Help Urgently Needed

[Baldy 69]

Good Day All,

As some of you are aware I recently took the caravan down to Somerset for some much needed R&R, had a nightmare of a journey had a problem with the truck.

Bear with me this could take some time!

Back in January I had a problem with a leak in the top of the Radiator, being on a limited budget, I Rad-Welded it, I have not had a problem since, had 7 months trouble free motoring averaging 300 miles per week.

I hitched up the van on Friday the 18th of July and started to make our way to Sunny Somerset, 20 miles down the road the temp gauge started creeping up.

Had to pull in to the services and call the nice man from the AA, After inspecting the Rad (plenty of water in), Expansion Tank ok, No problem with the Head etc, he deduced that there was a blockage in the radiator, I ran the rest of the journey with the Air Con Fan on and kept the speed and the revs down, Temp occasionly went over the 1/2 way mark and once a little higher.

Eventually arrived on site at 10.30 at night after a 5.5 hour journey (normally 3 hours) Next morning checked the rad etc, water levels still consistent with the previous days. Did approx 200 miles during the week (solo, no caravan on) not one problem temp gauge normal.

Decided to leave caravan on site untill our next trip in late August and came home solo on Saturday, took it steady at 60-65 mph all the way home not a problem, came to work this morning again no probem.

It appears that this problem is only occuring when the car is under load i.e. Towing the van.

To all you experienced and knowledable guys out there, does this seem a reasonable deduction and does it sound to you that there is a blockage in the rad? If so what would be the the best possible remedy on a very limited budget?

I thank you in anticipation of your responses.

Regards,

Mark.

[Apache]

I suppose the rad could be full of crud so a good flush, fresh coolant etc can only help.

The other thing I and plenty of others have noticed is when the truck is loaded and heavy, or towing, the ATF gets very hot as its working very hard, and it dumps its heat into the bottom of the rad (!) thus heating the coolant further.

What I and many others have done is fit an auxilliary ATF cooler BEFORE the coolant enters the rad in order to dump the ATF heat BEFORE it goes into the engine coolant. I've even fitted a fan on my ATF rad so I can cool it when moving slowly offroad but when heavily loaded with gear and passengers.

Do a search for 'ATF cooler' - I would hazard a guess that this, and possibly a clogged rad, is your problem.

[RodLeach]

Radweld an other similar products are never very wise to use, the clog up the water passages in the head etc.

One thing you might look into is fitting an aftermarket transmission fluid cooler.

With the warm fluid passing into the rad. the heat an get 'soaked' into the rest of the rad. Transmissions will be under an increased strain when towing something like a caravan.

do a search for transmission cooler. Lovely boyo fitted one an did a good 'how to' guide.

[RodLeach]

damn!!

[TonyN]

Its good that it its not losing water, it just not cooling properly. These trucks can suffer from clogged rads or slipping viscous fans.

An ATF cooler is good if you do a lot of towing.

Once you to start get trailers nearing the 2000kg mark, you can easily get it hot up long hills, even with a good rad.

Our ATF fluid is completely divorced from the rad now, in its own stand alone cooler and the truck rarely gets hot now on hills, even towing 2500kg and keeping the hammer down.

You don't want the A/C on when towing, the pump is extra drag on the motor, making it work even harder, and you'll have the heater matrix shut off. If it starts to get hot, you need all the all heaters on hot, to help dissipate heat from the cooling system. The front and rear heater matrixes can help the main rad cool the coolant.

[Apache]

How about pumping the aircon freon through the oil cooler passage in the rad?










Sorry, just kidding

[Baldy 69]

Update on Urgent help needed

Thanks Guys for your quick responses;

I have booked the truck in for Thursday for one of the local guys in Bidford-On-Avon to have a look at, he has done a lot of work on these vehicles previously.

I am going with the blocked Radiator at the moment, cannot afford to cool the gearbox at the moment, I have towed the van for 4 years without a problem even going up steep hills without a problem.

Hopefully it is the Rad and I can get one from Milners unless anyone has any other suggestions.

Will let you know what happens on Thursday.

regards,

Mark.

[MattF]

Pop new ATF in whilst you're at it. Don't forget to take the big stick to the garage either.

[Diezel Weazel]

Its good that it its not losing water, it just not cooling properly. These trucks can suffer from clogged rads or slipping viscous fans.

An ATF cooler is good if you do a lot of towing.

Once you to start get trailers nearing the 2000kg mark, you can easily get it hot up long hills, even with a good rad.

Our ATF fluid is completely divorced from the rad now, in its own stand alone cooler and the truck rarely gets hot now on hills, even towing 2500kg and keeping the hammer down.

You don't want the A/C on when towing, the pump is extra drag on the motor, making it work even harder, and you'll have the heater matrix shut off. If it starts to get hot, you need all the all heaters on hot, to help dissipate heat from the cooling system. The front and rear heater matrixes can help the main rad cool the coolant.

Ps. Don't forget to Open all ya Windows aswell !!!!

There's always a Payback .... Ya just never ever see it Comin !!!!

[TonyN]

Hopefully it is the Rad and I can get one from Milners unless anyone has any other suggestions.

I have suggestion, get one from Roughtrax or get yours repaired locally.

[hellmett]

Re

What I would do first!

FLUSH all the crap out of the system!

This may take a day to do!

Mine did!

Put some industrial strength coolant flush in and disconnect the main rad hose to attach a hosepipe (flush both ways).

Remember to take the thermostat out!

Just keep flushing and flushing until the water runs clear!

On mine it took AGES!

My coolant is now ALWAYS pure and clean, before it was always a horrible murky brown colour!

I would also (maybe) get your rad reconditioned!

Later!

Gary

PS I done a thread somewhere about cleaning the coolant pipes etc. with a drill and an old bicycle brake cable, but I cannot find it!

EDIT!

Found it!

HERE

[Baldy 69]

Thanks for the advice and guidance guys;

Think I will let the mechanic look at it Thursday, with the history of the previous leak, it will prob be a new radiator.

Just checked Milners & Roughtraxs sites, Any ideas why Milners are £100+ cheaper than Roughtraxs for a new rad, is one and genuine and one not?

Anyone heard from Mudsurfer recently? wondered if he could help with his local knowledge.

Thanks,

mark.

[stormforce]

Thanks for the advice and guidance guys;

Think I will let the mechanic look at it Thursday, with the history of the previous leak, it will prob be a new radiator.

Just checked Milners & Roughtraxs sites, Any ideas why Milners are £100+ cheaper than Roughtraxs for a new rad, is one and genuine and one not?

Anyone heard from Mudsurfer recently? wondered if he could help with his local knowledge.

Thanks,

mark.

i would go for the dearer roughtrax rad as its better quality than milners.
Milners rads are thin metal and will end up blowing quicker as a few on here have found out

[That Ruddy Squirrel]

Thanks for the advice and guidance guys;

Think I will let the mechanic look at it Thursday, with the history of the previous leak, it will prob be a new radiator.

Just checked Milners & Roughtraxs sites, Any ideas why Milners are £100+ cheaper than Roughtraxs for a new rad, is one and genuine and one not?

Anyone heard from Mudsurfer recently? wondered if he could help with his local knowledge.

Thanks,

mark.

No idea on Mudsurfer's whereabouts.

I would say do not go for the Milner rad, Roughtrax's one is far better, and will last a lot longer.


Trev

[stormforce]

No idea on Mudsurfer's whereabouts.

I would say do not go for the Milner rad, Roughtrax's one is far better, and will last a lot longer.


Trev

ha beat ya Trev...