Overheating Range Rover 3.9

[gone]

I have a 1991 Range Rover 3.9 petrol. It has suddenly started to overheat but only when the engine is actually asked to work hard. If I tow or have heavy weights in it, then it gets hot very quickly. If I drive it at 40 - 50 mph, with only me in it, the temperature is fine.

I have changed the thermostat and flushed out the radiator (although I only did this by forcing water from the garden hose through the top vent).

Any ideas would be appreciated.

[GKP]

I was thinking along the lines of a rad problem, too. Is the front of it clagged up with mud and flies etc?

Flushing with a hosepipe will help, but isn't nearly as effective as having the rad recored (Serck Marston) and might be a good basis on which to start.

[gone]

GKP said:

I was thinking along the lines of a rad problem, too. Is the front of it clagged up with mud and flies etc? Flushing with a hosepipe will help, but isn't nearly as effective as having the rad recored (Serck Marston) and might be a good basis on which to start.

Thanks for your reply. Where do I find Serk Marston?
What is the comparative costs involved with having it recored or replacing with a new one. I would do the work myself so no labour charge.

[rich 36]

Our Fourtrak, behaved like this when we took it over, any towing or anything remotely strenuos saw the gauge shoot up to red and boil over,

Its rad, was re-cored, as it had stood for some months unused, and rotted away inside, a rangy rad should be much cheaper than the £150 we splashed on its repair here, hope that sorts it out

[liszt]

New Rad is about 150 notes from the likes of John Craddock

[gone]

Cheers

I don't do many miles a year and the old bus gets left sometimes for weeks without turning over. I suppose its time to re-core the thing.

I was hoping it wasn't going to be something like the water pump breaking down as that looks like a pig of a job from where I am standing!

[GKP]

There should be a Serk Marston or similar type place near to you (yell.com?) or a quick bit of googling will find one.

It's not a difficult job (rusty nuts/bolts aside) but take the opportunity to change the antifreeze at the same time.

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GKP said:

There should be a Serk Marston or similar type place near to you (yell.com?) or a quick bit of googling will find one. It's not a difficult job (rusty nuts/bolts aside) but take the opportunity to change the antifreeze at the same time.

I did the antifreeze yesterday when I replaced the thermo. Ah well! Just have to run it into a bowl and save it for the next fun 4 hours twiddling!

[rich 36]

Well, you might just try and back-flush the system by attaching a hose in out end (base) of rad, and seeing if anything posps out the fill at the top, you never know your luck, failing that, its best lest to pro's, to mend/replace rad.

[gone]

I just had a quote for a re-core.
Sharp intake of breath from the chap who quoted because it has 2 oil coolers built in.

£146.88 for recore
£232.65 for new!

Ouch!

How come the E bay advert quotes over £400 for a new one?
Some one having a little game in trying to get the price up


>> Edited by gone on Saturday 28th May 13:29

[rich 36]

It could have been worse right, is this what warnings about buying old rangy's means with regard to complex things getting a bit old.
Mind you I always heard it in context of the electrics not cooling.

[liszt]

Where were the quotes from?

ooo, look here:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=31348&item=4552187829&rd=1

[Denis O]

Had my V8 90 recored about 9 months ago. Local 1 man band who did a great job for £100. At a cursory glance the back of the rad looked fine but once I took it out the front was a right mess. Evidently all the juices of those dead bugs and leaves that smash into over the years eat away at the core and cooling becomes a thing of the past.
A new rad would have been about £250 so it was worth having the recore done and it's been fine ever since.

[eliot]

Also dont discount the autobox, as you have discovered the auto fluid goes through the rad. If the box is slipping, this will show as elevated auto fluid temperatures. Which of course the rad will be asked upon to cool.
Inspect your autofluid, if it smells burnt or is brown then your box could be slipping.

ELiot.

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eliot said:

Also dont discount the autobox, as you have discovered the auto fluid goes through the rad. If the box is slipping, this will show as elevated auto fluid temperatures. Which of course the rad will be asked upon to cool. Inspect your autofluid, if it smells burnt or is brown then your box could be slipping. ELiot.

Cheers. I will do this.

Would you believe the sodding alternator has just decided to fail to extinguish the charging light on the dash!!!

[thong]

I have a 1998 4.0 litre range rover rad if you want to see if will fit,its done 25,000 miles and in good condition £30, genuine land rover part.

[rich 36]

did you cure the overheating,

since winter is clearly here now.

our Daihatsu was cured of its similar prob with a re-core