V. Strange overheating issue P38 2.5 DSE 1998

Hi, I have just bought a 1998 range rover DSE, 2.5, P38.. It is all great BUT, after about 15-20 mins of driving around town it very quickly starts to overheat - no warning light of low coolant / antifreeze, just suddenly (within about 30 seconds) heat guage shoots up to red warning light. The only way to then cool it down is to accelerate quite rapidly so that the Turbo kicks in, and it seems to cool down to normal pretty fast..

What do you think this means?! It's a nightmare as when stuck in traffic there is nothing I can do, I just have to wait for a long stretch to accelerate in order to cool it down..

I'm going to take it to a garage tomorrow, but really want to get an idea of what is wrong with it so I don't get stitched up!

Any guesses / informed guesses would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

may be an airlock are your heaters blowing cold

Lots of possiblities, water pump, thermostat, blocked rad, faulty viscous coupler on the fan, head gasket, and lastly a cracked head. Check the cheap and easy things first. My guess from your symptoms would be either the water pump or the fan.

Yes the air starts to blow cold as soon as the overheating kicks in... Before the overheating they blow fine...

Also check out your viscous fan as well, sounds suspect to me.

Been there, done that, cracked the head!

bbdj1985 said:

Yes the air starts to blow cold as soon as the overheating kicks in... Before the overheating they blow fine...

Click to expand...

Water pump.

Really? Is that a big deal to repair?

So if I just ask them to replace my water pump it should be ok?

Why does the cooling suddenly work when Turbo kicks in?

Thanks for this.

bbdj1985 said:

Really? Is that a big deal to repair?

So if I just ask them to replace my water pump it should be ok?

Why does the cooling suddenly work when Turbo kicks in?

Thanks for this.

Click to expand...

I'm sure it's nothing to do with the turbo kicking in, more to do with either more revs which equals a bit more push from a knackered water pump, or more road speed pushing more air through the rad which would mean the viscous fan is stuffed.

If you just tell them to replace the water pump that is what they will do regardless of whether that is the problem.:doh:

Datatek said:

I'm sure it's nothing to do with the turbo kicking in, more to do with either more revs which equals a bit more push from a knackered water pump, or more road speed pushing more air through the rad which would mean the viscous fan is stuffed.

If you just tell them to replace the water pump that is what they will do regardless of whether that is the problem.:doh:

Click to expand...

It definately only kicks in when the Turbo kicks in, revs just make it worse, I've tried that.. It literally cools down the second the turbo kicks in, but not otherwise... Still think its the water pump?