Td5 Electric Fan instead of Viscous

bankz5152 · Oct 11, 2022

Been away off roading in Wales for the last 5 days, wonderful trip however during a watercrossing it appears my viscous fan took a chunk out of my rad without me realising.

I was not driving fast by any stretch, tickover in 2nd low.

So was thinking about swapping to an electric fan. At least that way I can turn it off for water crossings, i can also turn it off on cold mornings for faster warm up.

Strange as I never had an issue like this in my 110.

Would a decent 16" Kenlow or Spal fan be big enough for cooling a heavily tuned TD5?

lynall · Oct 11, 2022

In my experience elec fan is ok for 200tdi, just about okay for 300tdi, and out of its depth on the td5.
Do not forget the viscous is always moving air over the engine even if the fan is just idling, so heat soak after a hard run can be a real issue.

Hicap phill · Oct 11, 2022

Not up to date on newer motors…

Does the disco not have any fans for the air con? Early RR had dual fans for air on & also viscous. We used to wire the air con fans up.

@bankz5152 if you do decide electric put the fan a on the inside,this moves the air in the engine bay. You can always wire up a timer to allow the fan to run on if needed

marjon · Oct 11, 2022

The 630 runs a big electric fan (slightly thicker rad) and will often run for a while after engine turned off, but is fine.

The RX ran a variable speed electric water pump with electric fans (no mechanical water pump) same again.

The cars I have had with them have not had issues, I guess it’s how they are setup.

That said the viscous fan is a pretty reliable setup. Do you have the fan shroud in place?

You wouldn’t need to turn it off to get early warm up. Cos it would be off anyway

J

hughdavies · Oct 11, 2022

lots of people remove the fan as they dont think its needed in Uk climate and the air con fan will kick in if it gets too hot. others frown upon this idea. I had mine off for 2 years with no probs, but put it back when I started towing heavy van.

Hicap phill · Oct 11, 2022

hughdavies said:
lots of people remove the fan as they dont think its needed in Uk climate and the air con fan will kick in if it gets too hot. others frown upon this idea. I had mine off for 2 years with no probs, but put it back when I started towing heavy van.

So do TD 5 have a separate air con fan? (asking as to broaden my knowlage)

bankz5152 · Oct 11, 2022

If the TD5 have aircon then it will have another AC fan.

I had to run without the fan for about a day, easily hit 105°C going up hill so I wouldnt run without a fan.

Shrouds fitted yes.

Not saying the viscous set up is unreliable but it did damage my rad and almost leave me stranded in the middle of Wales. So not that great.

As for the viscous being on or off, its always spinning. Always pulling air through

Td5 Electric Fan instead of Viscous

bankz5152

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lynall

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Hicap phill

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marjon

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hughdavies

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Hicap phill

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bankz5152

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