r/Defender

Good morning,

I have the following problem on my Defender 90 300tdi. My gauge is currently showing 100 degrees Celsius even after only a short drive of about 5 km, and if I drive a bit more "sporty " it quickly reaches 110 degrees.

The gauge isn't original, but it came with its own compatible sensor. When the gauge shows this temperature, I measure 90-95 degrees Celsius at the sensor with a laser thermometer,

but the upper radiator hose only reads 65-70 degrees Celsius, and the lower one is in the 50s. The engine has been completely rebuilt, including the water pump, hoses, radiator, etc.

The thermostat has been in for about 6 months without any problems, and I reused it when I rebuilt the engine 3 months ago.

The strange thing is, sometimes it stays perfectly at 90 degrees without overshooting, and sometimes it does.

Hope someone has an Idee.

Hey team!
My family and I are going to be doing the North Coast 500 soon round Scotland in our beautiful 2009 Defender Puma, Lara.
Trip of a lifetime.
Well that’s assuming both catastrophic happens between now and then…..
I’ve had it fully serviced.
New brakes. (Pads and callipers)
New fluids. (Oil, transmission fluid, transfer case oil, axle/diff oil)
New rear half shafts and flanges.
New wheel bearing kit
New all sorts in prep but with a couple of weeks to go I have a horrible new noise.

I would LOVE anyone’s advice to help track down and rectify this. She’s going into the garage for a dripping power steering box and that’s my opportunity to have them fix whatever is making this noise too.
Could it be the prop shaft?
The weird thing is how intermittent it is. Did this for 10 mins today out of a 40 minute drive.
I can’t seem to replicate it. Bump road. Not bumpy road. Under power. Not. Any gear. Slow. Fast.