Got a temperature gun -- Measured the cooling system
TReK
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,768
Likes: 396
From: kitchener, canada
I just went through the same thing minus the head gasket job
my issues were temps hitting 225
replaced Tstat with Atlantic British same results
got a lucky 8 180 stat same results
but my heater hoses were hot yours are not so you could rule out radiator
it seems you have bad circulation in the block or a bad water pump
after I installed a third Tstat Atlantic British my temps are now idle 206-208 running 194
these systems are a pain but if you don't have hot heater core hoses for sure you circulation is bad and probably not your stat or radiator as coolant will flow in the engine regardless I think
I tested my lucky 8 stat in a pot of water it seemed to open at 195 however when I installed it on my 03 my temps were 220
did nothing else but replace it with another stat and my temps dropped
there could be a bad batch of thermostats going around
my issues were temps hitting 225
replaced Tstat with Atlantic British same results
got a lucky 8 180 stat same results
but my heater hoses were hot yours are not so you could rule out radiator
it seems you have bad circulation in the block or a bad water pump
after I installed a third Tstat Atlantic British my temps are now idle 206-208 running 194
these systems are a pain but if you don't have hot heater core hoses for sure you circulation is bad and probably not your stat or radiator as coolant will flow in the engine regardless I think
I tested my lucky 8 stat in a pot of water it seemed to open at 195 however when I installed it on my 03 my temps were 220
did nothing else but replace it with another stat and my temps dropped
there could be a bad batch of thermostats going around
TReK
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,768
Likes: 396
From: kitchener, canada
Before you start spending more money get another Tstat that could be your problem all along
like I said I went through 2 Atlantic British Tstat warm weather and one lucky 8 black britpart and they were bad
spent money on new water pump same result
put in another Tstat boom solved my issues but I'm still not happy running 206 at idle
my previous 04 never hit 200 and that was with a Atlantic British warm weather soft spring stat
but my block was new put in by Po under warranty due to overhearing lucky for him it was under warranty
I saw the bill from shop here in Toronto
9500$$$ new block installed
like I said I went through 2 Atlantic British Tstat warm weather and one lucky 8 black britpart and they were bad
spent money on new water pump same result
put in another Tstat boom solved my issues but I'm still not happy running 206 at idle
my previous 04 never hit 200 and that was with a Atlantic British warm weather soft spring stat
but my block was new put in by Po under warranty due to overhearing lucky for him it was under warranty
I saw the bill from shop here in Toronto
9500$$$ new block installed
Rock Crawling
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 411
Likes: 102
From: Delaware County, PA
Have I missed something? Did you flush the heater core? And/or did you try to bypass it? It sounds like the only thing you haven't replaced, or ruled-out. The inconsistent heat is either air or a plugged core. You shouldn't have to burp the system if when you fill it, you raise the expansion tank up, higher than the engine until it circulates and automatically air goes to highest point. Unless that core is plugged.. Disregard if you did and I missed it.
Rock Crawling
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 494
Likes: 35
From: Calgary, AB
When I bled my system for the third time after my overhaul, I kneeded the heater core hoses while I had the tank tied up to the hood well above the engine. I ended up having to put almost a quart of fluid in, that's how much air was in my heater core. These rovers seem to be the hardest things on the planet to bleed
Another word of advise, not sure how many do this, but before you put your new t-stat in, place it in water on the stove. Not boiling water, but hot enough to open the unit up. Then let it cool and make sure it closes. If she doesn't work, you can send it back clean and without possible damage to your engine
Another word of advise, not sure how many do this, but before you put your new t-stat in, place it in water on the stove. Not boiling water, but hot enough to open the unit up. Then let it cool and make sure it closes. If she doesn't work, you can send it back clean and without possible damage to your engine
Core was bypassed when i diagnosed the bad stat initially. Prior to that I had been able to blow coolant through both ways and have it come out the other side. It could be partially clogged I suppose but it currently passes fluid through it without any trouble.
I had had hooked up the core lines again when installing the new stat, so I could bypass it again?
I had had hooked up the core lines again when installing the new stat, so I could bypass it again?
Have I missed something? Did you flush the heater core? And/or did you try to bypass it? It sounds like the only thing you haven't replaced, or ruled-out. The inconsistent heat is either air or a plugged core. You shouldn't have to burp the system if when you fill it, you raise the expansion tank up, higher than the engine until it circulates and automatically air goes to highest point. Unless that core is plugged.. Disregard if you did and I missed it.
Ill have to try strapping the tank from the hood and kneed the core hoses.
already installed new tstat so didn’t do the boiling trick
already installed new tstat so didn’t do the boiling trick
When I bled my system for the third time after my overhaul, I kneeded the heater core hoses while I had the tank tied up to the hood well above the engine. I ended up having to put almost a quart of fluid in, that's how much air was in my heater core. These rovers seem to be the hardest things on the planet to bleed
Another word of advise, not sure how many do this, but before you put your new t-stat in, place it in water on the stove. Not boiling water, but hot enough to open the unit up. Then let it cool and make sure it closes. If she doesn't work, you can send it back clean and without possible damage to your engine
Another word of advise, not sure how many do this, but before you put your new t-stat in, place it in water on the stove. Not boiling water, but hot enough to open the unit up. Then let it cool and make sure it closes. If she doesn't work, you can send it back clean and without possible damage to your engine
TReK
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,748
Likes: 506
From: Seattle, Wa
You realize that unhooking heater core hoses makes you have to start over bleeding the system? Adding coolant through the bleed screw only works if you keep the system closed, it is the final step in the process only to be done when the engine is stone cold from sitting overnight.
By bypassing the heater core you are essentially starting over so no need to do the bleed screw thing until you are done experimenting.
If it helps you isolate a problem then fine, but keep this in mind, you're wasting time doing the bleed screw trick and then reopening the system.
By bypassing the heater core you are essentially starting over so no need to do the bleed screw thing until you are done experimenting.
If it helps you isolate a problem then fine, but keep this in mind, you're wasting time doing the bleed screw trick and then reopening the system.