"96 Rover Spi
JDM. I had issues with overheating. I have an additional Smiths temp gauge fitted and it was showing overheating issues (although the dash-mounted temp gauge never goes above the middle). I used a cooling system flush and reassembled everything. Then I used a syringe to "prime" the expansion tank and coolant flooded the garage floor. Perhaps this was the cause of the overheating. So...I went for broke: New expansion tank, new super-cool rad, and replaced all the hoses with silicone. Today I took a short, one hour "road trip" and nervously kept my eyes on the Smiths gauge. The needle stayed just past the N for all of the trip. Not half-way between N and H, maybe a quarter of he way. The only time it started to climb was when I was stuck in construction but it never got to the H. So, since I don't know what the temperature of the engine is when the needle is at N on the gauge, is the gauge reading of past-the-N-but-not-near-the H ok? And, when bogged down by the highway repairs, I did not hear the auxiliary fan start, but the Smiths needle never got to H. Again, this is all to do with temperature. I don't know how to test the aux fan switch (new, screw-in type) or how hot it needs to be for it to cut in. Is it paranoid to expect the Smiths gauge needle to be at precisely N? Other than the nearly-new water pump,I think I have addressed everything in the cooling system. Please excuse the rant....it's my third, and last Mini and I want to enjoy the experience without worrying about the engine temp.