Just picked up my 03 Discovery. Drove it 4 hours to get it home. Really happy with it. Going to drive it down to Cabo San Lucas in May and am looking at modifying the cooling system to deal with the heat of the region.
The options, as you know, are the inline conversion. Or the PEL500110 thermostat.
Leaning towards the 500110.
Looking for wisdom from those who know far more than I.

Thx

 

In Line, More stable temps and you have different temperature thermostats available so you can customize to suit your needs like location, season, etc.

In addition swapping the T stat is a lot easier with the inline version.

 

Even though the OEM you mentioned is a lower-temp thermostat, it will still produce spikes in operating temps. Say it gives you a stable temp of 194 driving on the highway. You exit off and come to a stop then watch it suddenly climb to 203 or so. Once you begin moving again the temp will come down to 196 or 198, but it continues to fluctuate anywhere between 5 and 15 degrees, depending upon the type of driving that is taking place. This occurs because of the design on LRs thermostat housing coupled with the bypass segment, or some variation thereof. Anyway, the inline housing/thermostat and elimination of the bypass results in STABLE operating temperatures. Everyone who has setup the inline style has highly recommended it to everyone else. Some enthusiasts also believe the inline mod is the be-all and end-all to blown head-gaskets and related cylinder head/ block problems, if the beginning stages of this fault are not already present.

 

Thx.....

 

I don't know where you live, but if its anyplace like Texas you will be doing yourself and your truck a favor modifying the system over. There just isn't anything beneficial to the LR style thermostat and housing besides getting your heat up quicker in the cabin, but even mine doesn't start getting warm until the engine is 140-150 degrees, which takes 10 mins anyway. My 2003 didn't come with an oil cooler so I went ahead and bought one of those too. I don't want my coolant temp to ever hit 200 again, know whuta mean?

 

I'll be driving this one down to Cabo San Lucas Mx. From Central Oregon. Don't want to have any issues with the heat down there.
Parts are ordered.

 

I ordered everything yesterday, too. I'm doing that and an oil cooler. It gets extremely hot in the Dallas area. hotter than anywhere I've ever been.

 

Spent some time out that way in the military . Hot may be an understatement. .......

 

You are doing the right thing by changing the system over. Everyone that's done it has nothing but great things to say. I'm pretty excited about all of new stuff and maybe getting some oil leaks fixed. You need an oil cooler too. Best idea is a used assembly from recycler or parts ad on Craig's. That seems to be the cheapest route. If you want quick and easy then Abran or the other guys from classifieds on here is OK. Anywhere from $40 to $200 for cooler and 2 lines/hoses.

 

Been looking at that to. I have a nice one with an electric fan, But I wanted to use it on my rock crawler.
I'll look for something a little cheaper and easier. The one i have is have is pretty large