Thread: Operating Cylinder head temp on a TD5

Sorry I can't answer your question, but I suggest stating exactly where the temperature sensor is mounted so that you can compare apples and oranges - AFAIK, it is up to installer as to where the sensor goes.

You might also compare minor things like, mods (chipped, intercooler, etc.) whether air con on/off, EGT, and load on vehicle (empty/full of gear, No of passengers, grade and length of hill).

My coolant temp normally varies over a 4 degree range but when the engine is worked hard (eg max power on 35 deg day - chipped, big IC & improved exhaust) the coolant temp can go another 7 degrees higher, but drops again within seconds once over the hill.

Quite some time ago when trying to trace a lack of power and misfire in a Thor P38a, I ran it hard up a hill, and hopped out with my IR thermometer and got 125degree C readings from the thermo housing and heads
This engine had a failed MAF and was very lean under load. The 97deg temp when working hard is very well within limits for a Td5, as the system is under pressure it won't boil until at least 120deg(15psi system AFAIR) and besides, the head temps are higher than block temps, and even then it depends on where it is positioned.
I wouldn't be too concerned.

JC

Originally Posted by BilboBoggles

I have one of those block temperature digital gauges fitted to my TD5 Defender. Normally the TD5 sits at 88-93C but if I cane it really hard up a long hill (Mount Dandenong) on a warm 30C day It does get up to 97C. So if you have one of these gauges what sort of temperature are you seeing?

Hi, we recently fitted a guage to our 300tdi (top bolt of thermostat housing), after a bad experience with water loss. It normally runs in low to mid 80s but rises over 90 on a good climb, reaching mid 90s. Sounds about the same as yours.

Cheers

Jim

Thanks for the replies!

The unit is the engine watchdog TM-2 and the sensor is a metal ring terminal that mounts under an existing bolt, I've mounted it under the engine cover to a bolt that is used to mount the turbo heat shield. It's quite sheltered from the exhaust heat, and is fairly central on the cylinder head. Since the head is aluminium I figured as long as I get it central on the head it's going to give a fairly accurate temperature indication.

- The vehicle had 3 kids and 2 adults, but very little otherwise.
- Outside was about 30C
- The hill is Mount dandenong
- A/C was on at max cooling.
- I deliberately pushed it very hard up the hill to get an idea of the max temp. ie - flat out in third for about 5-10 mins.
- Engine is completely stock - and is not chipped.

The next thing I'll be doing is putting a low coolant float valve into the expansion tank, and hooking this up to the TM-2's oil monitoring connection.

It's quite a nice little unit - and it was very easy to install on a defender - only took 20mins. (This TD5 has never apparently overheated - but I wanted something that would make noise for when my wife drives it. I really do not want to have to buy a new head for it ;-) )

I have one on a Stage 1 V8 the unit is mounted on an inlet manifold bolt,
I find that it runs at 72-75 Deg under normal operating conditions if pushed hard in deep sand in 40 + Deg it gets up to 86 Deg

Originally Posted by pug303

Hi, we recently fitted a guage to our 300tdi (top bolt of thermostat housing), after a bad experience with water loss. It normally runs in low to mid 80s but rises over 90 on a good climb, reaching mid 90s. Sounds about the same as yours.

Cheers

Jim

Mine's similar but mounted on the lower bolt (300 Tdi). It generally runs low to mid 80s and on a hot day will go to high 80s but I have so far never gone into the 90s.

my TD5 runs pretty much the same temps, i have a nanocom that i use for the temp readout and it runs between 88-93 on normal run but up to 97 on a long steep climb. i have been told this is normal although it doesnt leave much room for error in my opinion