Running Hot

Put it straight in the Trading Post while the roadworthy is still valid .

I used to fly planes in another life and a mechanic once told me - if it is in the green (or white) it is operating normally, only worry if if goes into the red.

Not sure about discos though..................

What would you do if it were your car ? as far as i know overheating is pretty much the same in all cars so one notch from the red is not normal, look for a leak or check the thermostat, flush it, reverse as well, could be a blocked radiator, head gasket or as simple as the wrong cap or a incorrect temp gauge.

or go here Landy forum

Baz.

Vitara,
Common fault unfortunately with these is overheating, best to get it fixed asap. Mine ran a bit over centre so I fitted a larger radiator in the end, could be any one of the faults mentioned. If it overheats / runs warm I would say that the person who had it before you could well of had the problem, fitted a radiator that didn't fix it got scared and sold it. Check the thermostat, make sure all the water pipe connections are clean and not corroded internally, mine where and this did improve circulation. get the coolest thermostat you can, 70 degrees I think is the coolest i could find. I also use a Royal Purple product called Purple Ice, this breaks down the surface tension in the water giving better heat transfer between the water and aluminium.
Despite other comments I have great fun in my Rangie, it's an 86 and I didn't pay an awful lot for it, yes it likes fuel and it hates water, and it on occasion leaks a bit of oil. Electrical problems come as part of the package. I like the ride and off road performance, these are a bit of an anasthetic for the other issues.
Hope this helps, my opinions and experiences as usual.

Range Rovers often have a similiar problem. However the guage is often the problem rather than the radiator. How do you find out? I guess you find a mechanic you trust and get him to check the sensor rather than whip out the radiator etc.

You say from a dealer yet NO warranty ? what state and what price ?/ dealers in Qld by law must give a minimum 1000k /1mth unless specificly stated otherwise as in an auction or wholesale .

Pull the radiator out and take it to a radiator shop and get them to do a high pressure flush or rod the cor out, then replace the thermostat, replace top and bottom hoses check the fan and water pump. Then refit radiator and new hoses+ new Thermostat put in a quality coolant mixed with Demineralized water and you should be good to go.

Also if you want fit a radiator filter to the top hose and this will catch any rubbish floating around the system.

If you cover all the bases at once then you will not get any surprises latter on.

All this will not cost much.

They also have leaking gaskets everywhere. The company calls this rust protection. These are the things that define Land Rovers. It puts them ahead of the competition. Just get used to it.

See You NT

I would start by replacing the temperature sender and thermostat.

If that gives you no joy, remove the radiator and clean. Make sure you also clean the air con condenser as mud gets trapped between it and the rad.
On reinstallation make sure all the air is bled out of the cooling system.

Cheers

John D

Hi Vitara
I'll stay away from the Landrover debate :-)
If my high school physics is correct, increasing the percentage of ethylene glycol in the system will not only raise the boiling point of the coolant, but will increase the specific heat of the coolant, allowing a larger quantity of heat to be transferred for a given temp increase.
good luck
Gerry

I'd replace everything around the coolant..
body
chassis
engine
running gear etc..

let's introduce a bit of science into the debate vitara - a radical concept on this site I know. You are talking about petrol versus diesel, modified Hilux vs unmodified Disco, and different drivers. Of course a good driver will go further than a bad driver - even if the latter has a more capable vehicle. Come to the Brindies some time, and if your Hilux can go further than my S1 Disco with no swaybars, 2-inch lift and MTRs, then I'll buy you a carton of Coopers...no other Hilux has been able to...

Not looking to ruffle feathers...just want to stick to facts...too many people come on this forum and use one example to demonstrate what they suggest is a universal undisputed fact - your mate's vehicle is probably poorly maintained/prepped and he's probably not the most experienced off-roader - not a fair comparison. I've taken a V8 rangie through deep water many times without drama - it's all about using a blind, possibly loosening fan belt and correct gear selection and a steady pace to maintain bow wave... if your mate did all these things and the Disco still let him down, then I would take your point - but I would hazard a guess that he didn't...

Thanks for that will give it a look up on the map.Have a good one Take Care Vitara