Pajero Owners Club of South Africa

What is the normal operating water temperature for my 2001 Gen3 3.5 SWB Pajero?
Dash gauge was very erratic so an aftermarket gauge was added. This shows temperatures in degrees. The gauge tends to hover around 80 - 90 and sometimes even above 90 degrees. Is that normal or is there a problem. What would the maximum temperature be without damaging my engine?

Am I just paranoid?

Hi Gordon

Where did you fit your temperature sender unit?

I have fitted an engine management module (see my other posts on fitting it) which amongst other things, montiors my coolant temp. I have fitted a VDO probe into an adaptor in my upper radiator hose, after the thermostat valve. Normal operating temp is anything around 85 (at which the thrermostat opens) and 95 (thermostat fully open) degrees. I have seen the temp go up to 104 degrees before. This was while pulling a 1.1 ton boat and being fully loaded up the steep road to the hugenot tunnel - from the paarl side on the N1 at 120kph in 4th gear. The temp gauge in my instrument cluster didnt even budge from half way...

So am not sure at what temp it would over heat, but that is what I have observed(so far).

a temp sensor after the thermostat is useless in my opinion.

If the thermostat gets stuck closed or halfway closed the residual heat may show the sensor that the engine is fine while it may be overheating.

A temp sensor should be mounted before the thermostat as per factory sensors.

Hi 4e

I agree, the manual for the module say the perfect position for the sensor is before the thermostat. I have yet to figure out how I will fit it there, as there are no unused bungs to fit it into, except from drilling and tapping a new 1/8" thread in the cast aluminium fitting- before the thermostat, preferably near the OEM sensor (which I want to leave in place to keep the dash gauge unit still working as it did).

Apart from the thermostat failing (which i would pick up on my dash), I still get a very good idea of what is happening in the engine temperature dept, it is merely a redundency in the system, if somewhat pooly positioned.

I have Gen2 3.5 blister fender. I installed an additional temp gauge as well, albeit not before the thermostat for the same reasons as stated above. The sensor is on the top hose after thermostat before radiator.

The OEM temp gauge operates in a "normal" range varying from low down to 115 degrees, before it starts to move upwards. To me, this range was just too much for my liking. Coming from Moz some time ago, going up Schoemanskloof with a fully loaded bush trailer, the additional temp gauge started to rise and the OEM stayed "normal", i.e. in the middle. I realised I had a problem but then also decided to check the OEM gauge when it would start to rise. On exactly 115 degrees on the additional gauge, the OEM gauge started to rise. I did not want to cause any damage, so I slowed down to get to cooler temperatures. But when it started to move upwards, it moved quick! Too quick for my liking though, so if your attention is not fully focused on the OEM gauge, you will get it into the red very quickly. There is just not enough "pre-warning" as with the additional gauge where the actual temerature is shown.

It was for this exact reason I decided to install the additional gauge, and it saved me already! A thorough cleaning of the cooling system and recore of the radiator solved the problem. I also compared the gauge readings' accuracy with the electronic probe from Silverton Radiators,and it was showing exactly the same temperatures, so I am confident that the gauge is pretty well calibrated. Two trips up Schoemanskllof afterwards and no heating problem at all and the additonal gauge varying between 80 and 100 dgerees, but mostly settling on 85 to 90 degrees.

I also fitted an oil pressure gauge, as the red warning lamp comes on way too late and after the damage has about been done already! For the same token I fitted an amp meter as well, and I can tell you that to actually watch the temparature and pressure gauges go up and down gives me much more comfort because they give long ample warning of what is happening in the engine.

Al three gauges fitted in very nicely below the little box below the radio. I'll take some pics and post it here if you want.