Help! I'm currently driving a 2004 Disco II with 79,000 miles. I've recently replaced the head gasket, radiator, switched to a genuine gray 180 degree thermostat, replaced the viscous fan clutch, pressure tested radiator and replaced the coolant. My current normal driving temps city/highway average 189-194 degrees. However, in traffic and/or at a traffic light the temperature climbs to as high as 210 degrees! Is this too high? What is a safe idling temp?

Another thread mentioned a temp sensor replacement to fix the issue... (I'll use a IR gun to test radiator temps)

(I've reviewed a lot of threads on this issue, but no definitive answers of acceptable idling temperatures.)

Any feedback appreciated! Thanks!

 

It's not too high, but higher than you would think with all the new cooling goods.

Check your coolant overflow tank cap. Make sure it has 2 O rings with retainer lips on either side of both o rings.

Also make sure the system is bled properly.

Lastly, idle the car to 210 temp and then make sure electric fan is coming on.

Good luck

 

And the ever popular belt route. Or electric fan wired reverse polarity. Anything that makes one of the fans run backwards. Fan blades mounted backwards (curved side goes toward engine block). Paper towel should be held against grill by fan motion, not blown away. Mud chiggers in tranny cooler (if equipped) or AC condenser. Thermostat hoses hooked up wrong. This time of year in my hemisphere it is cold.

 

Thanks for the advice! Tonight, I let the truck idle in park for about 20 minutes in 32 degree weather. The temp (on my OBD2 app...DashCommand) got as high as 208 and basically stayed there until I turned the truck off. I also did a paper test on the fan (held newspaper against grill and the fan was sucking it in) and it appeared to be working properly. The fan was operating the entire time. After additional research, I'm beginning to think I may have a bad engine coolant sensor. If this is the case, is this a simple replacement? Does anyone have a tutorial? (Already searched forums and youtube)

 

I just put an ultra gauge on my 2003 Disco II and it shows the engine temperature running at 215.6 F with an occasional spike to 217.8. Based on what I'm reading in this thread, it seems like that is too high. Is that the general consensus?

I should mention that this is the temperature running at 50 miles per hour. At idle the temperature drops to 210 F.

Thanks,

Mark

 

Yep, that is pretty high, especially for this time of year. Mine with a new cooling system (radiator, water pump, thermostat and hoses) idles around 190-195 and runs about 185-190 at 40-50mph.


Offhand I might suspect a partially clogged radiator on yours with those temps.

 

Did you solve your overheating problem?

 

I still want to replace my temp sensor, but temps have been ranging from 189-194 (local/highway speeds) to 199-205 (idle in traffic).

 

Hi Durbinhunter:

Please let me know if a new temperature sensor works for you.

I ordered, and am waiting for a 180 degree thermostat. Should receive it this week and will put it in this weekend. I monitored my vehicle again at idle with my ultra gauge and it was at 215.7 degrees. When I turned the heater on it dropped nine degrees. The good thing was that I did notice my electric fan turning on at 210 degrees. I'm not driving my vehicle anywhere until I get the temps down!

Mark

 

Durbin,

I live in Las Vegas and having several Land Rovers and in the summer heat of 112 degrees, and running my air conditioning, I run all day around 195 degrees since a year ago, I changed over to the inline 180 degree theremostate setup with glowshift water temp. guage. I highly recommend this mod and have never blown a head gasket in my rovers

I recently added a coolant level sensor to the coolant reservoir that our trucks should have installed by the factory.

https://landroverforums.com/forum/di...tat-mod-48526/

Installing a Temp Gauge on a 2003 Disco II - Land Rover Forums : Land Rover and Range Rover Forum