I think mine is binding, I can only get about 2 -3 blades of spin cold - is this normal ? I do not remember.

 

There should be resistance when cold. If it doesn’t spin at all it’s locked up and needs to be replaced. If it free spins with no resistance at all then it also needs to be replaced.

 

Sounds normal to me.

 

Yep. Normal.

 

Thanks guys - just starting to work through this cooling issue. I am leaning towards rad, but noticed the fan was hard to turn a figure best check as that at least is cheap.

 

Hey Richard, what's your truck's cooling issue? Maybe you've described it in another thread; you have several. Thanks.

 

@mln01 it just running hotter at idle than prior to the Head gaskets.

I used to run 188.6 to 197, getting to 201 -202 before the fan kicked in and dropped back to 194 -197 where it stayed Now I get up to 204-206, something is not optimal, I just need to sort out what my concern is that things get slowly worse and I have a big problem on a trail when something fails.
It acts like the clutch is not kicking in correctly ,the fan moves maybe 2 or 3 blades hot or cold on a spin by hand

I did do a cooling system flush followed by 3 runs of straight water right after the head gaskets to clear any misc stuff that may entered the cooling passages and to clear any remaining dex-cool.
Heater runs good and hot

 

I don't know where you live but it's getting scorching down here in the south with humidity like an ocean in the air. Could be just the change in temperature from what you're used to seeing. You should also consider the water and antifreeze mix percentage that you are using. I recommend using water wetter as well. At long idle times discos suffer from heat soak pretty bad regardless. Would be nice to have some hood vents...

Personally, I've been using a 180* thermostat for a few months now and also see around 186 to 197, but 194 is where it usually wants to be. I also switched to a heavy duty fan clutch and a different style fan before that and it made a big difference in keeping the temps under control with the stock thermostat. A couple of weeks ago though I did see temp as high as 217, which I've only ever seen 1 other time. Seems to be the max limit as far as the cooling system goes. Was during an extremely hot and muggy day sitting in the sun for a good while with the AC blasting.

I just recently received a Bearmach 172* thermostat from the UK and want to do some testing with that now that it's so hot. I'm actually worried it may allow coolant temps to run too low and the ECU won't like it. Also might play with the coolant mix, and I still have the option of getting the severe duty fan clutch if need be and that will basically be the limit of the stock style system. Beyond that is inline mod and electric fans.

Btw, if you are still using the throttle body heater I suggest bypassing it or or if you want to keep it use a silicone gasket that's available from a few places these days. A leaking one will not only allow coolant out but also let air in.

 

@11chuck that is where I used to be the Disco was happy at 188.6. While the current temps are not end of the world I just want things sorted,as it looks like a solo backcountry summer.

 

Yeah, last fall the water pump in my truck started leaking from the weep hole so I replaced it.

The conventional wisdom is that when either the water pump or fan clutch fails both should be replaced since, as long-time forum contributor Savannah Buzz used to say, they've danced millions of revolutions together and are used to each other. The idea is that the stresses of having a new "dance partner" will soon cause the other part to fail.

I therefore replaced the original fan clutch with the Hayden 2991 severe duty fan clutch. My cruising temps didn't change, of course (188.6 or lower), but instead of temps in the low 190s at stoplights or in traffic they're now in the high 190s or low 200s.

Those temps are not a problem, but it's curious to me that they're higher. I still have the original fan clutch and I've thought that if I'm bored some weekend soon I may reinstall it and see what happens.