Any tips for winter..

I have sold my discovery, and now this year will be the first year I will have a new experience of driving my Defender in the winter, I have had it three years, but only used in summer.
The lack of power of the heater and fan has come as a bit of a shock
Any tips as to what gets you through the , cold, freezy,codensationy mornings,
Extra heaters, fans,wood burning fires in the back...

Ham Salad said:

I have sold my discovery, and now this year will be the first year I will have a new experience of driving my Defender in the winter, I have had it three years, but only used in summer.
The lack of power of the heater and fan has come as a bit of a shock
Any tips as to what gets you through the , cold, freezy,codensationy mornings,
Extra heaters, fans,wood burning fires in the back...

Click to expand...

While its summer still, take a look at your heater. I find mine ok once engines heated up (it uses coolant from engine to produce the heat...).

As far as condensation goes, make sure your roof is well insulated and that shouldn't be an issue either.

It's never going to be a luxury experience, but I don't find it too bad at all, about to go into my third winter driving my defender.

Nothing wrong with the heater. If you're feeling particularly wimpy a big jacket might help.

Seriously though, everyone slags the heaters but if they're sealed and adjusted correctly, and your engines getting up to normal operating temp fine, then they work perfectly well. I even need to turn mine down sometimes!

Ham Salad said:

I have sold my discovery, and now this year will be the first year I will have a new experience of driving my Defender in the winter, I have had it three years, but only used in summer.
The lack of power of the heater and fan has come as a bit of a shock
Any tips as to what gets you through the , cold, freezy,codensationy mornings,
Extra heaters, fans,wood burning fires in the back...

Click to expand...

Nothin wrong with Defender heaters


Your heater matrix probably needs flushing out or you don't have enough coolant in the system

mines lovely and hot

Whole car insulated,roof sides and floor with silent coat.
New heater matrix. pipes, coolant, heats fine its just the fan don't seem to have the puff to blow the little piggies house down, compared to the discovery.
It's a 110 hard top, and am considering putting a clear plastic sheet up behind the seats, to reduce the area it has to heat up.
I'm not worried about me being cold,just the ability to clear the windows,first cold/frosty day.

House a couple of sheep in the back...you'll be fine! :bolt:

There should be two seals on the heater. One at the intake, a round foam seal, and one for the heater to bulkhead which is thick rubber. Your heater box itself might have gaps in it too which you can silicone up. These all allow the air drawn in to escape into the engine bay which is pretty useless. The difference when I fitted the proper bulkhead seal was amazing. Ok its not like a modern car but its substantially better

Come the winter I put a thick canvas sheet on the dog guard to make the cab smaller & wearing a warm coat.