried. Having read this thread I'm not worrying as much, but now I'm wondering if my thermostat is too cool. the only time my TD5 got hot was when it did a head gasket ( head shuffle, 240,000 ks ).

I would start to worry, i had very similar symptons on the same 41 degree day except mine was pushing coolant out even the next day when it was cold.
Spent the weekend pulling head and replacing gasket after checking head was good and straight.

No sign of that so far, thankfully, as I hurt myself before Christmas and am still impaired, so pulling the head off doesn't appeal. I couldn't even do the timing belt as I've been promising him ( all my cars are she/her, but my son christened this one Dave. What do you do? ). But thanks, I'll be watching. Maybe when I'm fit and the D2 decides to come home from Adrian's place I'll pull the head anyway, unless he forces the issue.

Pulled the spot lights off and it seems to have simmered down but it has not been real hot

Originally Posted by loanrangie

I would start to worry, i had very similar symptons on the same 41 degree day except mine was pushing coolant out even the next day when it was cold.
Spent the weekend pulling head and replacing gasket after checking head was good and straight.

I expect you're right of course. The wretched car exhibits no outward sign of anything being amiss; no coolant loss, no boiling, no foaming, no pressurization. The temp climbs from cold at the usual speed, but it doesn't stop at 82 like it always has, it keeps going up. Time for the head to come off.

Originally Posted by jboot51

Mine sits on 95 with a max of 99 on the hwy.
Around the back streets it will be 92.
The viscous fan locks up noticeably at 95.
Vdo temp gauge is installed

As a comparison, mine sits on 90/91 most of the time, 92/93 on the highway if it's a warmer day or an uphill run. Fan locks up at 98 and the only time I've seen 98 recently was when towing an 1800kg boat up a bloody steep hill at highway speed or overtaking when towing same boat and forgetting to watch the EGT for a moment.

EGT goes up and coolant temp follows pretty quickly.

Prior to having the rad rodded a few years back and getting the tune right, It would happily go over 110c on mild inclines not towing. Viscous fan was always very quick to drop it back to 108 when it did.

VDO temp gauge as well.

Originally Posted by johntins

I expect you're right of course. The wretched car exhibits no outward sign of anything being amiss; no coolant loss, no boiling, no foaming, no pressurization. The temp climbs from cold at the usual speed, but it doesn't stop at 82 like it always has, it keeps going up. Time for the head to come off.

Actually, perhaps I'd better check the thermostat first.