D2 Fan Damage to Radiator ???

[Shaker]

Yesterday, whilst executing a very benign river crossing, I may have confirmed what had previously been festering in the back of my mind, that the decison to buy a Discovery 2 TD5 manual was possibly the worst of my life, I managed to put the fan into the radiator causing a 100mm gash & the removal of most of one fan blade & the purging of 90% of the motors lifeblood.

My question is ..... is this a common problem?

The water depth was a approximately 500mm & reasonably fast flowing.

I have just retired, albeit, with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight & a great amount of latent regret, a Nissan Terrano 2 2.7 TDI that has covered approximately 400,000km, without managing to ever once self eviscerate it's own radiator, despite some unprotected crossings managing to create an alarming aquarium-like waterline across the lower portion of the windscreen.

So, basically I am saying that I have had previous experience of getting to the otherside of a river & back without depriving my somewhat meagre bank balance of around $2000.00.

[dmdigital]

You have an early model Td5 (<2003) don't you? I believe the later ones had a better fan blade setup which didn't have as sharper ends. Even so this isn't something that's just common to D2's. Best solution is to tarp up.

[Shaker]

You have an early model Td5 (<2003) don't you? I believe the later ones had a better fan blade setup which didn't have as sharper ends. Even so this isn't something that's just common to D2's. Best solution is to tarp up.


Yes, 2000 model.

If anybody has a photo of a good 'tarp' set up, I would be very grateful.
I have a friend who is a tent/canvas maker, so making up one that is easy to fit & remove shouldn't be a problem, he witnessed the abovementioned tragedy unfold, so it might also be free!

[Blknight.aus]

what you do is take the vehicle (after you fit the new radiator and apart from your not local I feel your pain and would offer to fit them for you) to the tarp maker, the easiest to do is a wierd hexagon shape with eyelets at all 6 points

sort of thusly
13045

at the 6 points you attach rope when I hook one of those up to a deefer or a sereis I tie the longer bonnet part back to the top door hinge or windshield mounts then roll it off the bonnet over the front, tie off the sides to my bar work then drive forwards 10 feet or so so that the bottom ropes drag along the ground, reach under pull them up and tie them to the bottom door hinges or the step work (dont tie this bit too tightly)

if you can organise it have the tarp made with the rope stitched into the tarp as edge reinforcement.

since the basic size and shape of the landy hasnt changed its pretty much a one size fits all but you may need to change the shape of the side points to suit your barwork.

Go for the heaviest canvas you can aquire as it can also double as a shade tarp, ground sheet and load cover.

[C H T]

I use a piece of old sail cloth roughle 1 metre square - cut out of an old sail many many moons ago - I just put over the front of the bull bar ansd tuck the top edge under the bonnet or between the grill and bull bar - it has served me very well - 3/4 of mile in a SIIa ex Army 4cyl petrol in water up to 4 feet+ deep - again many years ago and more frecently in my Defender. I almost always use the "fording tarp" when the water is likely to be more than bumper bar depth.

CHT

[slug_burner]

Trap is good but you can get away without one.

The reason your fan made contact with your radiator is that the blade was still spinning when the water rose up to blade level, the fan then dragged itself through the water and the plastic blades bent enough for them to come in contact with the radiator.

Just pull over, once the fan stops spinning (radiator cools down enough) a brush should be enough to stop the blade (don't stick your hand in to stop it) arrange octopus straps onto blade to make sure it doesn't spin then your ready.

If that doesn't sound like your bag then just use a cheap blue plastic tarp.

[spudboy]

Ouch. That is a bad tale to tell.

Sounds like a design fault. How can something like that get through the testing process?

Is it just a Disco thing, or are TD5 Defenders similarly affected?

[B92 8NW]

Ouch. That is a bad tale to tell.

Sounds like a design fault. How can something like that get through the testing process?

Is it just a Disco thing, or are TD5 Defenders similarly affected?

Quite a lot of 4x4s with plastic blades can do it. My friends diesel Navara copped the same and he cooked the engine. I'd imagine its worse on the 300/Td5 fans where there are like a million blades and they are very long and flexible, compared with say the 200Tdi white fans.

[chazza]

Slightly off topic - when I did my driver's course in the Army wading and fording involved removing the fan belt, before entering the water. This applied to Land Rovers and Internationals with steel fans. I think most civilian courses would advise the same thing; electric fans need to be disabled as well.

In fact the preparation all over the vehicle for wading, followed by the post-wading inspection of oils and re-constitution of parts, was a pain in the backside. :(

Now back to the immediate; removing the serpentine belt is probably impractical and driving for any distance without a water pump is probably not desirable in any Disco. Sluggie's suggestion has merit but what happens if the fan does decide to engage and the ockie strap becomes ballistic?

Cheers Charlie

P.S. I don't think a plastic fan is poor design.

[scarry]

I have been through water bonnet level many times & never had a problem,maybe i was just lucky....

Good question for JC,is there any different in the fans on the later model Disco TD5s

Maybe,i will just tarp it from now on....to be sure...

[chazza]

I have been through water bonnet level many times & never had a problem,maybe i was just lucky....
Maybe,i will just tarp it from now on....to be sure...

The other advantage of a screen is that it stops debris and mud being washed into the condenser and radiator, :D

Cheers Charlie

[Tombie]

Earlier TD5s had softer more flexible blades and could come into contact easily...

A smooth slow approach into the water is better.. Some tarp up, some guys made a metal ring to protect the inside of the radiator...

Myself, I've never used a tarp/blind and never done any damage...

http://gallery.me.com/rovertech/100137/DSCF0074.jpg'derivative=medium&source=web.jpg&type=medium&ver=12329350720001

http://gallery.me.com/rovertech/100137/Coxs-20011.jpg'derivative=medium&source=web.jpg&type=medium&ver=12329348770001

http://gallery.me.com/rovertech/100137/Coxs-20012/web.jpg

[Slunnie]

The big factor with the Disco2 is the speed at which the water hits the front of the car. I've learnt this from experience. They seem to be happy enough to wade in water that has it come back over the bonnet and up the windscreen without issue, but you must slow right down before you hit the water!!! I'll say it again... you must slow down before you hit the water. If you hit the water with any speed you will put the fan through the radiator and its not depth related.

This crossing (pic taken on the return journey):
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/01/327.jpg

Led to this:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/01/328.jpg

Which was the result of this:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/01/329.jpg

Which caused us to do this while we waited for another radiator:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/01/330.jpg


I really didn't think that I hit the water very fast at all, but in hind sight I did. My SOP is now to stop before entering water and that has fixed the radiator issues. You can see that the crossing want particularly deep at all.

After this, we were back into deep water crossings again with no dramas.

[mike 90 RR]

I really didn't think that I hit the water very fast at all, but in hind sight I did. My SOP is now to stop before entering water and that has fixed the radiator issues. You can see that the crossing want particularly deep at all.

After this, we were back into deep water crossings again with no dramas.

Another factor is the "aircon" .... Turn it off prior to entering the water as the front aircon fans are working and flowing water thru the radiator

Also it takes away the extra heat stress (from A/C) and allows the viscos to cool down quicker prior to entry ... to ensure it is not engaged

Mike

:)

[Psimpson7]

I've had it happen on a 2001 Defender. I am also sure it is speed related.
Damage looked identcal to Slunnies pic, even down to the amount of rows!!

[njz]

I've heard that too much play in the fans viscous drive can also result in the fan flexing into the radiator when crossing water. I think the bearing wears or something.

[McDisco]

I think its got to do with your speed of entry...I have never had any problems with mine and its an early model.

And I do this in mine - :D:Dhttps://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[mike 90 RR]

I think its got to do with your speed of entry...

And I do this in mine - :D:D

:p ..... Your just sick .... :p