Not over heating but running a little hot.

malonso123

Active member
May 7, 2019
31
1
Florida
I need some insight on what is going on with my 03 Disco 2 has 176K. It was running well and I tore it down. I replaced: head gaskets, lifting rods, timing chain, engine cover, water pump, T/ Stat (180), collant reservoir and cap, and radiator. runs great! Only problem I have is that it will run a little hot. Before I worked on it the temp gauge was always in the middle. Now it is just above middle. The hoses have pressure but not excessively. I am going to pull the actual numeric temperature reading today, but do I have air in the system? Any one live through this issue before?

Thank you in advance.

I got the actuals,
it is idling at 240. on the road it will decrease to 232.

One more thing. This morning when I popped the hood, the top hose was sucked in, as if it was vacuumed.??? I started it and then stated to unscrew the cap, i used my finger to plug the spill hole and it slowly sucked collant in. then I took off the cap and let it run. once we were at running temperature the fluid in the reservoir started to go up a-little. Once it raise to the neck i put on the cap. The temp raise to 240 and stayed there. thoughts?

Final Update, I used APR Head stud Kit to bolt down heads. It fixed my problem. The Disco is running amazingly!! i really like the ability to know the torque of each bolt. Thank you all for the insight and suggestions.
 
Last edited:

Toran

Well-known member
Feb 3, 2017
416
48
Ohio
I would get the front end of the truck up as high as possible and bleed any possibly remaining air out of the system.
 

Swedjen2

Well-known member
Sep 12, 2018
594
127
California
I need some insight on what is going on with my 03 Disco 2 has 176 K. It was running well and I tore it down. I replaced: head gaskets, lifting rods, timing chain, engine cover, water pump, T/ Stat (180), coolant reservoir and cap, and radiator. runs great! Only problem I have is that it will run a little hot. Before I worked on it the temp gauge was always in the middle. Now it is just above middle. The hoses have pressure but not excessively. I am going to pull the actual numeric temperature reading today, but do I have air in the system? Any one live through this issue before?

Thank you in advance.

I have the EXACT same thing going on with my 2004 D2. Just finished working on it. Running approx. 10 degrees warmer. SO I will be looking for the nearest steep hill. Sounds like the ramps for changing oil aren't gonna' cut it.
 

Howski

Well-known member
Oct 19, 2009
1,483
209
Alabama
I’d get an OBDII reader so you can immediately get a real idea of what your temps are and Mark improvement. They’re like $15 on Amazon (WiFi or Bluetooth) and you can use a free app on your phone. I’d second the above comments but also had a lot of luck driving with the expansion tank cap off (from cold), get it up to operating temp, drive around a few minutes (including uphill), and put the cap back on while truck is still running. This always seemed to get any air pockets out of the system
 
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jymmiejamz

Well-known member
Dec 5, 2004
6,008
361
35
Los Angeles, Ca
What brand thermostat? I would install a Genuine Parts thermostat that is the correct thermostat for the vehicle. The 180F one is TD5 and Saudi trucks from what I understand.

Air in the system wouldn't likely cause it to run slightly warmer. If you have heat at idle, and don't hear water rushing through the dash, there isn't likely air in the system.
 

malonso123

Active member
May 7, 2019
31
1
Florida
I’d get an OBDII reader so you can immediately get a real idea of what your temps are and Mark improvement. They’re like $15 on Amazon (WiFi or Bluetooth) and you can use a free app on your phone. I’d second the above comments but also had a lot of luck driving with the expansion tank cap off (from cold), get it up to operating temp, drive around a few minutes (including uphill), and put the cap back on while truck is still running. This always seemed to get any air pockets out of the system

it is idling at 240. on the road it will decrease to 232.
 

Parrie

Active member
Mar 26, 2019
25
1
Maine
If your reaching 240 at idle the t-stat is basically staying open not giving the radiator time to do it's job. Is your viscous fan operating as it should?
 

rovercanus

Well-known member
Apr 24, 2004
9,643
244
Are you actually getting any circulation? You can tell by running the truck with the cap off the tank and seeing if you are getting a return stream from the hose that goes out to the throttle body heater after it warms up a bit. Obviously don't open it up when it is hot.
Is your fan belt routed correctly?
Do you know how to change an engine?
 

Parrie

Active member
Mar 26, 2019
25
1
Maine
yes the viscous roars and its new.
What rovercanus suggested, verify flow. IMO the 180deg t-stat is too low and constantly open...if coolant is constantly flowing it won't have time to cool and will continue to heat. If you do have flow and the system is bled of air my next guess would be a head gasket issue. Did you have the heads and block checked for warpage before replacing the gaskets?
 

Howski

Well-known member
Oct 19, 2009
1,483
209
Alabama
Are you sure you don’t have a cracked block? That’s incredibly high temp and will cause more issues in no time
 

malonso123

Active member
May 7, 2019
31
1
Florida
Are you sure you don’t have a cracked block? That’s incredibly high temp and will cause more issues in no time

SO prior to working on it, it never over heated and for a month or so it ran with out the aux fan and did not over heat at all in 100 degree weather. so I don't understand how it would be cracked if all i did was replace parts, put it back together. its starts up great, runs smooth and does not lose any collant. what would signal a cracked block other than 240 at ideal.
 

malonso123

Active member
May 7, 2019
31
1
Florida
Are you actually getting any circulation? You can tell by running the truck with the cap off the tank and seeing if you are getting a return stream from the hose that goes out to the throttle body heater after it warms up a bit. Obviously don't open it up when it is hot.
Is your fan belt routed correctly?
Do you know how to change an engine?
yes i can see it circulating. belt is on correctly. if i have to, i can change it. but again it was running great prior to repairs and is running great now, with the exception of the heat.
 

malonso123

Active member
May 7, 2019
31
1
Florida
I have the EXACT same thing going on with my 2004 D2. Just finished working on it. Running approx. 10 degrees warmer. SO I will be looking for the nearest steep hill. Sounds like the ramps for changing oil aren't gonna' cut it.
Let me know if it helps. I am looking for a hill or gully