Another cooling system question

[ste68blue]

Hi all, i have been watching my coolant level quite closely lately and it hasn't dropped a bit, yet my temperature still seems to take ages to heat to "normal" operating temp and then raises quite high when doing between 70 and 80 on the motorway.

Now my question is....today i noticed that between the water radiator and the air con radiator there seems to be some kind of what looks like a piece of carpet tile, about a foot or so square....should that be there? because surely that will restrict the air flow at speed and possibly cause it to get hot?

Any help or advice is appreciated

Cheers

 

[clivvy]

No, it shouldnt be there but some members on here do this im sure of it. Id remove it, then check your thermostat first job. I suspect the tile is stopping the radiator from getting rid of heat.

 

[lacroupade]

Clivvy is right, first thing to do is swap out your thermostat as its almost certainly the culprit.

people will tell you it fails in the closed position and should therefore overheat, but you'd be the third person to find its failed open in recent months, me included! :thumb2

The carpet tile shouldn't be there.....I suspect whoever put it there did so because of the temp issue to try and warm things up a bit.

The needle should go to the 12 o clock position within 2-3 miles and stay there all the time. It takes a lot to make it go any further if your fan is working OK.

So get down your motor factors, buy a stat (its a very common type that fits Citroens and something else I can't remember) and some anti-freeze as you'll lose a pint or so of water when it comes off.

But make sure you look at how its sealed when you take the old one out as its easy to get a leak afterwards - mine had a rubber seal in the inset with the stat on top but when I replaced the new one like that it leaked, had to open it up again and put the stat in the inset and the seal on top and all was fine.

three simple bolts to remove the housing and just push hoses out the way, easy as that, takes ten minutes max.

 

[ste68blue]

Hi guys, just a quick update....the other day i removed the "carpet tile" which is what it was.

The effects are around town the temp gauge hardly moves but the real noticeable thing is on the motorway no matter what revs or speed i got to it didn't raise above about a third of the gauge, so no where near as it was before.

Over the next day or so i am going to change the stat and hopefully that will help further.

I will post any updates

cheers
stephen

 

[lacroupade]

I think that just confirms that the previous owner couldn't diagnose the issue so literally swept it under the carpet LOL:lol

 

[ste68blue]

Nice one....i guess i asked for that....:clap

 

[jims-terrano]

That's an old trick to make cars heat up, can't you remember the old Escorts and cortina's in the 70s with tin foil over the grill or card board behind the grill.
Chances are the stat may be OK. If you are still losing coolant then on a dry day keep an eye out for a small drip or patch on the floor just below front of car in the centre. If you get this it is almost certain to be the waterpump and that will need changing ASAP before it breaks.

Jim

 

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

stat might not be faulty, just an air lock giving effect.

tht was how my t2 was like a fridge swapped stat, but tested old
one and wasnt faulty, but in process bled the air lock.

when refilling make sure heater is on nd running.

didnt fit 'blanket' to mine but got temp up when it was coated in mud.

ref tinas and corsets!, used to have a piece of cardboard in front of my sierra
rad, espically on 2 litre version, suspect cooloing system was to efficient so
blocking air flow helped.

the old eries landies were same, some had clip on water proof 'coats' over
rad and it could be peeled down in stages.

 

[ste68blue]

thanks for the replies chaps.

without soundng daft is there a particular way inwhich to bleed the cooling system?

I mean is there a bleed valve of some sort any where?

 

[lacroupade]

thanks for the replies chaps.

without soundng daft is there a particular way inwhich to bleed the cooling system?

I mean is there a bleed valve of some sort any where?

Not really, just squeezing hoses etc..

Doing the stat will sort it though, whether its the stat or an air lock (the latter is only really likely if you've been losing coolant or topping up bigtime?)......

 

[ste68blue]

I haven't been loosing coolant....will let you know what happens when i change the stat.

Cheers
stephen

 

[ste68blue]

just a quick update on my cooling....

the other day i replaced the thermostat with one i had tested in some hot water, and i am pleased to be able to say the truck now warms up much much quicker, although the temp never raises above about a quarter of the gauge, no matter what speeds etc i go...so a result.

Cheers for all your help with the matter

 

[lacroupade]

just a quick update on my cooling....

the other day i replaced the thermostat with one i had tested in some hot water, and i am pleased to be able to say the truck now warms up much much quicker, although the temp never raises above about a quarter of the gauge, no matter what speeds etc i go...so a result.

Cheers for all your help with the matter

Still something weird then because 12 o'clock is the correct position.....whats the heater like?

 

[rossco]

To put your mind at rest over the temperature, buy an actual gauge that reads the degrees of heat as they are more acturate.

After suffering from the needle going in the red on some trips and not on other and worried about should it be at twelve a clock or nine oclock.

I bought a temperature gauge and really I had nothing to worry about.
I could see what the actual temperature was, be it 50 c or 20 c etc.