General Scudo Cooling Question!

[dkw]

HI all this is my first post here, sorry it's such a long winded one!

I have just bought a 2003 2.0jtd Scudo, it's a fantastic van that i'm chuffed to bits with but the cooling system is doing my head in!

I have to top up the coolant on a daily basis as the low level warning light keeps coming on. when I open the cap on the header tank the system is pressurised even when completely cold and as the pressure is released the water comes back into the bottle from somewhere in the system.

I fitted a new thermostat and filled the system up and bled it from the stat housing, all seemed sorted and it didn't pressurise for about a day but ever since then it's been back to it's former state.

The temp guage sits at around 75 when up to temp and the fan cuts in as it should.

There is no sign of any water in the engine oil and no signs of water from the exhaust, and the van runs so well and doesn't seem to be suffering for this but I would like to get to the bottom of the problem as the level light is doing my head in!

Can anyone give any advice?

Many thanks in advance.

 

[cabbie doc]

Just Off To The Left There Is A Waterhose With A Small Plastic Pipe Conecting Into Another Larger Waterhose, Pasenger Side Of The Water Filler Expansion Bottle,, This Little Bugger May Have A Hair Line Crack And Is Only Visable When At Normal Running Temp,, Have Encounterd The Same Problem

 

[NBMike]

all this is my first post here, sorry it's such a long winded one!

I have just bought a 2003 2.0jtd Scudo, it's a fantastic van that i'm chuffed to bits with but the cooling system is doing my head in!

I have to top up the coolant on a daily basis as the low level warning light keeps coming on. when I open the cap on the header tank the system is pressurised even when completely cold and as the pressure is released the water comes back into the bottle from somewhere in the system.

I fitted a new thermostat and filled the system up and bled it from the stat housing, all seemed sorted and it didn't pressurise for about a day but ever since then it's been back to it's former state.

The temp guage sits at around 75 when up to temp and the fan cuts in as it should.

There is no sign of any water in the engine oil and no signs of water from the exhaust, and the van runs so well and doesn't seem to be suffering for this but I would like to get to the bottom of the problem as the level light is doing my head in!

Can anyone give any advice?

Many thanks in advance.

Hi DKW ( I used to have a DKW motorbike many years ago
I too have just got a Scudo. A 1.9 turbo diesel and I have exactly the same symptons you had back in July. Did you solve the problem. My temp hovers from 75 to 90 but I haven't seen the fan cut in yet although, sometimes when driving the temp drops rapidly so the fan may be running then. I have order a temp sender to make sure the fans cut in when required and also a rad cap incase its just that thats letting by when under pressure. My local diesel expert suggests head gasket and a very expensive top end rebuild but I want to try everything else first
Hope you may be able to help
Mike

 

[T14086]

I let a new scudo van idle recently until the fan cut in.....30mins after my lunch it still hadn't started

Have you had car checked for head gasket failure yet? Its it performing ok,using alot of water etc?

 

[NBMike]

I let a new scudo van idle recently until the fan cut in.....30mins after my lunch it still hadn't started

Have you had car checked for head gasket failure yet? Its it performing ok,using alot of water etc?

Like DKW I have to put about a pint of water in every morning. I drive a lot in London traffic but it doesn't seem to go much above early 90 degrees, usually about 75-80 deg. I'm going to get head gasket checked tomorrow. It seems to drive okay if a little smoky first thing after starting and if I accelerate hard.
I've only had it for a week littlewuff but I'm getting about 32mpg on mostly town driving so yours seems a bit excessive.
I'll post the results of head gasket test tomorrow.

 

[NBMike]

Okay so I took the van to Diesel services in Uxbridge who tested the head. Either the head has a crack or the head gasket is gone!
After I stopped crying I looked on The interweb for another engine.
Found one in Gloucester and its being removed from a crash damaged van (Rear and side) today and hopefully will be shipped to me by Friday. So guess what I'll be doing this weekend! Its done 57K miles and has 3 month warranty so hopefully will do for a few years to come.

 

[guitarman]

Hi DKW we got same problem with our JTD did you manage to fix?

 

[T14086]

Reckon so..he's not been back on forum for 18months