Transit overheating

David Cawkwell wrote on Sat, 31 Dec 2005

If it's pointing at the M of "NORM" it's still in the normal range, isn't it?

"David Cawkwell" wrote

Most likely sender, maybe gauge.

How hot is the coolant in the top hose? If the engine really is running at that temperature, you won't be able to hold onto any of the top hoses for long (couple seconds at most), as the coolant won't be very far away from boiling.

Usually the temperature gauges just fail on these (usually don't register anything), or very occasionally the senders go short circuit and permanently read of the scale.

Personally, I'd try running the engine with the thermostat removed, and see how the temperature gauge reads. Even the new thermostat could be faulty, and not opening fully. And while you're removing the thermostat, take the radiator hoses off, and stick a garden hose in the top of the radiator and check water is flowing through the radiator. It should run out with the minimal amount of dirt/sediment. If it's obviously full of crap, best option is to remove the radiator and give it a good flush out, until the water runs through clearly. Then stick the hose in through the thermostat housing, and check the engine for crap.

If the gauge still reads hot with the thermostat removed, and everything flushed out, try taking of the two bleed hoses to the header tank. There should be a steady flow out both of them with everything hot (the one from the thermostat housing should have a stronger flow, and should will also flow before the thermostat opens). If there's no flow, remove the hose and check it's not blocked. If there's not any blockage, it's most likely something major wrong with the water pump.

However, if the guage is still showing hot, try a new sender unit, followed by a gauge if it's still not working.

Top hose is hot but I have no trouble keeping my hand on it so. I assume the engine is working at correct temperature. When I took the thermostat out all look fairly clean so I assume everything should be free from blockages. It looks as if it has been well maintained. I think I'll try a new sender and see.

The top hose should be at 88 degrees c or so, you should find the top hose very uncomfortable.

mrcheerful

Nay, you'll get a burn! :) An adult will find anything higher than 60°C too hot to touch. This is the physiological limit of human tolerance.

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember "David Cawkwell" saying something like:

Last Tranny I had with that engine, the water pump impeller came loose on the shaft. Just a press fit, by the looks of it. Caused very hot running, but funnily enough not all the time. Some days it must've gripped a little tighter.

Lin Chung ( snipped-for-privacy@the.Water.Margin.com) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

You're not sticking your finger in the water. You're touching a rubber hose that happens to have hot water running through it. It'll be bloody hot to the touch. But it won't actually be at 88degC itself.

The message from Adrian contains these words:

Also, having considerably lower thermal mass than the water inside it won't /feel/ as hot.

Wouldn't worry about it, it's still not in the hot. I would expect it to run cooler this time of year however, not hotter. Your radiator would probably benefit from a flush and replace the antifreeze.