Very Hot Floorboards!!

[pajerry]

Hi there,

Today I bought a '94 Pajero 2.8 SWB with an automatic and while taking it on my first highway assault from vancouver to kelowna, I noticed some serious heat comming from the floorboards and around the tranny. At first I thought it might be due to a bad or missing heat shield from teh catalitic converter or something similar since the A/T Temp light wasn't comming on at all, but its not only on the drivers side, but the passenger, and even the back in teh trunk compartment. Its almost like the whole drivetrain is running hot.

The heat was so intense that even the gear indicator under the shifter was almost too hot to touch, and I swear the moisture from the recent carpet cleaning was almost steaming.. This cannot be normal? How hot can I expect after a 1500m+ accent pushing no slower than 110km/hr?

Im pretty worried, so any advice would be appeciated before I have to drive back to teh mainland (more downhill at least!)

Thanks.

[delicat]

Hi,

I don't know where you got your truck from, was it fully serviced? It sure doesn't sound normal. I hope you didn't have it engaged in 4x4, that could explain the extra work and resulting heat...

I'd call whomever you bought it from and confirm what service was done if any. Good luck

[jessef]

Hi there,

Today I bought a '94 Pajero 2.8 SWB with an automatic and while taking it on my first highway assault from vancouver to kelowna, I noticed some serious heat comming from the floorboards and around the tranny. At first I thought it might be due to a bad or missing heat shield from teh catalitic converter or something similar since the A/T Temp light wasn't comming on at all, but its not only on the drivers side, but the passenger, and even the back in teh trunk compartment. Its almost like the whole drivetrain is running hot.

The heat was so intense that even the gear indicator under the shifter was almost too hot to touch, and I swear the moisture from the recent carpet cleaning was almost steaming.. This cannot be normal? How hot can I expect after a 1500m+ accent pushing no slower than 110km/hr?

Im pretty worried, so any advice would be appeciated before I have to drive back to teh mainland (more downhill at least!)

Thanks.

x2

Sounds like something binding down there. If the 4wd is engaged, then that would cause some serious heat.

Definintely not normal. Get it looked at asap.

FYI : Pajero is the same vehicle as the North American Montero.

[pajerry]

Im aware that it being in 4 would cause the extra heat, but it wasnt.

I bought the vehicle from a local dealer and was fully serviced with fresh tranny fluid the same day. They have a team of mechanics and seem to sell clean product, so Im not going to jump to conclusions just yet. I'll also leave their name out for now.

Im bringing it in right now and I'll give you guys some updates.

I'd still appreciate any other thoughts, tips etc.


Thanks guys.

[Mephisto]

How does it shift? Are the rpms getting quite high before it shifts? Just wondering if perhaps the torque converter has seen better days, that mixed with a faulty tranny temp light could explain your scary temps, also do you feel the torque converter lock up in overdrive? I don't know the 2.8, but, you can feel my 2.5 pajero lock up around 75-80 km/h, depending on load of course. Something is definitely wrong, you probably want to drive as little as possible, and when you do take it easy on it until it is thoroughly checked out. With those temps it sounds like your tranny could be close to serious failure if those temps are sustained, of course that is if it is your tranny. With new fluid in there it is harder to pinpoint, it's doubtfull it would be burnt badly that quickly, but check the fluid, what colour is it, does it smell burnt? Perhaps your exhaust is clogged as well, but that's somewhat doubtful, it would probably barely run if it was clogged to that point. Usually rodent nests blow out rather quickly, chunks of rust might not though, although if your truck was working hard from some other reason your EGTs could have been extremely high. It's hard to say without seeng the truck and symptoms in person. Just throwing some more possibilities out there.

[Mephisto]

I just drove the coq in my pajero and I thought of your post, for some reason I didn't notice you said no slower than 110KM/hr until I was actually driving it, lol. I hope you don't mean up the big hills. If you pulled 110 up the main toll booth hill your truck would be roasting hot, my truck could do it but I slowed to 85km/hr to keep my EGTs below 1200* and I have a big front mount intercooler and 3" exhaust. With a turbo diesel when your EGTs get high you lose efficiency= higher EGTs and you transfer more heat through your turbo to the incoming air= higher EGTs. So when you go beyond a certain point your EGTs skyrocket and to make matters worse, you don't go any faster. I suggest you get a pyrometer/EGT (Exhaust Gas Temperature) gauge and keep an eye on your temps while driving up big hills. These engines are not powerhouses like a cummins, you need to drive accordingly. Although mine really liked 160-170 down the hills, lol, gets a little creepy going that fast on 35" tires.

[pajerry]

Yeah, I wouldnt push it that hard up the hills, and even rarely on the flats or slight climbs when Im running it for hrs at a time.

I am on another roadtrip to Calgary this time, and since the weather hasnt been as balmy, it has been running at seemingly normal temps. I will forsure get a good pyrometer and install it when I return.

I also was doing more reading on the forum and decided that Im probably not keeping the revs high enough on climbs either, or do you think that it would only cool the engine more effectively but send the EGT's though the roof?


Would upgrading the exaust system in the next year be a good idea since it is purely a hwy/bush buggy?

[delicat]

I also was doing more reading on the forum and decided that Im probably not keeping the revs high enough on climbs either, or do you think that it would only cool the engine more effectively but send the EGT's though the roof?

If you lug your engine (not high enough rpm) your clutch activated fan doesn't run fast enough to properly cool your engine. So it's better to rev it higher while climbing. Doing so will also lower your egt as long as you don't over do it. I have no problem bringing the revs to 3500rpm on long hills. I gear down when my pyro tells me to...

[Modsqwad]

I also was doing more reading on the forum and decided that Im probably not keeping the revs high enough on climbs either, or do you think that it would only cool the engine more effectively but send the EGT's though the roof?

If you lug your engine (not high enough rpm) your clutch activated fan doesn't run fast enough to properly cool your engine. So it's better to rev it higher while climbing. Doing so will also lower your egt as long as you don't over do it. I have no problem bringing the revs to 3500rpm on long hills. I gear down when my pyro tells me to...

Ok gang seeing as I am leaving on Monday for my first transit to BC in Summer (sonoran, mojave deserts) I want to confirm the general opinion as I don't have a pyrometer or boost gauge. I have to date tried to maintain a maximum of 3000 rpm even after
downshifting. I will pay a speed penalty in order to save the motor long periods of high rpm running. What you are saying is that
EGT's will climb on long grades even at lower throttle settings at 3000 rpm. So should I be pushing this thing harder rather than
backing off? The temp gauge in this van has never gone past 3/4 and I am going to bypass the main condenser fan relay to gain
the extra cooling (shut ac down on long grades). If I could get some feedback I will put it into play on this trip and see what I get.
Thanks. Andy Wilson
Sayulita Nay.Mx.

[jessef]

What you are saying is that EGT's will climb on long grades even at lower throttle settings at 3000 rpm. So should I be pushing this thing harder rather than backing off? The temp gauge in this van has never gone past 3/4 and I am going to bypass the main condenser fan relay to gain the extra cooling (shut ac down on long grades). If I could get some feedback I will put it into play on this trip and see what I get.
Thanks. Andy Wilson
Sayulita Nay.Mx.

Using the stock temp gauge as an indicator for when to back off the throttle is far from accurate as you may melt the turbo before the stock temp gauge even hits 3/4. It's not dead accurate, may vary from one Delica to another, thermostat or sensor may be old, etc...

The stock temp gauge IMO is a last resort.

Without a pyrometer/EGT gauge, it's impossible to tell what the engine is doing for temps.

The best long-term solution is to either yourself or get a shop to install a pyro gauge for you. At most, I can't see it costing more than $300 for a shop purchase & install, especially if they just blank off the EGR and tap the new plate with the probe.

I believe these gauges should be factory installed with a small manual explaining the readings and 'in case of'.

Mandatory : Pyrometer (EGT Exhaust Gas Temperature)

Useful when combined with pyro : Boost gauge

Backup in case the wire sensor gets old, brittle or rips off (like mine did) : Oil pressure sensor

At the very least, all Delica's should be running a pyro gauge in my opinion.

Honestly, you would be very surprised at the temps even on small, moderate hills. With the gauge on, you will definitely change the hillclimbing habits.

[delicat]

Forget about hills, even a head wind will raise your egt!

In the city I keep the O/D off and it lowers the egt by 50-100 degree.

And just to put you back on track:
"So should I be pushing this thing harder rather than backing off?"
NO! What you want to do is down gear and bring your rpm up. So instead of going up hill in 4th gear at 2800rpm and 80km/h you will be going up hill in 3rd gear at 3300rpm and 60km/h.
(these numbers are only for example and not accurate but hopefully it will give the idea...)

So going up hills my sequence is (while watching my pyro), kick O/D off, then down shift one gear at the time while maintaining a decent rpm (usually above 3000rpm but rarely above 4000). Pyro and engine temp gauge tells me how to gear...

Have a good trip!

[Modsqwad]

Thanks Guys I appreciate the info. There's one grade coming out of Needles in the Mojave thats 30km and almost 1000 meters high.
In the summer thats scary with no pyrometer. Gracias.
Andy Wilson