On Wed, 19 Oct 2005 16:44:00 +0100, "Paul" <
[email protected]>
wrote:
>now the winter is approaching i am looking at ways of warming the engine
>faster seen as i only do a short journey to work. not got around to fitting
>electric fans yet but will i get away with taking the viscous fan off
>anyway. the only problem i can see is if i get stuck in traffic picking he
>mrs up from town every evening usually traffic is not normally that bad
>but you can get stuck in queues for 10-15 minutes sometimes.
>
>paul
>
Last year the viscous coupling packed up on my 3.9, so a nice new pair
of Kenlowe electrics were fitted, - and that was the start of my
problems.
Initially I began to have starting problems when the engine was hot,
especially after being stuck in traffic for a long time.
Local agents couldn't find anything wrong on the test box, but it was
hinted that fuel vapourisation could be the problem.
The next service passed all emissions tests ok, but it was noted that
the auto trans fluid was beginning to darken as if overheated.
Contacting Kenlowe received advice of lowering the cut in temperature
of the fans to just above the halfway mark on the temp gauge, this was
well below the 'N' on the Kenlowe thermostat.
The starting problem became much worse over the summer, so when the
car went in for the 'call back' petrol tank change, they spent more
time on the engine systems and proved that the injectors were leaking
and that fuel rail pressure was leaking into the inlet manifold when
the engine was switched off.
Tests on the auto trans fluid definately showed overheating, and as
the transmission oil cooler is part of the main radiator the faults
were put down to little or no airflow going through the radiator
during traffic jam periods, apparently even a freewheeling fan causes
some airflow.
The injectors were sent for cleaning, but were returned as
unserviceable as they were leaking too badly, and it was suggested
that overheating of the plastic bodies could be the cause (?)
The cure - 8 new injectors, transmission fluid and filter change, and
a new viscous coupling. Just like driving a new car, and 2 mpg more!!
My advice - leave it as it was designed to be, and get a new coupling.
Paddocks do a new one for a much better price than the agents.