engine temp rising when idling in traffic

[sleepwalker]

Hi all,

After some advice.

We recently had a new radiator and hose fitted at a Bongo friendly garage. The hose is the one that goes over the starter motor seen from underneath on the drivers side. Radiator is pattern model from the Bongo shop. On the first motorway journey since the work was completed the engine seemed to be running hotter than normal and then when stationary in traffic the temp gauge rose to well over three quarters (we have a mason alarm fitted but the alarm did not go off.

So just after some suggesitons on possible root cause. I can bleed it over the weekend but wondering if I'm on the right track with doing that (can do it anyway just in case). could the Thermostat but busted....or maybe the fans are not coming on and cooling effectively. I was not travelling in the vehicle at the time so cant comment if the fans came on or not but basically my other half said evey time she was in stationary traffic the temp gauge was on the rise.

Any thoughts please?

thanks

[g8dhe]

The Mason alarm makes the temp gauge read more linearly so I would expect it to show quite a bit of movement, ours has the resistor mod. done to it and so a lot of movement of the gauge is common.

[wonkanoby]

feel bottom hose to rad after getting it hot

to see if stats opening

[Simon Jones]

Did the garage flush the system & refill with fresh coolant of the appropriate strength? Was it a warm day when you first took it for a run? The gauge will go up when stationary until fans kick in so that in itself is quite normal.

[sleepwalker]

thanks all for inputs so far. yes garage put in fresh coolant and did a bleed although of course i wasnt there at the time. I dont know what method they use but I have had hoses fixed there before and not had any problems post the work. My friend has also had a Bongo rad replced there so they are very Bongo friendly. The reason for my post as much as anything is because we have had the Mason alarm in for years and I have never before noticed it rising in stationary traffic until now (post new rad being installed)...only on long or steep hills or when i put my foot down for a rare overtake does it noticably rise

I think I will run through a bleed via the traditional 'you tube' method this weekend just to be sure and I have booked it in with them again on Tuesday for a check up.

Any more comments welcome

[Northern Bongolow]

in my opinion it sounds like they havnt bled it thoroughly.
your gut it feeling is telling you the truth, listen to it. any air let into the system while changing this hose may go straight to the head, or front heater, or trap in the rear heater.
DO BOTH BACK AND FRONT HEATER WORK WELL WHEN ON HOT.
the rise in noticeable temps is because the temp sender is in the front of the head, this is because there is poor flow, possibly caused by an airlock.