W463 engine temp when off roading
Been off roading this weekend in my 300GE swb, was really happy with how well and how easy and how comfortable it is to off road, compared to say my Mitsubishi Shogun.
Managed to show the 2 Defender and 2 Discoverys the advantages of difflocks in a couple of washed out sections of Busk Lane. Apparently made it look too easy and undramatic, with no spinning wheels and waiting for electronics to sort them selves out ! Even funnier considering my G is 24 years old and the much older than the other 4x4 there.
What I did notice that the temp gauge which normally sits around 87 degrees, in normal driving, but when off roading and slow uphill sections especially when in low it was slowly creeping up to about 110 degrees.
Looking at this post does suggest mine may have the wrong thermostat fitted
http://www.gwoa.co.uk/content/g300-thermostat
It would drop happily as soon as got back on the tarmac and got some air flowing through the radiator. Never once overheated but a bit of a concern.
Anyone else noticed this temp increase ? Or is it the norm for the G ? User manual suggests its OK but still a worry
Would it be worth getting the thermostat swapped for the 92 Deg one and radiator check for any blockages ?
Could you hear the vicous fan cut in? Mine only got above the middle of gauge in Spain off road, up prolonged mountain tracks, but never over heated . Probably worth investing in a infa red thermometer, (£10 off eBay) and checking radiator but you a few months to worry before the heat of the summer
Yes, the viscous fan coupling wears out and then the fan still spins but with a lot of slip. That's your most likely cause, as already mentioned above. The issue is not so noticeable when idling, but at higher RPM it won't spin as fast as it should. You can get the OEM (Sachs) part from Euro Car Parts a little cheaper than the dealer (about £120, last time I looked).
The Thermostat on The G was uprated to a higher temp, 92C, from the more common 87C. I think this was done to get the engine warmer more quickly and reduce emission.
Also, check that your radiator core is not blocked with mud, particularly if you have air-conditioning, where the condenser is sandwiched with the radiator, and dirt will accumulate between the two.
Just checked. The ECP price is £111, but the part offered is Behr Hella (made in China)
https://www.eurocarparts.com/search/206220270
You should hear the viscous fan all the time, switching in and out.
You should here it when you firsts start up and drive off, whether the engine is hot or cold.
Gordon
Thanks for the reply, will get an an infra red thermometer to check,
I didnt notice / hear the viscous fan kick in, will have to double check that, pretty certain it did as the temp guage seem to drop a little. As its didn't go into the red I'm guessing its OK ?