Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing ZETEC 1800 RUNS HOT (I think)

Good Morgan!

I have just come back from a tour of France/Italy which was a hot September drive, in a 2003 Morgan 4/4 with zetec 1800. Although I never had any trouble with the car, the cooling fan seemed to kick in all the time(and still does even in our lower temperatures). When I increased the cars speed gently from say 60 to 70 mph (yes I know that's a gut churning speed, but I live life on the edge!)the temperature rose from the steady middle of gauge upwards and back to the middle as I sensibly reduced speed down again! My question is, "is this engine cooling fan almost constant running normal"?

Many thanks in advance Mike N[/b]

Mike,
my previous car was a 94 4/4 Zetec and the fan only ran when really hot.
The car did seem to run hotter than my T16 engined plus four but not excessively hot.

John

It sounds like a (partially) blocked radiator. I saw exactly the same problem with a Suzuki Jimny recently which got gradually worse during the summer. A new radiator completely cured the problem. If you check the radiator for cold spots when the car is hot, that's asure sign of a blockage.

If it is blocked a good flush with a garden hose might work. It did on a Renault 5 I owned years ago.

Worth a try before you buy new.

MANY THANKS TO JOHN AND IVAN. THINK I'LL TRY THE CHEAPEST ROUTE 1ST!

My goodness you really do live life on the edge. The speed limit is 80 mph (130 kph) on the Italian Autostrada. Any less than that and you are likely to have a TIR (heavy international transport vehicle) pass right over the top of you .

To return to the question: My friend that has a 4/4 also complains about high radiator temperatures. You should probably check that the gauge is giving a correct reading before worrying too much. In a pressurised cooling system the temperature can rise to over 100 degrees C before there is need for concern.

Hi

my 2005 zetec blacktop engined 4/4 runs at almost exactly 100 deg on the gauge when hot. In UK summer the fan does run quite often, but not constantly even when going up N.Yorks hills, or at constant 70+ on motorways. I have not taken it to Italy or the Alps (but would like to).

Nigel

Just for comparison purposes, I'm running a 2.0 Zetec with two DCOE 40's and T9 transmisson with Quaife C/R gears in my 1961 4/4. I made a larger radiator in the racing Super Sports style . . . angled forward at the bottom to get extra length. with an electric fan mounted behind the radiator. BUT, the point is that with a 180 degree thermostat it never exceeds 175 as long as I'm moving a bit. I guess I have seen it hit 180 once or twice when the ambient temperature was in the 90's (yes, it can happen in the NW)and cruising 80 mph+ on the interstate. The fan comes on at 195 if I'm stopped in traffic for a long period of time and shuts off at 185. I know this isn't a direct comparison to the newer cars, but maybe it will help.

That's very cool running compared to mine- 180F is 82C, 195F (fan) is 90C. I suspect the rad must be a lot bigger.

Nigel

Nigel, The radiator I had fabricated measures 14.5 inches by 20.0 inches. I have a friend in the radiator busines and he said he used the latest technology (whatever that is!) for the core. I have the fan thermoswitch located in the bottom tank and the temperature sender in the thermostat housing at the rear of the head.


Robert