95 3.9 disco getting too hot

[crimson850]

Went wheeling for a bit today and noticed temp gauge was at top whiye line..I proceeded to get on the road running about 45mph and temp came down becausr of air moving through rad..what could be causing this? I've had it for 2 days and this is my first problem.. previous owner has had radiator flushed recently and severe duty fan clutch installed..is there an easy way to clean it without having to remove it? I hope this is a simple cheap fix

 

[pugslyyy]

Before you look at the radiator, be sure that there is not air in the cooling system and make sure that your hoses are all good. Checking the fan clutch is easy.

When it heats up, if you turn the heater on full blast does the temp drop?

The 3.9 is a good engine if you don't cook it. Cooling problems like this are part of rover ownership, welcome to the club.

 

[crimson850]

Never tried turning on the heat. I drove it quite a bit yesterday on the road without issue..but today when traversing through my farm using 1st gear and low it heated up. I don't want to try and go on an unfamiliar trail and have her getting this hot. I felt the top radiator hose (looks brand new) it was very hot while the lower hose on the opposite sidr of the radiator was not quite as hot.

 

[pugslyyy]

Is the bottom radiator hose new or old?

 

[crimson850]

It appears to be old

 

[pugslyyy]

It appears to be old

I've seen the lower hose delaminate and suck closed. Make sure the lower hose is good!

 

[crimson850]

Will do! The radiator has been rodded as well so I don't think it is the radiator

 

[pugslyyy]

I had a problem with my 110 that I chased my tail over for a long time. Finally traced it to the lower radiator hose. There are a lot of things that can cause problems, you just gotta keep at it and figure it out. The water pump was pulling so hard that it was actually sucking the hose shut under load.

 

[crimson850]

I'll order a new hose..I don't believe its the radiator because when on highway air is moving through enough to cool the truck down. Possible its the thermostat I guess

 

[pugslyyy]

I'll order a new hose..I don't believe its the radiator because when on highway air is moving through enough to cool the truck down. Possible its the thermostat I guess

thermostats are pretty indestructible and easy to test (just remove it if you don't have a stove and a pot to test it in). Make sure the fan clutch is okay... from what you've said I doubt that is the issue but would be a stupid thing to miss.

 

[Antichrist]

What others have said. Also, if the radiator was rodded there's a good chance there were cooling issues and the PO installed a new thermostat. If they got it at the local parts store the odds are very good that it's the wrong thermostat. Every listing I've seen calls for a 195f, which is too hot. If you're using a Stant, Gates, etc. thermostat is should be a 180f. If you get one from a rover parts place you'll probably get the correct 88c, but make sure it is.
http://landroverforums.com/forum/discovery-i-39/quality-180f-thermostat-51327/

I'd also stick a garden hose in behind the radiator and backwash the fins, they can get clogged with debris. Also the same for the AC condenser fins.

 

[Colin Hughes]

Also, look for a buildup of gunk in front of the lower part of the radiator. I've pulled many rads only to find huge piles of mud and leaves blocking the lower half of the rad and causing but overheating and rusting of the rad.

 

[Ray_G]

I'd check the fan clutch for sure, all the other advice here is solid too and gives you a good systematic way of troubleshooting. Early on in that process ensuring that your SD aftermarket fan clutch is actually still working-personally I'd swap it out for a lighter duty unit vice having a C130 prop under the hood (though you should know that it's working!).

 

[crimson850]

Can someone please post a link for the proper thermostat? Is this not something I can get at advance auto? .if so can I get a part number to take to advance?

 

[crimson850]

Installing OEM thermostat and a fan switch tonight. We will see how it goes!