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[Pitchfork]

I have a '96 TD GLS Estate Auto with 122K miles on clock. I have had it for past 39 months & it has proved a reliable work-horse. As a semi-pro musician it gets used to haul heavy PA equipment around the country as well as everyday use to & from work
Of late I have noticed that the temperature reaches an alarming 100C when pulling up long inclines on motorways, it then cools off when more flat or downhill conditions are encountered
I have been told that the viscous fan coupling (or fan clutch) is at fault. The cost from Vauxhall is frightening, but since the motor is shared with BMWs & Range-Rover P38s, would a unit from either of these be suitable as they appear considerably cheaper, or could there be other reasons for the overheating?
BTW The water pump is working, you can see this with the coolant reservoir lid off so can this be discounted as a possible cause?
Ian

[TheBoy]

The pump does have a habit of one or more fins detaching on the TDs. May be reducing effeciency of cooling system?

[Taxi_Driver]

Maybe it just needs a good flushing?

Whats the colour of the water?

Should be nice and clear with a either a blue or orange tint

[Pitchfork]

Coolant is clean

[Rob.]

The radiator is your problem.....

I had all the same symptoms, I flushed the system out then changed the water pump & thermostat each time flushing the system and no change in the end I bite the bullet and shelled out £175 for a radiator and it runs sweet as a nut now.

Sorry for the expence but I hope this helps.

Rob.

[Omegatoy]

The radiator is your problem.....

I had all the same symptoms, I flushed the system out then changed the water pump & thermostat each time flushing the system and no change in the end I bite the bullet and shelled out £175 for a radiator and it runs sweet as a nut now.

Sorry for the expence but I hope this helps.

Rob.

Agree totally the waterways are very small in the rad and after a 100k  or so they are reduced by aboout half!!! I have the same symptons here in spain and have a rad awaiting me at home!!!Then good news is it doesent hurt it at all as long as it cools down when over the hill or incline,if its fine on the straights then dont worry too much yet but look aroundfor one now!
Omegatoy

[Pitchfork]

Thanks for the differing opinions
Seems to me that there is no finite cause & I could end up trying every potential solution at increasing cost
Curious that all of that flushing failed to clear the problem if indeed the cause is a furred up radiator, there must be an additive that would clear it
My original question concerned whether the viscous fan from a BMW or a Range Rover would fit the Omega - does anyone know the answer or will this too turn out to have as many opinions?

[Rob.]

As far as I'm aware the viscous fan is the same, you can check the fan by removing the plastic trim panel above the radiator and try stoping the fan!!!!!!!!!!!! this isn't as bad as it sounds providing you do it sensibly, make sure you are wearing a welding gauntlet or similar type of gardening glove, if you get no resistance from the fan it needs replacing but I still think your going to end up shelling out for a new radiator. I'm sure there will be some one who lives close to you who has a trade club card you can use to lighten the cost.

[Marks DTM Calib]

I would go one step further to prove if its the fan coupling first.

Normally these setups have a set of screw threads into which you can insert some bolts to lock the coupling, alternatively a self tapper in the correct position would do a similar job. If this fixes it you know what to replace.

Incidentaly, this will not make the engine run cool if the stat is working correctly and will have very minimal effects on the consumption.....

[Eliteman Steve]

Sound like Mark's come up with a cheap solution for a hard up musician

[RonaldMcBurger]

If it does turn out to be the radiator, I have an Omega 2.5TD Diesel Auto radiator sitting here waiting for someone to buy it one day.

[Pitchfork]

Replaced the viscous coupling from a Breakers & no longer overheating
BTW, locking the coupling solid as was suggested not possible
If anyone is interested the coupling is marked:
BMW logo
11.52-2 245 498
65.3611.00.000
BEHR
67.0.10.00.000
11.52-2 244 497

Ian

[Darryl Flynn]

I also thought that the water pump was a known weakness on these motors . May well be worth checking to see if it has started to break up inside the housing.