+- Kombi Club Australia (https://kombiclubaustralia.com)
+-- Forum: Help & Assistance (https://kombiclubaustralia.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=27)
+--- Forum: T3 Tech Clinic (https://kombiclubaustralia.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=9)
+--- Thread: Overheating woes (/showthread.php?tid=381)
Pages:
1
2
Overheating woes - Hairyman - 27-11-2022
Hi folks,
First time posting since the forum move but I've been on since 2013. I haven't been driving my van (1990 2.1 MV) that much since covid started and I guess all the sitting around hasn't been doing it any favours.
Today I went to pick up some furniture 60km away and noticed on the M4 in western Sydney that the temp gauge was much higher than usual, close to the 3/4 mark (but not to the point that the red light was flashing). I put the heating on full blast which brought the gauge back down to the usual range, but obviously driving around Sydney in summer with 50°C air blowing on my feet is not an ideal solution. The temperature gauge did climb while waiting at traffic lights because my dash fan is not working at the moment (I have a replacement but some PO has glued the two halves of the heater box together with silicone sealant).
The coolant looks a bit murky in the header tank and I think I have a slow leak in the system somewhere because the header tank does seem to need to be refilled occasionally but there is no obvious drip on the ground when I park. The cooling fan does turn on and off.
I had been thinking that the radiator was clogged up but looking at https://kombiclubaustralia.com/showthread.php?tid=275 I realised that there are a couple of other potential failure points: the thermostat and temperature gauge. The hot air from the heater felt like it was going to melt my shoes so I reckon the temperature gauge is probably correct but is there a way to test the thermostat in the van without opening it?
I'll check that there isn't something blocking airflow through the radiator and see how evenly hot the radiator is getting, to try see if it is clogged. If it is, the people who know more about this than me seem to prefer replacing the radiator over cleaning it out (makes sense to me) but the OEM 43mm radiators seem to be very thin on the ground at the moment and most suppliers only have the cooler climate ~30mm thickness radiators. It seems to me that a new 30mm radiator would be better than a clogged 43mm radiator but does anyone have any comments on that? Or leads on vendors with the thicker radiators/an equivalent from another vehicle?
Cheers, Neil
RE: Cooling woes - Hairyman - 27-11-2022
It looks like Brickwerks have the thicker radiators https://brickwerks.co.uk/product/radiator-t3-1-6td-2-1-wbx-also-1-9-petrol-alternative/ but getting one shipped in from the other side of the planet seems a bit unnecessary.
RE: Cooling woes - Grantus - 27-11-2022
Is the radiator fan kicking in when it should, and still running when hot and the engine off?
RE: Cooling woes - Hairyman - 28-11-2022
Yes, it comes on at two speeds, but it doesn't always seem to make much difference to what I see on the temp gauge; although I suppose the length of the run back from the radiator, through the engine to the thermostat housing where the sensor is makes that understandable
RE: Cooling woes - Barry - 28-11-2022
(27-11-2022, 10:38 PM)Hairyman Wrote: ..... and I think I have a slow leak in the system somewhere because the header tank does seem to need to be refilled occasionally but there is no obvious drip on the ground when I park......
Hopefully not leaking into the cylinder
RE: Cooling woes - Hairyman - 28-11-2022
(28-11-2022, 02:20 PM)Barry Wrote: Hopefully not leaking into the cylinder
Aye, for sure, but I had a top end rebuild in 2014 and haven't done a huge distance since so the seals should all still be good!
RE: Cooling woes - Azzman1000 - 28-11-2022
I've been on the hunt for a RAD lately, so far I've found these in stock with a 42mm core,
https://www.sparesbox.com.au/part/mahle-radiator-cr-361-000p
Mick Motors also sell a Hella branded one that is 50mm but its out of stock.
https://www.mickmotors.com.au/product-radiator-t3-1-92-1-84-92-50mm-wide-mahle-brand-for-warm-australian-conditions-14564.aspx
If you haven't already, maybe pull your plugs and look for any sign of water in the cylinders. No harm in checking.
best of luck, keep us updated.
Cheers.
RE: Cooling woes - Hairyman - 29-11-2022
Ah, so the 43mm one is standard and a 50mm one was the hot climate option that was fitted in Australia?
Thanks for the link. It's a shame the one in Australia is 70% more expensive than one in the UK.
RE: Cooling woes - Azzman1000 - 29-11-2022
(29-11-2022, 01:19 PM)Hairyman Wrote: Ah, so the 43mm one is standard and a 50mm one was the hot climate option that was fitted in Australia?
Thanks for the link. It's a shame the one in Australia is 70% more expensive than one in the UK.
Just be aware that the one from the UK, (I assume you’re talking about the Forst brand from heritage parts.) is possibly only a 30mm core but I can’t confirm.
Also shipping from the UK can be frightfully expensive.
RE: Cooling woes - Barry - 29-11-2022
Does yours have air con?
They need a ker one doe to the condenser in front
No AC and I reckon you are ok
I bought a fuel tank from Bickwerks the other day - and incl shipping it was cheaper than the wrong one bought here