Series 3 MY HEATER WORKS!

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ciderman

Active Member
Posts
768
Location
sunny worcestershire
I know it is summer but mainly in an attempt to cure overheating I have now got a volcanic heater!
I plumbed in a 12 volt Vauxhall hot water circulator on the return pipe of the heater. That is the one that goes to the rear of the cylinder head. Once warm the heater was unbearable at the vent by the passenger foot well.
Electrically I have connected it to the fast blower motor feed.
Also it seems to keep engine a bit cooler- test drive now!
10aug17-landrover-heater 024.JPG
10aug17-landrover-heater 025.JPG
 
Sounds good, how does it work to make the heater hotter, what car is off originally? My heater is taking the pist, I dare not go out if the weather is wet cos I can't see out of the misted up windows.

Col
 
Hi
Any water circulator should work there are lots on ebay or visit your local scrap yard- just don't let it run without coolant in it- I use pumps at work and running them dry is a good way to destroy them.
 
It just sends a faster flow of water to the heater matrix so it is faster and more heat energy is transferred- I have a transit engined land rover Series 3, 88 and the heater is amazing- the difference is the water flow rate.....better water pump....
 
Pardon my ignorance, I would have thought the amount of water being sent to the heater matrix was dependant on the main water pump. If a second water pump is added into the system, e.g. a water circulator, wouldn't that cause a pressure drop in the system? The second pump can only push whatever water it is being supplied with surely.

Col
 
The heater water circuit is a bypass system on a series engine ie water has two ways to go hence the engine does not overheat when the heater valve is closed.
 
Thanks for that information. I'll start looking for a circulator for mine. I like to keep it reasonably standard but any mod that's reversible is acceptable especially if it makes driving it better for me.

Col
 
Your all very brave wanting to look out of the window. I find it much less scary if I keep my eyes closed and brace for impact :eek:

I can't see a second pump on a secondary system having any impact on water pressure. After all its only pushing back into the main flow what its taking out. Looks like a good modification.
 
I have just realised that my earlier comment above may be mis interpreted- I have another land rover with a transit engine - the land rover heater works effectively on that one. That vehicle heater does not need a boost.
 
I've bought a circulator pump from eBay for less than £20 so I'll give it a go when it arrives. Thanks for the info, hopefully it will be a great mod. The crappy heater has always been a major annoyance to me. I already have a bilge motor I bought a while ago but not yet fitted, so I can now do the double mod and look forward to warm feet and a clear windscreen.

Col
 
I've thought about that for my series 3 but keeping the hot embers in it at every speed bump will be a problem. I wonder if the insurance company would need to be informed

Col
 
I'm sure the insurance company wouldn't be interested in a 400kg weight full of burning embers in the position of the front seat that might just find its way into other parts of the vehicle in the event of an accident. That kind of thing doesn't bother them.

My brother, however, used to have those burning ember pocket warmers when he was driving his series 3 but I haven't seen them around for a good few years now...

...I suspect these things have been made redundant by Samsung telephones...
 
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I'm sure the insurance company wouldn't be interested in a 400kg weight full of burning embers in the position of the front seat that might just find its way into other parts of the vehicle in the event of an accident. That kind of thing doesn't bother them.

My brother, however, used to have those burning ember pocket warmers when he was driving his series 3 but I haven't seen them around for a good few years now...

...I suspect these things have been made redundant by Samsung telephones...
I didn't think so. It's not like it's a performance mod. The good thing about a series landy is that there's not much in the back to catch fire if the embers escape.

Col
 
The main problem I found many years ago with the S3 heater that I have anyway is lack of air flow through the heater unit.
That intake on the side of the wing is useless (almost) as the speed increases.

Many years ago I fitted some ducting from the heater unit and routed it down and along side the rad to the front grill.

The faster I go now the more airflow I now get through the heater unit...the opposite to the std set-up...I dont really need to use the blower unit...which I still can as I adapted the way it blows into the heater unit...all quite simple.

But you have to have a good functioning thermostat in the first place to make sure your coolant gets upto temp.

If I can sort how to add pics to this forum I can post some pics if anybody is interested.

The only drawback....unless I disconneced the ducting...I get hot air in the cab all year around...I removed the heater water tap when I fitted my 200DI.

Nick.
 
The main problem I found many years ago with the S3 heater that I have anyway is lack of air flow through the heater unit.
That intake on the side of the wing is useless (almost) as the speed increases.

Many years ago I fitted some ducting from the heater unit and routed it down and along side the rad to the front grill.

The faster I go now the more airflow I now get through the heater unit...the opposite to the std set-up...I dont really need to use the blower unit...which I still can as I adapted the way it blows into the heater unit...all quite simple.

But you have to have a good functioning thermostat in the first place to make sure your coolant gets upto temp.

If I can sort how to add pics to this forum I can post some pics if anybody is interested.

The only drawback....unless I disconneced the ducting...I get hot air in the cab all year around...I removed the heater water tap when I fitted my 200DI.

Nick.

Pics of practical mods are always welcome.

Just use the Upload a File button at the bottom of the reply box.
 
Your right it may...but I think it may obstruct the more clean blast it gets at present...I get more heat in the cab than I need already.
Yes I made the y shaped adaptor...quite easy from flat plates of metal.
You only need the adaptor if you want to keep the blower.
 
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