Just curious to hear at what temperature your Disco idles.

I recently purchased an Ultragauge (which I highly recommend) and was looking at the temperature display. My Disco II (2001) wants to idle around 210*F (ambient tempature ~60*). When I am driving it is ~195-199*.

Do these numbers seem correct? I swapped out the radiator and the hoses this weekend and I don't recall what temperature it idled at before.

By the way, the radiator swap was a PITA. If I ever need to do it again (I certainly hope not), then I know that I could do it in half the time, but - even reading all of the advice on here and the RAVE - it is time consuming.

 

Being it is winter and cold out, 210 is too high at idle.
How old is your pressure cap, t/stat and hub clutch?

 

Thermostat is about 1 year old. The others have not been changed and are (likely) original. I feel like the tempature is high, too. What should it be?

Maybe it has to do with the fact that I am having trouble purging the system of all of the air? I just put everything back together last night and followed the instructions for bleeding the system, but I still hear the waterfall sound in the dash.

 

Probably still some air in your heater core. Did you hold the coolant reservoir up and loosen the T screw loose for bleeding? Also squeezing the return hose(right top one) helped me push through some air pockets.

My coolant temp with my ScanGuageII is 188F-204F. Now in the winter city driving it runs about 198F. But on the highway its 188F.
My coolant was changed this past summer by me and I added a bottle of Water Wetter as per DiscoMikes suggestion. Temp stays in that range like clockwork, but I still keep my eyes glued to the temp guage.

 

Disco Mike, how often should I replace the coolant pressure cap? No issues now, just wondered how long they are good for? I'm sure mine is original and is 8 years old.

 

I did loosen the screw and hold up the expansion tank. I will do that again this afternoon and squeeze the return hose while I am at it.

Your Disco seems to run considerably cooler than mine...

 

FYI -- Scangauge indicates an idle around 188 for me. The highest it's ever gotten is 198 in stopped traffic.

 

My 2001 idles and runs at about 195 to 198 per my Innova 3130. My 2000 runs at about 198 and sometimes as high as 205. It will idle at 205 to 210 and at times will idle up to 220. It kills me. I just had the head gaskets changed, new radiator, new hoses, new thermostat, new water pump and replaced fan clutch with a used but working fan clutch. Disco Mike and I have been trying to figure out what is going on with this truck. It runs great, doesn't loose fluid but it is causing me concern. The serpentine belt is on properly, I just can't figure it out. Open to all suggestions. Thanks Phil

1999 DI
2000 DII
2001 DII

 

On the coolant cap, Dexcool eats up the inner part of the coolant cap as well as the t/stat causing all sorts of issues. I have only changed my cap once, per an inspection and my t/stat twice, both times the t/stat had starting to dissolve and small chunks of the body had broken off and were jammed into the valve.
Brian, send me your number and I'll walk you thru the proper way to get it bled.

 

I change my t/stat about a month ago and now order a coolant cap. I also feel that they have both been eaten up by the Dexcool. I am now using Peak Global Lifetime.