Vehicle & Technical > Defender

Engine running hot: advice please

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Landyrover:
Greetings,

I have a 10 year old Defender with 66k miles on the clock.

I've become aware of a developing problem with the cooling and would appreciate any advice about what to do...

In the 6 years I've had the truck, the temperature gauge has always lay just below the midpoint, once its warmed up. I've never known it to deviate from this position at all. Until recently. Now I find that at speeds over 60 mph the needle slowly inches its way up until its pointing about half way between the midpoint and red. When I slow down it will eventually fall back to about the midway point.

I've checked the system and there are no leaks.

By coincidence, the heater is also playing up (although this has happened more recently). It refuses to blow air out into the cab at all. When I switch it on, there is a low rumbling noise, so something is happening. Listening with the bonnet up, it seems to be trying to suck air in via the intake on top of the left wing but there's nowt blowing through the other end.

Is it likely these two problems are related? I wondered if the intake might be blocked? And whilst the engine is running hot at over 60 mph, it isn't actually overheating (yet)? I wondered if I should flush out the system or whether the water pump might be becoming faulty?

I'm about to do a fair few miles on the motorway over the next few weeks and really don't want to breakdown!

Any pointers gratefully received.

Cheers,

Nick

TDi90:
well, they are and arent related. if you put the heating on, then it takes heat from the engine and is a good way of getting the old temperature guage down a bit. have you checked obvoius things like coolant levels/radiator clear/leaks. otherwise, if you are worried, you could think about getting a kenlowe in there.

hope this helps

drmike:
I can't see that a Kenlowe is the solution here. There is a certain problem that needs a remedy to restore the engine ti where it was before.

My own faviurite question is to ask if a thermostat is in there and if it's working OK.

Others I am sure will say check the radiator for 'cool' spots to see if it's clogged internally which it seems is a common problem.

Mike

Landyrover:
Guys,

Thanks for the replies, much appreciated! :D

The thermostat has been changed, makes no difference to the symptoms. There are no leaks.

I wondered if the radiator may have some crud in it as it is a Landy that is used off the beaten track. How do I check for 'cool' spots and/or fluch out the rad?

Cheers,

Nick

thermidorthelobster:
You could backflush the radiator.  Basically, disconnect the top and bottom hoses, then stuff a hosepipe in the bottom, and flush the water out the top (hosepipe bans notwithstanding).  Don't go crazy with it because you might break something.

I have to say, I've found in the past that if the rad is crudded up badly, it's time for a new rad pretty soon.

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