Is this normal? (200tdi Defender) VDO

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ArchieLux

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Location
Derbyshire
[GALLERY=][GALLERY=][/GALLERY][/GALLERY]Hi all,
I've had some helpful hints already, despite me having posted in the wrong sections!
Re; VDO temp gauge newly installed. Does this reading look ok to you guys?
I've had a complete overhaul of cooling system parts. Thought I'd top it off with a gauge showing °C.
Pic shows uphill driving.
Drops to just above 90°C at idle.
It's obviously winter right now, so I'm mindful of how summer months/ambient temp might affect the running temperature.
 
ArchieLux said:
Hi all,
I've had some helpful hints already, despite me having posted in the wrong sections!
Re; VDO temp gauge newly installed. Does this reading look ok to you guys?
I've had a complete overhaul of cooling system parts. Thought I'd top it off with a gauge showing °C.
Pic shows uphill driving.
Drops to just above 90°C at idle.
It's obviously winter right now, so I'm mindful of how summer months/ambient temp might affect the running temperature.
Click to expand...
 
 

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I'm no expert but given that I've got a 300tdi 90 and an 88 degree thermostat fitted then that's what I would expect to see!
Opening at around 88 and with your good cooling system (clean and pressurised) She'll rise to well over 100 degrees (but won't boil) whilst hammering uphill and towing.

Would of thought warm idle might be a bit lower than 90 given that it is such a cold lump as would not expect idle to be opening the stat just yet.

Is there a zeroing adjustment possible on the vdo?
The VDO I would guess is much more accurate than many a gauge, and you could compare to a hand held infra red thermometer on the stat housing or top of rad.

My 2p.....
 
tottot said:
That's not bad, what fan are you running? Standard or electric ? What temp Thermostat ?
Click to expand...
Standard viscous mate. Standard 88°C Wax stat from LR.
Do you see any issues potentially?
I think I need a good, flat motorway run, see what occurs. Maybe I'm being overtly cautious ?
 
Sirronluap said:
I'm no expert but given that I've got a 300tdi 90 and an 88 degree thermostat fitted then that's what I would expect to see!
Opening at around 88 and with your good cooling system (clean and pressurised) She'll rise to well over 100 degrees (but won't boil) whilst hammering uphill and towing.

Would of thought warm idle might be a bit lower than 90 given that it is such a cold lump as would not expect idle to be opening the stat just yet.

Is there a zeroing adjustment possible on the vdo?
The VDO I would guess is much more accurate than many a gauge, and you could compare to a hand held infra red thermometer on the stat housing or top of rad.

My 2p.....
Click to expand...
Thank you... I'm not sure about adjustments on the VDO. I hope I'm over thinking it, and that all is well!!
 
The viscous fan still spins at tick over even when not engaged so there tends to be some cooling.
I have a similar set up in my 200 but an electric fan so no drop off at tick over.
Aftermarket temp gauge [ TIM I think ] reads much the same as yours.
Last summer I notice in the hot weather we had [ remember that ? ] she was getting a bit hot at times, the rad was found to be rather short of fin's and a new one sorted that. An advantage of having an accurate gauge that reads in degrees.
 
tottot said:
The viscous fan still spins at tick over even when not engaged so there tends to be some cooling.
I have a similar set up in my 200 but an electric fan so no drop off at tick over.
Aftermarket temp gauge [ TIM I think ] reads much the same as yours.
Last summer I notice in the hot weather we had [ remember that ? ] she was getting a bit hot at times, the rad was found to be rather short of fin's and a new one sorted that. An advantage of having an accurate gauge that reads in degrees.
Click to expand...
Thanks very much.
Well, I feel I've addressed everything possible to protect my work truck from unnecessary destruction (engine/cooling wise) ...! But there's always something that could be overlooked. My worries weren't really due to symptomatic troubles, just what I was seeing on the gauges. So, I'll relax, keep an eye on everything (as everyone should) and enjoy the ride.
Hopefully I can put this obsession to bed!
 

What were you doing when it was reading that temp? Mine would reach that only going up hill and high revs.

The 200tdi is a cool running engine. The electric gauges are often troubled by earthing issues. You can check with a thermometer. Run the engine get it up to temp. Take thermostat house top off and check with a digital thermometer.
 
payydg said:
What were you doing when it was reading that temp? Mine would reach that only going up hill and high revs.

The 200tdi is a cool running engine. The electric gauges are often troubled by earthing issues. You can check with a thermometer. Run the engine get it up to temp. Take thermostat house top off and check with a digital thermometer.
Click to expand...
The higher reading shown was going uphill with higher revs as you say.
I can see it drop after this, whether resuming normal 'flat' driving or of course going down hill !
I'm still wondering whether there's any mischief going on somewhere. Good idea to try a dip thermometer. I've tested with a laser gun, which seems fairly accurate, but at the end of the day that's measuring the surface block (or indeed wherever you aim it) temp, not the coolant.
An indicator, but not accurate for actual coolant.
Sits at about 90°C idling after a run.
 
ArchieLux said:
Thank you... I'm not sure about adjustments on the VDO. I hope I'm over thinking it, and that all is well!!
Click to expand...
Just wanted to reaffirm...
The 90°C reading was at idle after a long run, as in, immediately after. I believe it would have dropped further if I'd sat and watched at tickover.
 
ArchieLux said:
The higher reading shown was going uphill with higher revs as you say.
I can see it drop after this, whether resuming normal 'flat' driving or of course going down hill !
I'm still wondering whether there's any mischief going on somewhere. Good idea to try a dip thermometer. I've tested with a laser gun, which seems fairly accurate, but at the end of the day that's measuring the surface block (or indeed wherever you aim it) temp, not the coolant.
An indicator, but not accurate for actual coolant.
Sits at about 90°C idling after a run.
Click to expand...

Sounds perfectly normal to me.
 
Hi Archielux,
I'm running the same set up as you, 200 tdi and VDO gauge.
Once hot mine stays at a steady 91°C or thereabouts.
Remember as an accurate gauge it's going to reflect the engine temp without the needle damping that original gauges have so you'll see all the temperature fluctuations that are normal for an engine but are not normally seen on the original gauge.
A couple of things I did to improve mine were to 1. replace the ptfe tape that I'd used to seal the VDO sender with liquid thread sealant, ptfe doesn't conduct electricity very well and the sender needs to earth through the thread and 2. to earth the gauge to the block.
The only time mine ever gets to the temp yours is displaying is if I'm accelerating hard before the thermostat has opened and it peaks before the thermostat opens.

Have you checked the thermostats opening temperature in a pan of water ?
I've had a genuine thermostat that kept the engine at a toasty 98°C and an OEM Waxstat that kept it at 96°C.

Have you checked the actual engine temp with a laser thermometer (they're on ebay for about £6) ?
check the above items and let us know how you get on.
HTH
Mo
 
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