P38A 4.6 V8 few questions

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Andy Burrell

Retired to the country
Posts
190
Location
Cambridgeshire
I am not new to the P38 so know lots about EAS and HEVACs but only the diesels. Now I have a 2002 4.6 I have a few questions.
How long should it take to warm up? It seems much quicker to get to temperature than my modern Octavia Vrs.
The viscous fan seems to spin all the time but it's not jammed.
It's got 255 55 /18 s on Comet alloys with some crap Chinese road tyres on it, I don't want to go the full off road but need some tyres that can handle muddy rural roads and a bit of A roads. I had BF Goodrich ATs on my old one but they were loud. Any recommendations?
Finally it is fitted with a Sequent LPG system in working order and it was just checked by a specialist who said it was worth leaving on. Having never used lpg is there anything to be aware of if I decide to use it.?
It has the usual vague steering and the steering wheel doesn't point straight which I will sort, otherwise it drives nicely.
 
I am not new to the P38 so know lots about EAS and HEVACs but only the diesels. Now I have a 2002 4.6 I have a few questions.
How long should it take to warm up? It seems much quicker to get to temperature than my modern Octavia Vrs.
The viscous fan seems to spin all the time but it's not jammed.
It's got 255 55 /18 s on Comet alloys with some crap Chinese road tyres on it, I don't want to go the full off road but need some tyres that can handle muddy rural roads and a bit of A roads. I had BF Goodrich ATs on my old one but they were loud. Any recommendations?
Finally it is fitted with a Sequent LPG system in working order and it was just checked by a specialist who said it was worth leaving on. Having never used lpg is there anything to be aware of if I decide to use it.?
It has the usual vague steering and the steering wheel doesn't point straight which I will sort, otherwise it drives nicely.
When the engine is fully up to temperature, you should not be able to stop the viscous fan by inserting a tightly rolled newspaper into the blades. If you can stop it, the the viscous coupling is knackered, a very common problem.
I have no idea about the warm up time of the V8, but as it's a gas guzzling all alloy motor, it's reasonable to assume that warm up could be quite quick.
 
The viscous fan is supposed to spin all the time and should warm up in a couple of miles, the fan won't really impact that much.
With LPG, servicing is key. If the filters get blocked then it could run lean which is bad for your engine. There's also a possibility of perished seals leaking lpg into the coolant, apart from that it's pretty simple and much cheaper than petrol
 
Warm up for the V8 is quite quick far quicker than the diesel.

As for LPG it is a cleaner burn, far better for the motor than petrol I'd use it, the upside is the price. :)
 
If the thermostat is working properly, the V8 will definitely start to heat the cabin with 1-2miles. Heater inlet hose is fed directly from the cylinder heads, and then back via the thermostat to water pump. If you start from cold with bonnet open, you should feel the heater hoses get hot before the radiator hoses. If not check thermostat & water pump.

Actual engine temp takes longer, which is why the HEVAC has its own sensor for the heater hoses.

Cooling System Flow P38 THOR.jpg
 
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