Technical Multipla doesn't like towing

[BootyBandit]

Anyone any ideas on why my multipla's engine heats up loads whilst towing ?

Thermometer gauges (digital) normally runs on 3 or maybe 4 bars (usually 4 bars), when towing my small caravan (running at 60mph) it's up to 5, if I hit a long hill, it's up to 6 bars... only one more bar left!

Got the caravan home and it's a bit of pain to get it in the drive so lots of stopping, starting, reversing, going forward... A little bit of smoke came out from under the bonnet (Still on 6 bars) but it's been fine since driving normally without towing.

Anyone any ideas ? What does everybody else's temp gauge normally read at ?

Toyed with the idea of changing the rad as it leaking, or at least was at one point, it's the same rad that been in since day 1 over 8 years ago

 

[JTDman]

Change it , they are not expensive and an easy job to do.
If your rad is leaking then your prob topping it up all the time then over diluted your antifreeze which helps cooling in the summer too.

 

[BootyBandit]

Bizarrely enough I'm not, never filled since I've had it although you can tell from the metalwork and the state of it that it has been leaking at some point. It's topper's with coolant so that seems fine, is it worth checking for airlocks ? I seen another thread about that

 

[JTDman]

Mine was like yours for 2 years until last week and it went 2 days before a planned 200 mile trip, sods law id change it mate.