Gling Shower in D3?

[benmalpass]

Hi
I have just picked up a Glind shower and am working out where to fit it under the bonnet as well as the best point to connect to the car heater line in my D3. If anyone can give me some pointers on this or similar units or even better some photos on how to fit to a D3 it would be great...
Cheers
Ben

[Redback]

My experience with this type of shower unit is that they do not work very well in modern diesels, I plumbed one (Helton and Twine) into my D2 and because of the way the cooling system works, it doesn't supply a constant amount of hot water to be able to have a shower.

The reason for 2 types, was that I thought it might have been the unit, but it wasn't, I tried a mate Twine and tried every way that you can plumb it in, but no joy.

I had a Ford Explorer before the D2 and the Helton shower exchanger was brilliant in it, I was the first person to put a heat exchanger type shower unit in an Explorer and the photos of my install were on the website.

The problem is not only LandRover but all of the new common rail type diesels have this problem.

Just my experience, hopefuly the D3 might be different.

Baz.

[d2dave]

My experience with this type of shower unit is that they do not work very well in modern diesels, I plumbed one (Helton and Twine) into my D2 and because of the way the cooling system works, it doesn't supply a constant amount of hot water to be able to have a shower.

The reason for 2 types, was that I thought it might have been the unit, but it wasn't, I tried a mate Twine and tried every way that you can plumb it in, but no joy.

I had a Ford Explorer before the D2 and the Helton shower exchanger was brilliant in it, I was the first person to put a heat exchanger type shower unit in an Explorer and the photos of my install were on the website.

The problem is not only LandRover but all of the new common rail type diesels have this problem.

Just my experience, hopefuly the D3 might be different.

Baz.

I can't talk from experience here with later vehicles but with this logic the heater in the vehicle should not work properly.

I have a Helton in my TDI D1 and it works brilliantly. I have connected it in series with the heater core with the heater water going through the Helton before the heater core which ensures the hottest water.

Dave.

[Redback]

I can't talk from experience here with later vehicles but with this logic the heater in the vehicle should not work properly.

I have a Helton in my TDI D1 and it works brilliantly. I have connected it in series with the heater core with the heater water going through the Helton before the heater core which ensures the hottest water.

Dave.

The heater in the D2 is a bit different, water only flows through the core at 1500rpm and over, this is where the problem lies, the flow in the TD5 with climate control isn't constant enough.

Baz.

[Graeme]

The heater in the D2 is a bit different, water only flows through the core at 1500rpm and over, this is where the problem lies, the flow in the TD5 with climate control isn't constant enough.

Baz.
That's not correct. It always flows through the heater core and up to 1500rpm it doesn't flow through the radiator at all. However flow through the heater core is limited to that achievable by 1500 rpm so any water heater must be installed in series with the heater core.

[Redback]

That's not correct. It always flows through the heater core and up to 1500rpm it doesn't flow through the radiator at all. However flow through the heater core is limited to that achievable by 1500 rpm so any water heater must be installed in series with the heater core.

Tried it, doesn't work!!

[d2dave]

Tried it, doesn't work!!

Have you plumbed it so that the heat exchanger gets the hot water before the heater core.

If the heater gets hot it has to work. Do d2s have a heater tap and if so is it fully open. Is the engine thermostat working.

On my D1 to get the water really hot I take my RPM to about 1500 just to get the water to circulate faster.

When I first installed it the water was not quite hot enough so I took the fan off. After about two minuets I could not hold my hand under the water.

I have found that after a good drive it does get hot enough.

Dave.

[Graeme]

Tried it, doesn't work!!
I don't know if its hot enough for a heat exchanger, but my info re the flow is from the WSM.

Did you have the heat exchanger outlet continuing to the heater core, with all the heater fluid going through the heat exchanger? IIRC someone had installed a T which divided the flow between the heat exchanger and the heater core. Also, was the heat exchanger's flow more restrictive that of the heater core, ie was too much pressure required which caused the thermostat relief valve to open?

[Redback]

Have you plumbed it so that the heat exchanger gets the hot water before the heater core.

If the heater gets hot it has to work. Do d2s have a heater tap and if so is it fully open. Is the engine thermostat working.

On my D1 to get the water really hot I take my RPM to about 1500 just to get the water to circulate faster.

When I first installed it the water was not quite hot enough so I took the fan off. After about two minuets I could not hold my hand under the water.

I have found that after a good drive it does get hot enough.

Dave.

I've tried it every way you can plumb it in, that's before AND after the heater, before and after the radiator, the first install was exactly the same as I had it in the Explorer, didn't work, then tried the way a mate had it in his 100series Cruiser, that didn't work either, so I tried it the opposite way, still no go, in the end I gave up, the most annoying part of the whole experience was, I had a join in every coolant hose in the car:twisted:

Graeme I don't dispute what you say, and yes I've tried every way, trust me I still have joins in the hoses to and from the heater.

Baz.

[Graeme]

G'day Baz,
Unless someone has shown otherwise, it sounds as though the one you have tried must be too restrictive in its flow. In the TD5 D2, the heater circuit is the only reliable circuit in which to fit such a unit so all I can think is that your unit is unsuitable for such use. Maybe a different brand with larger diameter pipework might work better.

[Xtreme]

G'day Baz,
Unless someone has shown otherwise, it sounds as though the one you have tried must be too restrictive in its flow. In the TD5 D2, the heater circuit is the only reliable circuit in which to fit such a unit so all I can think is that your unit is unsuitable for such use. Maybe a different brand with larger diameter pipework might work better.

I think you may have hit the nail on the head here Graeme as I've fitted a twine heat exchanger shower unit to a Td5 (Defender) without a problem. I'm not sure if there is any difference between the D2 and Defender but AFAIK the flow diagrams are the same.
I simply replaced the metal section of pipe between the top radiator hose and the heater with the twine heat exchanger - no need to cut any heater hoses and I can easily return everything to standard by refitting the pipe section if necessary. I did need to reshape the turbo heat shield to enable the heat exchanger to sit neatly in place of the pipe.

Unfortunately this is all a bit off topic and not much help in regard to the original enquiry regarding the D3.

[Redback]

G'day Baz,
Unless someone has shown otherwise, it sounds as though the one you have tried must be too restrictive in its flow. In the TD5 D2, the heater circuit is the only reliable circuit in which to fit such a unit so all I can think is that your unit is unsuitable for such use. Maybe a different brand with larger diameter pipework might work better.


I think you may have hit the nail on the head here Graeme as I've fitted a twine heat exchanger shower unit to a Td5 (Defender) without a problem. I'm not sure if there is any difference between the D2 and Defender but AFAIK the flow diagrams are the same.
I simply replaced the metal section of pipe between the top radiator hose and the heater with the twine heat exchanger - no need to cut any heater hoses and I can easily return everything to standard by refitting the pipe section if necessary. I did need to reshape the turbo heat shield to enable the heat exchanger to sit neatly in place of the pipe.

Unfortunately this is all a bit off topic and not much help in regard to the original enquiry regarding the D3.

I tried a Twine heat exchanger as well, thinking it could have been the exchanger, that didn't work either, I borrowed my mates Twine out of his Cruiser and we spent 3 hrs trying it to no avail.

Don't forget the D2 has climate control, I'm thinking this could be the problem, also I had the Helton working perfectly on the Explorer, so there's no reason why it shouldn't work in the Disco.

I don't know, if anyone can show me that it works then I'll put it back in, because they are a great way to have a shower, I used to use the one in the Explorer all the time.

Baz.

Baz.

[benmalpass]

Interesting chat however you are correct it does'nt help me with my D3 but sure that it has been of use...I have been discussing with Mark at Ayres Auto and he is going to fit it on Thursday so I will make sure we get some pics and post a reply on the performance when I test it out...!!
Thanks
Ben

[Redback]

Interesting chat however you are correct it does'nt help me with my D3 but sure that it has been of use...I have been discussing with Mark at Ayres Auto and he is going to fit it on Thursday so I will make sure we get some pics and post a reply on the performance when I test it out...!!
Thanks
Ben

That would be great as we intend getting a D3 to replace our D2, so if the glind works I'll put a heat exchanger in when we get it.

Baz.

[benmalpass]

Mark and the guys from Ayres Auto have fitted my glind shower last week and it works perfectly. There was a lot of info that these showers don’t work well with modern diesels and I couldn’t find anyone that had actually set one up on the D3 so I wanted to let everyone know that it works great the water pressure is as good as the shower at home and has a constant flow. The temperature is just right however you need to let it flow for a few seconds before you get under it as the first bit out of the heat exchanger is too hot. There are some photos of the setup on disco3.co.uk however you cant actually see the heat exchanger as it is mounted inside the engine bay, it has been mounted on the stump guard plate (the one just past the front bumper) as there is a cavity in there that fits the unit perfectly and it is nice and out of the way..
Cheers
Ben:)

[Redback]

Mark and the guys from Ayres Auto have fitted my glind shower last week and it works perfectly. There was a lot of info that these showers don’t work well with modern diesels and I couldn’t find anyone that had actually set one up on the D3 so I wanted to let everyone know that it works great the water pressure is as good as the shower at home and has a constant flow. The temperature is just right however you need to let it flow for a few seconds before you get under it as the first bit out of the heat exchanger is too hot. There are some photos of the setup on disco3.co.uk however you cant actually see the heat exchanger as it is mounted inside the engine bay, it has been mounted on the stump guard plate (the one just past the front bumper) as there is a cavity in there that fits the unit perfectly and it is nice and out of the way..
Cheers
Ben:)

Mate that's brilliant, looks like I will drag the exchanger out of mothballs and when we get the D3 that will be the first mod:D

Thanks Ben, Baz.

[djhampson]

Link to Disco3 - DISCO3.CO.UK - View topic - Glind car Shower now fitted to D3 (http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic43520.html)

How much did it set you back to buy and have installed?

[benmalpass]

Link to Disco3 - DISCO3.CO.UK - View topic - Glind car Shower now fitted to D3 (http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic43520.html)

How much did it set you back to buy and have installed?
I got the setup on ebay for $450 and the install is something I was planning to do but ran out of time before we took off camping over xmas. The guys at Ayres did it for me along with some other things so I think it was about 5 hours labour however i also think that some of this was playing around to get it all in the right place as it seems as thought this is the first D3 that we could find to have it fitted.