Engin's running too cold?

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Originally Posted by mudnut

Just boil some water with the unit in it and watch it open, then close when you take it out. It just lets you know it won't get stuck as you can't pressurise the water to get the temp above 100 degrees.

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If I understood you correctly, a pressurized test may be necessary to be conclusive?!

I have a pressure cooker, but I can't see what happens inside.
I guess, I can let the pressure vent quickly( and safely ) and see whether the thermostat stays stuck open afterwards?!

Wouldn't the thermostat be fully open before 100c anyway? As such you won't need it to be pressurized to see it's full range of movement and where it gets stuck.

Edit: looking online, rb30 thermostats open at 76.5. I can't find what temp they are fully open. Highest I've seen on my gauge is 84, which was towing a trailer up a long hill on a 43c day, at which point the clutch fan kicked in and brought it back down. It normally sits between 78-80 unless she's copping a flogging, then she goes to 82c.

Yep. Dom, please don't get too technical. It is just to see that the mechanism moves freely. After I got stuck on the side of a highway with a boiling engine, I test the thermostats to see if they open. I'm sorry I mentioned the pressure.

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Originally Posted by mudnut

Yep. Dom, please don't get too technical. It is just to see that the mechanism moves freely. After I got stuck on the side of a highway with a boiling engine, I test the thermostats to see if they open. I'm sorry I mentioned the pressure.

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Ok, cool. I've never seen how exactly the thermostat performs it's task. I presumed it opens up incrementally to control the temperature.
So, I thought other than getting stuck open, they can go faulty other ways as well.
Of course, I should do the boiling water test before getting into any more details.

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Originally Posted by Throbbinhood

Wouldn't the thermostat be fully open before 100c anyway? As such you won't need it to be pressurized to see it's full range of movement and where it gets stuck.

Edit: looking online, rb30 thermostats open at 76.5. I can't find what temp they are fully open. Highest I've seen on my gauge is 84, which was towing a trailer up a long hill on a 43c day, at which point the clutch fan kicked in and brought it back down. It normally sits between 78-80 unless she's copping a flogging, then she goes to 82c.

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Thanx for posting the above info mate.

Do you have an aftermarket temp gauge fitted?
Shouldn't the "healthy" temperature be bit higher than 84?
I've been thinking all this time it should be around 90 degrees or so.

Another question popped into my head is that I haven't been aware the fan clutch is a temperature controlled type.

Can you please confirm it mate?

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Originally Posted by dom14

Thanx for posting the above info mate.

Do you have an aftermarket temp gauge fitted?
Sure do. I've never trusted the stock ones in any of my fourbies. They're just too lazy, often by the time they start reading hot, your already well over 100c. My old hilux once got to 130c on my aftermarket gauge, the dash gauge only showed 3/4.

Shouldn't the "healthy" temperature be bit higher than 84?
I've been thinking all this time it should be around 90 degrees or so.
Not too sure, but it's the right thermostat for the motor. As long as your using the recommended oils it shouldn't be an issue. Newer motors often run at higher temps. I for one am happy it runs so cool anyway.

Another question popped into my head is that I haven't been aware the fan clutch is a temperature controlled type.
Yeah they are temperature controlled. There is a bimetal spring type thing on the fan. Not sure how exactly it works, but when this heats up it causes the clutch fan to start locking up. So after a good flogging mine will come on for 30 seconds to a minute depending on how hard she's copped it and how hot it is, once it cools down the clutch goes back to slipping and it slows down and goes quiet.

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Originally Posted by mudnut

Yep. Dom, please don't get too technical. It is just to see that the mechanism moves freely. After I got stuck on the side of a highway with a boiling engine, I test the thermostats to see if they open. I'm sorry I mentioned the pressure.

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Dont be sorry. I'm glad you mentioned it. We need to understand these things properly, so we know what we are doing, as we are not professionals in this field.
How the pressurized system works, as opposed to nonpressurized cooling system is pretty interesting.
I'm hearing the idea that we need to replace the thermostat more frequently than we do. Mine hasn't been touched for nearly four years.