Overheating problem

[trxnwhls]

From a new worried member. 1997 TDi -Rebuilt motor after 174000k's. Now after the following- New Fans, Waterpump, 3 Thermostats, New Head, Head Bolts, Gaskets, Radiator flushed out 3 times- the vehicle after 25k's travel shows Temp to be rising. Coolant Bottle now overflowing. Mechanic considering very drastic action to himself.
Can anybody offer any clues as to what to do next?

[littlelegs]

From a new worried member. 1997 TDi -Rebuilt motor after 174000k's. Now after the following- New Fans, Waterpump, 3 Thermostats, New Head, Head Bolts, Gaskets, Radiator flushed out 3 times- the vehicle after 25k's travel shows Temp to be rising. Coolant Bottle now overflowing. Mechanic considering very drastic action to himself.
Can anybody offer any clues as to what to do next?

In my experience flushing the rad does not work beyond a certain point when the very small internal waterways get permanently blocked, caustic soda is needed to clean a mildly blocked rad but the potential for leaks increases.

Check also it's not blocked externally and if the copper fins are breaking up unduly then it's had it. A new rad is not expensive with a new lease of life and you know then it's been eliminated from the list of suspects and you won't risk further problems elsewhere.

A faulty filler cap or seal preventing pressurising can also cause overheating as can the small vent hoses from the thermostat and rad if blocked.

[kevinrbeech]

Normally when the rad is blocked you can drive all day under 50mph, if the temp rises under load, ie climbing a hill, or driving at 70mph, and then drops again when you slow down, it it quite likely the rad.
Mine failed when in France a few years ago. I drove all the way back to UK, carefully, flushed it several times. I then drove Dorset to Yorkshire, everytime over 50 the temp went up. Finally I put a new rad in (cost about £100) problem solved and that was 3 1/2 years ago.
K

[trxnwhls]

From a new worried member. 1997 TDi -Rebuilt motor after 174000k's. Now after the following- New Fans, Waterpump, 3 Thermostats, New Head, Head Bolts, Gaskets, Radiator flushed out 3 times- the vehicle after 25k's travel shows Temp to be rising. Coolant Bottle now overflowing. Mechanic considering very drastic action to himself.
Can anybody offer any clues as to what to do next?
Local answer: Check that the Electric Fans are working otherwise they act as a curtain to airflow, causing heat to rise, and blow another Head Gasket. So Grandpa's axe is new now- New Head and Handle. Another $242 without Labour. I did not feel that I should have charged the maechanic for his continuing education. Especially when he said that this may have been the root cause to the initial head being blown!

Does anybody know of a recommendable Temp Guage which has a linked Audio alarm to add to this "new" Disco?

[littlelegs]

Local answer: Check that the Electric Fans are working otherwise they act as a curtain to airflow, causing heat to rise, and blow another Head Gasket. So Grandpa's axe is new now- New Head and Handle. Another $242 without Labour. I did not feel that I should have charged the maechanic for his continuing education. Especially when he said that this may have been the root cause to the initial head being blown!

Does anybody know of a recommendable Temp Guage which has a linked Audio alarm to add to this "new" Disco?

I don't necessarily agree with this and my disco 300TDI can run all year round in the UK without a fan, but then I've got a fairly new radiator!

[thebiglad]

I don't necessarily agree with this and my disco 300TDI can run all year round in the UK without a fan, but then I've got a fairly new radiator!


Hi littlegs, my '98 Tdi300 auto runs all year round without a viscous fan installed (it's stays in the boot tho'!!) but on the two last big runs I did, to Normandie and to the Lot, I put it back on, just in case I was stuck in traffic in hot weather (hah!!!!).

All these stories of tdi300 blown headgaskets must have got me :(:confused::rolleyes::D

[littlelegs]

Hi littlegs, my '98 Tdi300 auto runs all year round without a viscous fan installed (it's stays in the boot tho'!!) but on the two last big runs I did, to Normandie and to the Lot, I put it back on, just in case I was stuck in traffic in hot weather (hah!!!!).

All these stories of tdi300 blown headgaskets must have got me :(:confused::rolleyes::D

I've been doing some heavy towing the last week and I did put the fan back on just in case but I don't think I needed to.

[thebiglad]

I've been doing some heavy towing the last week and I did put the fan back on just in case but I don't think I needed to.


That's just like me - you know it'll be ok, it's always ok even when it's really hot, but........................................:eek::r olleyes::confused::D:o

[littlelegs]

That's just like me - you know it'll be ok, it's always ok even when it's really hot, but........................................:eek::r olleyes::confused::D:o

I bought a new viscous fan for the wifes diesel Merc two years ago and still haven't fitted it! She complains at having to put the heater on sometimes when the guage starts to go up in traffic, it's never overheated. Clever girl, I've trained her well! :D However, I was driving it in very slow traffic on the M25 recently when it started to get warm and I was getting anxious and eventually had to give in and put the heater on... perhaps I ought to do it soon. :rolleyes: