Is there any way to tell if an engine is overheating or close to overheating without trusting the temperature gauge on the dash, 'cause I don't :-P
My gauge only really seems to have to positions - midway or hot, I've never seen it in a different position except when the Landy is turned off. There is a slight hissing noise around the filler cap when the gauge is just on the red but I have to put my ear to the cap to hear it so it's not exactly obvious.
Any tips?
This isn't really too uncommon. You may find that the 'midway' point is maintained until the engine gets hot, the thermostat opens - thus flushing very much hotter water around where the sensor is.
Can I take it from that that I can ignore it until things get dramatic? Steam pouring out from under the bonnet and that kind of thing?
Rover engines aren't that keen on overheating, so you might want to take out the thermostat, test it, and replace it if necessary.
You may also want to do what I was recommended in this NG and carefully feel around your rad when the engine is warm but turned off, to see if there are vast stone cold patches.
David.
Cheers. I'll try that.
When playing with flash multimeters (yes I've just got one to!) it's worth remembering that aren't always that accurate (I have one thats spot on, & 1 that read 10 degrees low).
On the other hand, when you have worked out your variance, they are bloody good for checking theromstats, rad efficiency, setting 'leccy fans, etc etc.
& a good tip for checking...... place probe in a bit of plastic to protect it, then place under tounge, you should get a reading of body temp. Check this against the one you use when the kids dont want to go to school & hey presto, you know where you are.
Or stick it in boiling water or melting ice, which at RTP should be pretty damn close to 100 and 0 degrees respectively, if they're well mixed.
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