Outer Limits 4x4 Board

I've been having overheating problems for a while, and have noticed recently in particular that just after starting it gets right up to abour 3/4 - 4/5ths of the way up on the guage, I then have to chuck on the heater for it to come down a bit to about 1/2 way. Then, sporadically it may go up and i'm back to having the heater running so it doesn't overheat.

Could it be just the thermostat? Since its happening pretty much everytime just after a cold start, its making me think it is, but would the thermo also spontaneously decide to shut again during normal runnings? maybe after its cooled to 1.2 way again.

And where is the thermostat, and how hard is it to change one... i know what they do, what they look like, but damned if I know where in my cooling system to find it 84 Diesel Rocky.

chuck up a photo of your engine bay and i could point it out to you. it is under that metal housing with the hose that comes from the radiator.

So i assume i take those three bolts off, and it will be there, just sitting? So i take it out and stick the new one in? Easy??

Yep. That's the right way.

Might also be an idea to remove the radiator and have it cleaned. Probably clogged up a bit.

Make sure your fan hub isn't buggered as well and bung on a new radiator cap as well.

How will/do i know if my fan hub's ok? Just see if its spinning or not? Its not making any unusuall noises
thanks heaps

Will go and get a thermo now, and price on cleaning the rad out too. anyone got a place to reccomend around windsor, riverstone, castle hill sorta area?

RockyF70 wrote:How will/do i know if my fan hub's ok? Just see if its spinning or not? Its not making any unusuall noises
thanks heaps

Will go and get a thermo now, and price on cleaning the rad out too. anyone got a place to reccomend around windsor, riverstone, castle hill sorta area?

Fan hub - in addition to what you have already said. Grab it and try to wiggle it from side to side up and down, etc. You will know if the bearing is shot.

Clean the radiator yourself; it's one of those jobs that if you haven't done it before it sounds intimidating but there is nothing to it. Drain, flush until the water becomes clear, fill, if your really keen run the engine with an agent (with the heater on) or even take the radiator out to flush, drain and flush from the other end (reverse flush), finally fill with coolant. N.B. make sure there is no air trapped in the system the last time

Thanks for the replies. I just went to a rad place to get a price on servicing it. While waiting for the guy to come and have a look i'm just looking over the enigne bay myself and actually had a good look at the radiator.... full of holes maybe 4 spots about 2 inches long that have no fins, and a few more with bits and pieces missing. Overall there's more bent/damaged/missing fins than there are good ones

So the guy priced $315 for a new, in the box 2 core. Or 350 for a recore using my tanks/side bands with hilux cores (slightly better),both supply only, $100 to fit dunnow what to pick

Radiators aren't hard to change just time consuming if your engine bay is a tight sqeeze buy new and fit yourself

agree, buy the new one a fit yourself..they dont take that long. Might be an idea to get all new radiator hoses while uve got them off if they are getting old. Oh and remember to get a new gasket for ur thermostat housing when u replace it..and check the thermostat is working at the right temp in a jug of boiling water first coz a dodgy one can have u stumped for hours if the car keeps heating up