200TDi - 300 Thermostat?

[The Mad Hat Man]

I have been informed that to improve the heating on my 200TDi, to change the thermostat to one from a 300TDi. Apparently the 300TDi is set to 88C and the 200TDi is set to 82C.

Has anyone had experience of this?
Is it a good idea?
Is it true?

[CCKW353A1]

200Tdi disco is 88* as standard.

[kevinrbeech]

I have been informed that to improve the heating on my 200TDi, to change the thermostat to one from a 300TDi.

Are you talking about heating the interior of the car?

If so the heater should be perfectly adequate I don't see how changing the thermostat will change that, all the thermostat does is restrict the water flow around the block until it is sufficently warm enough for the engine to run efficiently. Once hot the water is plenty hot enough to heatthe interior of the car. If your heater is not performing it probably would benefit from being flushed through. See other posts on this forum.
Kevin

[bilge rat]

yep your right the std setting for a 200 stat is 82 deg. but when i tried to get one all i could get even from land rover was a 88 deg. bet iff you go down to halfrauds that is what they will supply you . give it a go. when i needed a 82 for the summer i got one from a isuzu . see how you get on get probs give us a shout . alan.....

[The Mad Hat Man]

At the mo - it takes ages (about 6 miles) for the temp to starrt rising on the gauge - so i reckon the first step is to check/replace the thermostat. I thought I mite change to the 88deg version as that shud ensure the water temp is not overcooled.

Yu have to bear in mind - i come from a series, where ANY heat is a godsend :D.

[bilge rat]

it will make a bit of a difference . you have got to give it a try , my 300's both got 88 stats, one gets warmer quite a bit quicker than the other:confused: though . alan......

[MarkWillenbrock]

I remember my then new, 1993 200Tdi would refuse to warm up in traffic; so useless heater. My now very old 300Tdi seems better. No idea whether the thermostat is to blame.

[BrianH]

Funny you all should mention this. My Discovery 300 takes AGES to warm up. If I'm running around in 30 zones she never warms up, regardless of how long she's running for. If I get into 50MPH+ she starts to warm... never really gets THAT warm... but then as soon as I slow down the temperature drops right back to the cold section again. If I stop, and leave the engine running, the gauge drops all the way to the bottom!!!

I've ordered a brand new thermostat from a company on Ebay and I'm going to give it a go as soon as it arrives.

Brian

[toppa]

mmm i got an 82 in my 200 110 and it warm in about 2-3 miles....

I would whip out the thermostat, get it in a pot of water and see if it is working ok...

Cheers

[The Mad Hat Man]

Just a follow up - local auto factor only has one for both 200TDi and 300TDi - and its 89C. seems a bit shorter than the old one too - but they insist its the rite 'stat.

Seems to run better with the new stat tho - even tho both tested ok in a "boiling water" test.

[thebiglad]

For all those who own a Disco that takes ages to warm up I offer a cure.

I have this cure on my wife's 200 and on my 300 and it has worked well on both.


I take off the viscous fan !!!


Now, before you all line up to assault me verbally (or physically !!) I started this on the 200 nearly 3 yrs ago after reading the Kenlowe fan stuff. They state that the fan almost never comes into operation in european countries unless you are off-roading and or towing something challenging. They state that LR have designed the vehicle to have sufficient cooling to operate in the most arduous of conditions

These conditions are not the domain of my vehicles. I do off-road but only gentle stuff. I do tow, horses boxes and a 9mtr caravan. Summer or winter, towing or not, THEY NEVER OVERHEAT !!!!!!!!!

I carry the fan in the boot just in case, for both cars, but have never resorted to using them.

I suggest an experiment gentlemen and ladies - whip yer fan off and monitor what happens. If you get no benefit then pop it back on - it takes 30 secs to remove or put back.

But I bet you will! !!

I found that both cars warm-up quicker and run more economically.

"THE CHOICE IS YOURS........................."

[The Mad Hat Man]

I didnt mention in my previous post that I, too, do not have the viscous fan. I have an electric fan mounted in front of the radiator. I have not known it switch on yet.

Definately remove the viscous unit. Better still fit an thermostatic electric fan.

[thebiglad]

I didnt mention in my previous post that I, too, do not have the viscous fan. I have an electric fan mounted in front of the radiator. I have not known it switch on yet.

Definately remove the viscous unit. Better still fit an thermostatic electric fan.

"I have not known it switch on yet." - That's the reason why I didn't spend £130 on an electric fan !!

Have you considored putting some sort of temporary radiator blind in place as an experiment - a sheet of stiff cardboard for example, to see if that helps?

[lynalldiscovery]

200 is def 82 as std and 300 88 i always ran the 88 in my old 200 but not a 300 one as they have an extra bit on for the bypass circuit, whereas 200 is good old fashioned stat.
Nice and simple he says driving a TD5:D
I also ran my 200 with no fan at all and was okay for the 2 years i had it, then got a 94 300 with a/c this ran hotter with no fan and the elec one struggled to keep the temp down, and the 98 300 i got used to get so hot it cooked under the bonnet so had to put viscous back on and it was okay from then on.



Lynall



Lynall

[thebiglad]

200 is def 82 as std and 300 88 i always ran the 88 in my old 200 but not a 300 one as they have an extra bit on for the bypass circuit, whereas 200 is good old fashioned stat.
Nice and simple he says driving a TD5:D
I also ran my 200 with no fan at all and was okay for the 2 years i had it, then got a 94 300 with a/c this ran hotter with no fan and the elec one struggled to keep the temp down, and the 98 300 i got used to get so hot it cooked under the bonnet so had to put viscous back on and it was okay from then on.

Lynall

As Lynall demonstrates very clearly, there are advantages to altering the cooling from standard, but he kept a very clear eye on what was happening and modified his approach accordingly.

[The Mad Hat Man]

"I have not known it switch on yet." - That's the reason why I didn't spend £130 on an electric fan !!

Have you considored putting some sort of temporary radiator blind in place as an experiment - a sheet of stiff cardboard for example, to see if that helps?

£130! crikey - E-bay musy have got pricey recently - mine cost £15 from a scrapyard complete with fan, shroud, thermo switch and wiring loom. (Good ol' Peugeot 306):D