Isuzu Trooper Owners Club UK™

paul chaplin · * Joined: 11 Aug 2006 Posts: 15 Location: Swindon

Hi folks

I have just returned from a caravan holiday in France yesterday but not happy with car.
She always runs hot anyway about 3/4 up the gauge, took viscouse fan off about a month ago and fitted twin elec fans from v6 mondeo, still ran hot fans cut in at 95c and out at 85c.
rad feels hot all over, also it only takes just over a mile to reach 3/4, i removed the thermostat and ran it without, still got hot only it took longer to reach 3/4

While towing up hills in France temp went onto Hot, had to pull over and let fans cool her down again.
Any ideas? i feel like getting rid

Paul
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1996 Trooper 3.1td citation

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markymoan · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 16:46 Post subject:

I would say the inside of the rad is clogged up, they are pretty well known for it.
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paul chaplin · * Joined: 11 Aug 2006 Posts: 15 Location: Swindon

mark

The rad feels hot all over
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1996 Trooper 3.1td citation

Philp · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 17:52 Post subject:

Have you got spotlights on the front obstructing airflow to the rad? A friend with a disco has to take his off when he goes abroad. Has it got the right strength coolant rather than just plain water in it as water on its own is not the best coolant known to man. It could still be a clogged rad as eventually it will get hot all over just from heat conducting around the rad. I wouldn't run it without the t-stat as it can actually make things worse and will certainly take longer to heat up in the morning. I guess it could also be a waterpump on the way out. If you're happy the fans are pulling enough air and the fan t-stat is right then there has to be something more fundamental wrong as above. You could try an additive like water wetter thats supposed to be great at dropping engine temps.

I drove my 98 3.1td Trooper 900 miles in 24 hours towing a 6 x 4 Ifor williams trailer with a box top loaded with a fair amount of weight, the back full and a roof box on top at autoroute speeds down to south west France in July and it was fine. My MK1 has done the same drive countles times without overheating.
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Phil

96 or is it a 98 Isuzu Bighorn Lotus

paul chaplin · * Joined: 11 Aug 2006 Posts: 15 Location: Swindon

Phil
Is it easy for me to clean it out or does it have to go to a rad specialist
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1996 Trooper 3.1td citation

:::Matski::: · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 18:17 Post subject:

You could try back flushing, then running with some cleaner in.

If it looks dodgy you can get them re-cored (new core keep the top and bottom caps) for £100ish It's good piece of mind as a blocked red can ruin an engine.

paul chaplin · * Joined: 11 Aug 2006 Posts: 15 Location: Swindon

Thanks guys

I will take rad out tomorrow and put the hose through it.
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1996 Trooper 3.1td citation

Philp · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 19:10 Post subject:

Yep, flush it from the top hose and bottom hose, like mark said, stick some rad flush in first and drive it around as per the instructions to loosen any silt. At the same time whip the t-stat out and back flush the engine again from the top and bottom hoses until it runs nice and clean. Afterwards fill it up with fresh clean coolant to the appropriuate strength. Like I say I'd also consider an additive like water wetter, and also clean out the outside of the rad carefully with a pressure washer. If its been used off road mud can block the fins stopping airflow. Put a new stat in as they're only a couple of quid and good insurance.
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Phil

96 or is it a 98 Isuzu Bighorn Lotus

markymoan · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 20:34 Post subject:

paul chaplin · * Joined: 11 Aug 2006 Posts: 15 Location: Swindon

Hi
I have never heard of this "water wetter" where can i get some :?:
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1996 Trooper 3.1td citation

Philp · Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 9:30 Post subject:

This is frosts version http://www.frost.co.uk/item_Detail.asp?productID=9007&frostProductName=Stay-Cool%20(1%20Litre)&catID=23&frostCat=Oils%20and%20Additives&frostSubCat=Additives&subCatID=41

water wetter http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/products/ProductDetail.asp?cls=ROAD&pcode=RED80204
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Phil

96 or is it a 98 Isuzu Bighorn Lotus

paul chaplin · * Joined: 11 Aug 2006 Posts: 15 Location: Swindon

Hi again chaps

Flushed coolant system today with Wynns, took rad out to jet wash fins, rad seemed very heavey even when empty. I recon its blocked solid however when i flushed it the water was very clean even at the start. The last time i lifted up a new rad it was very lite. What do you guys think?
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1996 Trooper 3.1td citation

:::Matski::: · Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 22:15 Post subject:

Blocked.

eithan h · Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 22:32 Post subject:

a totally unscientific way to test that seems to work is put a running hose in the top hose inlet and if it is clear it will only come out the bottom hose outlet, if however it backs up and comes out the top hose inlet as well it's blocked

Tourist · *** Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 136 Location: Malaysia