Radiator covering

[Angel]

I'm wondering if I need to do this - 82 240D, just doesnt warm up like it used to. Repalced the thermostat, burped the system, added the expansion tank from an '84 300D just for kicks =) do ya'll cover all or part of your radiator in the winter ?

sorry if this was recently discusses, I try to keep up around here...
-John

[Pete Burton]

System should come up to temperature quickly and stay there. Unless you are in Nome you probably don't need to consider a radiator cover.

[farmboyhull]

but if it's not, what should we look for?


david

[Diesel Giant]

You would have to make your own.

[whunter]

Originally Posted by Angel

I'm wondering if I need to do this - 82 240D, just doesn't warm up like it used to. Replaced the thermostat, burped the system, added the expansion tank from an '84 300D just for kicks =) do ya'll cover all or part of your radiator in the winter ?

sorry if this was recently discusses, I try to keep up around here...
-John

Is it possible your thermostat is in backward?

[MB-Owner-in-ind]

Originally Posted by Angel

I'm wondering if I need to do this - 82 240D, just doesnt warm up like it used to. Repalced the thermostat, burped the system, added the expansion tank from an '84 300D just for kicks =) do ya'll cover all or part of your radiator in the winter ?

sorry if this was recently discusses, I try to keep up around here...
-John

What temps does your temperature gauge say? Are you having trouble with the temps coming out of the vents but the engine temp is OK?

[Ara T.]

Make sure your temp guage is accurate and make sure your radiator cap (expansion tank cap?) is in good shape.

You shouldn't have to cover your radiator...the thermostat does the job of shutting off the rad. if it cools the engine too quickly/easily.

My guess is you have a leak past the thermostat or your engine temp sensor is very wrong.

I would suspect the latter...

[pawoSD]

I passed one of those flat-faced semi's today in Lansing MI and it had a huge piece of cardboard jammed up behind the grill....

Mine was runnin 83C all day long....I drove over 170 miles today mostly freeway (95% of it) and it never changed temps. It was around 24F out today, and is currently....

[Angel]

thats what befuddles me
its a 240D with the radiator (DUH ! I just remembered...) and expansion tank from an '84 300D.

DUH - that 300D radiator is probably more than the factory designed it for.... I'll finish the symptoms..

before the thermostat change - warmed up within 5miles of home (as my subjective 'the air coming out the vents is hot now'), 70mph commute =90C coolant temp pretty steady. Ambient temp outside is 40F (cincinnati a month ago)

After the thermostat change, takes 10 or 15 miles to warm up, 70mph commute = 105C coolant (fluxuates smoothly between 105C and 100C. Ambient temp is 20F (Cincinnati right now =)

I guess I need to do more work and less surfing -
1) Look up the factory burping procedure, for 240D's AND 300D's - make sure that is good (my new exp. tank has held coolant well, no coolant lost that I can see)

2) Check thermostat temp rating, and or buy a new one from a more reliable source

3) Get forum opinion - do ya'll think that the 5cyl turbo radiator is overcooling my NA 4cyl ? (I totally forgot that I had swapped mine out with a junkyard radiator about 3 months ago...all while dressed in work clothes in the parking lot of the junkyard =)

-John

[bennett]

My 81 240 d will not warm up as well. I now use a block heater to aid in starting.

I have....

clean radiator
blocked the radiator with cardboard and duct tape
new thermostat
new fluids
check temps with a infared heat gun

and I ahve decided it is just too small of motor to generate anything above 60C
at 70 mph and freeway driving.
Iam at 4500 ' elevation and anything below 20*f is too cold to generate any heat.
My timing is on and my IP adjusted properly. I will put her away until spring.. I don't think there is anything left you or I can do.


bennett

Strange, my 83 240D heats up to 80C within a few of minutes of driving regardless of ambient temperature, at 5000+ feet.

Uh guys...

Water does NOT (except for a tiny bit) flow through the radiator if the engine is cold.

The cooling capacity of the rad is irrelevant when it comes to keeping temps up. The thermostat will open/close appriopriately to keep the temp right where it should be.

Think of the radiator as a place to drain your heat...a bigger pipe to drain with doesn't mean you have a colder system when there is a control (thermostat) controlling how much gets "dumped in"

[Pete Burton]

Originally Posted by Angel

thats what befuddles me
its a 240D with the radiator (DUH ! I just remembered...) and expansion tank from an '84 300D.

DUH - that 300D radiator is probably more than the factory designed it for.... I'll finish the symptoms..

before the thermostat change - warmed up within 5miles of home (as my subjective 'the air coming out the vents is hot now'), 70mph commute =90C coolant temp pretty steady. Ambient temp outside is 40F (cincinnati a month ago)

After the thermostat change, takes 10 or 15 miles to warm up, 70mph commute = 105C coolant (fluxuates smoothly between 105C and 100C. Ambient temp is 20F (Cincinnati right now =)

I guess I need to do more work and less surfing -
1) Look up the factory burping procedure, for 240D's AND 300D's - make sure that is good (my new exp. tank has held coolant well, no coolant lost that I can see)

2) Check thermostat temp rating, and or buy a new one from a more reliable source

3) Get forum opinion - do ya'll think that the 5cyl turbo radiator is overcooling my NA 4cyl ? (I totally forgot that I had swapped mine out with a junkyard radiator about 3 months ago...all while dressed in work clothes in the parking lot of the junkyard =)

-John

may I suggest? - 4) Replace thermostat with a new Behr thermostat, oriented correctly.

Like I said..having too much cooling capacity is NOT going to affect anything if the thermostat is operating properly.

The thermostat will physically SHUT OFF the radiator if the engine is too cold...unless it is faulty...which I believe in the case here.