Pajero Owners Club of South Africa

So after the new head fitment I took Snoopy for a good run to see how it goes.

Firstly 2 weekends ago from Gauteng to Bloemfontein running solo but with all my normal crap on the roof. Engine felt good and no water was used during the trip. It was reasonably hot and the wind was pumping and I noticed that on long uphills at speed in excess of 110km/h that the heat gauge slowly starting creeping up to the red. Getting to the top or tapping off quickly let the needle return again to just below middle. I was glad that at least it did not use water as on my trip to Barberton where the head was in fact already cracked, and wrote it off to paranoia and hot side winds. At least it was my second trip where I got home on own steam!
Last weekend was the big test. I hooked up my Xplorer fully loaded, hell it was good to go camping again, I last did it in April, and headed to Nylstroom/Modimole. It was hot as hell and with the extra load I could clearly see the heat gauge slowly rising on anything but a flat road and towing around the 115km/h mark. Tapping off to around 110km/h ussualy got it back to normal again. It never cooked at least but this is not how I know it. On the big uphill past Menlyn on the way back I had to slow down to 50km/h to enable it to cool down sufficiently. I never in my 12 years of ownership ever had any overheating issues. Not even "jaging" through the Karoo at 130km/h and towing with a head wind! Don't ask!.
So it is off to AB again tomorrow. I hope it is a small issue like fan shroud or new viscous fan clutch as the engine seem nice and solid although smoking slightly on idle, maybe due to the blanked off EGR?, and also using a pint of oil every 1500kms or so? Might still be sttling in?Engine rebuilds are not for sissies!!
AB has so far been great in aftersales service but being about 1.5 hours drive from me makes it a schlep of note. They are however collecting again but I am using all my warantee mileage to go to the workshop and back!

CATS

Hi CATS,

Really sorry to hear that you are still battling with Snoopy.

I hope that it is just the viscous clutch for the fan.

Dusty has been showing similar symptoms (started long ago, then I topped up the original viscous and it seemed OK, only to start with temperature needle heading North again under load - like Barberton TitD - some months later).

I have just fitted a new OEM viscous because I dare not risk the alternative and am hoping this solves the matter.

Andrew

Thanks. I have my doubt on the viscous being the culprit. I believe that at speed the viscous should not be playing a role anymore. Viscous should only be issue at slow speed hard work like Barbeeton mountains. At speed I think only thermostat or waterpump to be at fault if one rules out the radiator which was replaced. Time will tell. Will keep this thread updated although it has become a long drawn out one.

CATS

Yo Cats. Strongs man. Your level headedness during all this is commendable.

Sent from my GT-I9305 using Forum Runner

RoelfleRoux wrote:Yo Cats. Strongs man. Your level headedness during all this is commendable.

Sent from my GT-I9305 using Forum Runner

Thanks Roelf - My wife believe it to be stubbornness though!

CATS

Cats,

I know it is a simple/stupid question to ask you but I shall do it: Is the foam rubber gasket around Snoopy's radiator in good nick? If not, look no further - that is then the problem. If it is 100%, then water pump, thermostat, pressure cap and hoses.

Dan alle simpatie met die soektog,

Cloyd

Cloyd. Those rubbers/foam are no more and I also mentioned this to the engine rebuilders. Before the rebuild I had a few of them left, on the sides and partially on the bottom IIRC, none on the top. Now after rebuild there is none. AB reckon they have seen plenty Pajero's with no foam and the cooling system still cope!? I left it to their higher knowledge to do fault finding but will also add those foam strips again when I get her back if they have not added it themselves.

By the way - not a stupid question at all! I hope it to be something as simple as that but somehow my brain wants to believe that the issue cant be that simply resolved
Maybe I should remember my old adage of not messing with those white coat Mitsu engineers! Surely if those sponges were not deemed important/necesarry Mitsu would not have put them there and saved a few Yen in the process! I think I will be on the phone first thing tomorrow with AB to fit those sponges. Your post have convinced me.

CATS

CATS,
I know that you don't think a viscous fan coupling makes a difference when the vehicle is travelling at highway speeds, but my bet is still on the viscous fan coupling.

Looking forward to the resolution and feedback.

smoky idle.....

Perhaps the turbo is on it's way out and not boosting enough creating an overfuel that raises heat a lot!

Engine rebuilds with modern cars are a tricky business. I rebuilt one engine but I had a hand in almost everything and it was a simple engine.

I wouldn't go that route again. If I ever have to get a ruined engine fixed, I would get a good sub assembly from a wreck and drop that in.

I really hope your issues get sorted so you can enjoy Snoopy for a little while longer while you save up some funds for that Gen4.

Christo,

IMHO, whatever caused the Snoop to destroy the original head has not been fixed!

The result(s) of some problem was fixed, but if you don't get to the bottom of this, the cycle WILL repeat itself.

It is time for a thorough cooling system check:

• Radiator
• Radiator cap
• Cowling
• Viscous clutch
• Thermostat
• Water pump
• Coolant (I recommend Caltex Extended Life)

Don't use it until this is resolved.