Hi Guys,
Merry CHRISTmas to all of you.
The water inside my radiator reservoir is a bit rusty-colored.
So far my temperature gauge is within normal limits (just below midway during driving)
Is this normal? I put water with coolant every time I refill.
Do I need to have it flushed or what ever it is I need to do?
Is there a product out there that I can buy? Just to clean the rusty color?
I'm imagining rust build up in the insides of the radiator, waiting to overheat anytime.
Paranoia... I hate it.
Thanks.

 

In what, how many miles?
Probably should let a radiator shop look at it.

 

DiscoRom, no this is not good, do a complete cooling system flush and use only premixed coolant.
It will say right on the jug, 50/50 premixed, you can use any color you want.
I used to sell bulk coolant, if you add tap water to the cooling system you are adding minerals and calcium to the cooling system, this will cause rust, scale, lime build up etc.
Premixed coolant uses distilled water so that there are no minerals intruduced into the cooling system.

You do not need to use diesel coolant, change it every two years, just drain and fill. But this time you need to do a complete flush, if you want to do it yourself let me know and I can help walk you through it.

 

Yup! that's what I do, put tap water in the reservoir. Now I know better. Thank you forum!
I'll take you up on your offer Spike and ask you for a step by step detail on how to flush the radiator. Thanks.
While I'm not a mechanical guy (unlike you guys) I think flushing a radiator is simple enough.
If not I'll do what DiscoMike says and take it to the radiator shop. But I think it's best to know your Disco well.
FYI: I have a 1997 Disco 300 TDI automatic with 110K kilometers on it.
Cheers.

 

I agree, it is good to know your Rover thru working on it, but there are times, especially when you have rust in the system to let the specialest do the work, you may find you may have to rod out the radiator because a flush won't always open up the tube to their original inside diameter. Make sure to replace your t/sata when doing this.

 

Is a general radiatior shop capable of flushing it or does it have to be a "Land Rover" service center?
Sorry but whats a t/sata?
Thanks.

 

any radiator shop... some will tell you find someone else when they see it is a land rover though

 

He meant t-stat, which is short for thermostat.
Remove the lower radiator hose from the bottom of the radiator.
Drain all the coolant out.
Reattach the hose and fill with the garden hose, start the engine turn on the heater on hot and let it idle for 15 mins.
Turn off the engine, let it cool for15 minutes, drain the water, repeat until the water comes out clear.
Add fresh 50/50 premixed coolant, start the engine making sure that the heater is on HOT and leave the radiator cap off.
Keep an eye on the temp gauge and check to make sure that you are getting heat from the heater.
Keep adding coolant as needed to keep the system full, after 30 minutes replace the radiator cap and turn off the truck.
Drive as normal checking the coolant level for the next two days after the truck has sat all night.
Top off as necassary.
After that just check the coolant level once a week when you check the engine oil and power steering fluid.
If the coolant turns rust colored again after a few weeks then you have a problem.

 

Never take it to the dealer, all they know what to do is replace parts and even that they are bad at.
A good radiator shop can test, clean, rod out or replace any radiator.

 

Gotcha guys. Thanks.