Took it for a dip... now running hit - dirty rad?

wiltshire landyman said:

200? 300? v8??? mpi???

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eltax91 said:

Hi guys

I took my 200 TDi disco to pay and play today, and did a run in some muddy water. The car didn't get stuck or anything. This was near the end of the day. The old girl has run all day, but after 40 mins of the run back down the motorway, the engine temp started to increase quite quickly! I pulled over, let it cool down and then limped the next half hour home at 60 mph, keeping good flow over the rad.

I had the cabin heaters on full and they were RED HOT. The temp hovered around half (normally just over a third). So, it;s this just a filty Rad that can't dispel the heat properly?

If so, options? Just seal all the electrics with cling film and pressure wash it all?

Cheers

MODS: Please edit title to "running hot"

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thebiglad said:

DO NOT EVER PRESSURE-WASH A RADIATOR - you'll remove all the fins.

They are quite delicate when new but on a older car need to be treated gently. Hosepipe pressure is all you need, just give it time.

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eltax91 said:

Thanks for the advice! Wouldn't want to destroy it.

So, strip the viscous fan off (I have the spanner from my recent cambelt change) and the fan cowling, then hose it from the inside outwards? Is that the accepted best way to clean it. Presumably I can get a wire brush in there for the stubborn stuff, as long as i'm gentle?

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