OK Gents, cooling system problems, an engine temps can be a long, lengthy subject to contemplate, time is short now, but will put it on the long list of things to do, later will go over some details with you,, but for now, let me say, there are more than 30 problems that can cause improper engine temps.
Notice I said improper, not necessarily overheating, running too cool can be almost as destructive as overheating, cause long term an short term problems too..
During especially the 1970s an 80s, those 160 degree F thermostats got a lot of people into trouble, if an engine ran hot, they seemed to think that a lower temp thermostat would do the trick, an threw parts at the problem, often creating even more problems. Many a good engine went for scrap iron far too early in its service life.
Parts men were to blame for that often, sell the guy something, get his money an get him out the door. So thermostats were sold often that were not only unneeded but often the wrong one, then the other way, take the thermostat out of the engine, an that created lots of problems too.
Engines need good, working thermostats to maintain proper temps, an too warm up at a proper rate. Engines can overheat from coolant moving too quickly from the engine to the radiator, depends on the design of the system. More good engines to the scrap pile far too early.
Engine oil temps can be critical, in both liquid an air cooled engines,, I always wished the during my career, I had more experience with larger air cooled engines, an some air-cooled Diesels like the Duetz.
Always keep in mind that engine oil does four things, all are critical to engine life an performance. It has to cool, clean, lube an basically keep moving parts from excessive metal to metal contact, such as bearings an pivot points, some engines have more than 60 different pivot points also.
Round engines such as Pratt an Whitney, always impressed me, but I had very little experience with any of them, but I did play with a radial aircraft engine, converted to Diesel for Army tanks during WWII, for North Africa, an never used much during the war, so many were sold surplus during the 50, 60s. Deltic Diesels, IE English, are pretty cool too, I call them expensive rocks.
I did get a bit of experience with air-cooled flat or pancake opposed cylinder engines, such as small aircraft, Chevy Corvair an VW bug engines over the years, especially during my years owning a company building airboats, basically for duck hunters in the swamps near my home, East of Houston..
One thing, to always remember, when a problem arises with any car problem, cooling or what ever, always fix the cause of the problem, not just fixing the problem itself, if you leave the cause unrepaired, the problem will return an bit you in your wallet.
Ok,, a simple example, a belt pulley is loose, the retaining bolts are loose, an the pulley wobbles, thus ruining a belt, an likely ruining the pulley too,,, you throw on a new belt, the pulley is still loose, an the new belt has a short life span, an you are back to the problem pretty quick.
Other systems, seemingly unrelated to engine temps, can cause overheats also, such a ignition timing, or improper control of timing, worn timing components, on both Diesel an gas engines. Worn timing chain or gear can cause cooling problems, use the basic rule tho, inspect, test, look visually at the simple things first, an go from there.
Learn about worn parts, what to look for, clean old parts with spray brake cleaner, use a good light, so you can visually see the engine parts, to properly inspect them.
Know what a worn belt looks like, how does that type of belt actually work ?? How is it riding in the pulley,, is the top of the V belt below the outside edge of the pulley, if so, its worn out, is the bottom edge of the V belt shiny, if so, its worn out or stretched, an slipping. Learn how to properly tighten a belt, don't just tighten the hell out of it, that can cause problems too.
I have seen a cracked or even wet distributor cap cause an engine to overheat. Bad sparkplug wires, fuel line problems on Diesels, fuel delivery problems can cause overheating, an lets not forget overloading an engine.
Engine cooling can be a complex subject, an sometimes difficult to troubleshoot, thus expensive to repair property an get the vehicle back on the road with dependable service.
Our Mercedes Diesel cars are excellent vehicles, even now days, but there are many things we can do to increase the service life of these cars.
Lets not forget those air intake hoses on the turbo models too, a loose or cracked hose has totally destroyed many an otherwise outstanding engine. Remember water does not compress. Keep rain water out of those Diesel engine cylinders.
Have a great day,
Doug
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