Vauxhall Vectra

[phildam]

Having moved up through the ranks as it were from a 2 man ridge tent on Bodmin Moore in the snow, then a 2 + 2, then a Conway Trailer Tent, a Pennine Pullman and finally Pennine Pathfinder Folding Camper over the last 20 years. We have decided that now is the time to go that final step, to the ultimate, a caravan - Bailey Impression 470 2 berth.

To pull our pride and joy we purchased a Vauxhall Vectra 2.2 Elite, had a Witter Towbar fitted with twin electrics to take the AL-KO 1300 stabiliser on the caravan.

Now doing my homework, I have been reading topics on this forum concerning peoples cars over-heating whilst towing. One of the main suggestions have been to change to a different cooling fluid. Is this something that I should be doing? and are there any other suggestions from the wise and experienced caravanners on similar precautions we should/could take before we venture out for the first time.

Incidently we will most certainly be using the caravan 12 months of the year and giving the winter a go.

 

[Lutz]

Aren't you confusing cooling fluid with automatic transmission oil? There have been a couple of suggestions recently to have auto transmission oil changed but I'm not aware of anyone recommending cooling fluid to be changed.

 

[mcghee]

there was aproduct we used to use in race cars a few years back called redline water wetter,which raised the boiling point of the coolant.but i would make sure first that your cooling systems ok.your problem could be as simple as a bad seal in your radiator cap.your car shouldnt overheat when towing.

 

[smiley]

Craig

We towed with a Vectra 2.0 diesel. Had no problems until it was reaching 4 years, and overheating started to occur.

We changed car bought a mondeo that's fine at the moment, but it has another 2 years to go yet to see if there's any difference.

 

[giovanni_5060838]

have a vectra 2.0dti 7 years old.

it does run a little hotter when towing, but then again it ran

a little hotter when running at high speed on the continent.

never gets near the red, and if it did,i would surgest having

the cooling system checked properly. usually radiators stop working at 100%, but don't always leak.

so if it runs a few degrees hotter when towing don't worry too

much unless it starts to get towards the red.

 

[mcghee]

exactly.what im trying to say is that if your engine overheats get to the root of the problem rather than trying to mask it by putting additives in the coolant.the cause is usually a simple thing.