Running a TD5 without a viscous fan?

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Balbas

Balbas

Active Member
Posts
173
Location
Newton Abbot, Devon
I'm not sure why, but the disco I've just bought has no viscous fan. Seems to get up to temperature ok (unsurprisingly:D) and doesn't seem to get too hot in traffic - but then it is February.

I can't see a reason not to have a viscous fan, aside from a 0.5mpg saving so will be refitting one, but wondered why on earth anyone would take it off in the first place? Am I missing something obvious?

Oh, and does anyone have a viscous fan kicking about that they fancy selling me?
 
some people are against having a viscious fan but you should def keep it on
i remember in one pay and play day i was climbing up hill in a muddy surface at high rpm w/o the fan and temperature went to sky..
i then immediately installed it
p.s: reason why it was off was a pure laziness to put it back on after changing the belt :D
 
a lot remove the fan if using the td5 offroad as it sits very close to the back of the rad, stones get trapped between the fins and forced through the back of the radiator
 
Mine runs a lot smoother without the fan fitted, I've installed an after market electric fan with a switch just in case I get trapped in a traffic jam. Used to have the electric fan with the built in thermostat but had nothing but trouble trying to seal the feed wire into the top hose connection, never heard it kick in either even after setting it as close as possible to normal operating temperature. Oh and the viscous fan I removed was new due to the old one being FUBAR'd.
 
Some would say you dont actually need the viscous fan at all that the Disco is over cooled using it, certainly in recent cold weather mine took an eternity to warm up and cruising about 50 on B roads it sat well below normal operating temperature. I dont think Id want to be towing in summer with out it though.
 
My fan is coming off next weekend! We sat with the engine idling for 45 mins the other week, the temp gauge barely moved off the blue.

Ambient was temp was low, 4-5 deg but it certainly comes across as being over cooled for normal UK use.
 
You have to be careful. The temperature gauge is digital not analogue so it doesn't show any overheating until you're starting to have a real problem. If you run a nanocom or similar in instrument mode you should see temperature settling around the 92C mark - the temperature gauge will still be in the middle even when that gets up to over 100.
 
kingcarlos said:
Mine runs a lot smoother without the fan fitted, I've installed an after market electric fan with a switch just in case I get trapped in a traffic jam. Used to have the electric fan with the built in thermostat but had nothing but trouble trying to seal the feed wire into the top hose connection, never heard it kick in either even after setting it as close as possible to normal operating temperature. Oh and the viscous fan I removed was new due to the old one being FUBAR'd.
Click to expand...

This is something I've thought about. Buying a new viscous fan won't be massively cheaper than buying an aftermarket electric fan and inline (in the top hose) 'stat.

I remember back in my Series 2a days everyone raved on about whipping the engine fan off and fitting 'a kenlowe'. I never did get around to it then.

To be honest this is probably the route I'll follow - I need to buy a new fan anyway, so may as well get an electric one I suppose.
 
Last edited:
markomate said:
My fan is coming off next weekend! We sat with the engine idling for 45 mins the other week, the temp gauge barely moved off the blue.

Ambient was temp was low, 4-5 deg but it certainly comes across as being over cooled for normal UK use.
Click to expand...

Mine soon gets up to temp and sits just above middle, and as said if it's not a new thermostat is probably due
 
Balbas said:
This is something I've thought about. Buying a new viscous fan won't be massively cheaper than buying an aftermarket electric fan and inline (in the top hose) 'stat.

I remember back in my Series 2a days everyone raved on about whipping the engine fan off and fitting 'a kenlowe'. I never did get around to it then.

To be honest this is probably the route I'll follow - I need to buy a new fan anyway, so may as well get an electric one I suppose.
Click to expand...

i think i read on here that it was a waste of time fitting an electric fan, also not as good! i maybe wrong tho??
i would just get a viscous fan and be done with, new sensor aswell
 
discodrivercumbria said:
i think i read on here that it was a waste of time fitting an electric fan, also not as good! i maybe wrong tho??
i would just get a viscous fan and be done with, new sensor aswell
Click to expand...

Oh really? Back when I had a series 2 (almost 20 years ago now:eek:) kenlowes were all the rage. Why are they considered 'not good' nowadays? If they're moving air though the rad core, then surely they're doing the biz? Especially if the TD5 cooling system is suitable for crossing desserts and the like?

As a partial aside, I drove a 300tdi powered 110 around Kuwait and Iraq for a bit and it never once missed a beat. I had absolute confidence in that wagon even in near 60 degree centigrade heat. So I know the standard cooling systems are well up to the job and probably vastly over specified for the uk.
 
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