P38 radiator blowing when towing twice!

We tow a caravan with our P38 diesel 2.5 TD and twice the radiator has blown when going up long hills. I am blaming my husbands driving and pushing the car to hard! The temperature rises very quickly and then the radiator goes immediately.

We have now had a new radiator fitted and new belts on the water pump and the alternator belt. On the return journey the temperature stayed at a lower temp.

I am concerned that we are asking too much of the car or we may have another problem. Do any of you wise guys have any information to help? I am getting a little fed up of spending the first night or two of my holiday on a garage forecourt although have meet some lovely people!

Hi, and welcolme,

Does the engine fan kick in when it begins to get hot ? You'll be able to tell as it will start to roar quite noticeably as it engages up to full speed. If not, then a new fan would be worth a go. It engages based on air temperature off the back of the rad sensed by a bi-metallic coil on the front of the fan.

On mine it tends to start to roar if the gauge is reading slightly over mid-way. It also has a quick flare up some mornings as it centrifugally pumps out any residual oil that drained into the driving chamber overnight (within the fan viscous coupling).

It might also be worth a new expansion tank cap as that should vent any excess pressure before the rad blows, unless your rad is already degraded due to it's age (as mine was when it blew last week!).

Thanks for your advice, we had wondered about the fan and as we are not sure when it kicks in so will look at replacing it. The fan does work but maybe it is not cutting in early enough. I love the range rover but my oh is getting fed up but if we can sort this problem out then maybe our marriage and range rover driving years will continue for a while yet!

Sorry to hear your rad went - I am now great at helping to fit new ones! Apparently the important tool is the 13" wobbler or have I been conned?

I towed a 1.5 tonne caravan round the Pennines last year with no overheating. True the temperature rose slightly on hot days, but only slightly over the mid position on the guage. They are supposed to be rated to tow 3.5 tonnes.

Check the water pump, some are plastic and they loose vanes, also check the thermostat. Some replacement rads have also been found to be faulty in not having the baffle in the centre of the header tank.

Worst case it could be a cracked head.

blondee said:

Thanks for your advice, we had wondered about the fan and as we are not sure when it kicks in so will look at replacing it. The fan does work but maybe it is not cutting in early enough. I love the range rover but my oh is getting fed up but if we can sort this problem out then maybe our marriage and range rover driving years will continue for a while yet!

Sorry to hear your rad went - I am now great at helping to fit new ones! Apparently the important tool is the 13" wobbler or have I been conned?

Click to expand...

Do you mean a 13" extension and wobbler? A 13" wobbler evokes thoughts of other things.

It's best not to mess about. Overhaul the whole cooling system. Pump, cap, viscous fan.