D1 running temperature

**Traco** · 27th December 2010, 11:00 AM

I'm using a Delta Current Control FK50P with EL Falcon fans.

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Many people (including me) swear by the DCController. It's a 50 amp variable speed fan controller which means the hotter the engine gets the faster the fan speeds up. No need for relays. They're used on Mustangs and other high power muscle cars a lot in the US.

It's made by Brian Baskin - not his regular job so it means he doesn't deliver real fast usually, but his products are top quality.

The DCController uses a temperature sensor inserted between the fins in the radiator near the radiator outlet. The controller controls the fan speed by use of PWM (pulse width modulation) which is an efficient method of slowly ramping the fan speed up and down, which avoids large current surges that a simple relay control allows. You can set the temperature either by small computer style jumpers on the controller itself, or by using the optional potentiometer which can be mounted inside the car.

Advantages:

Pulse Width Modulation: Allows the fan to be ramped up in speed so the fan only spins as fast as is necessary to cool then rad/engine. Instead of being turned on full speed.

Temp settings: Allow you to configure/tune the temp that the controller comes on. The controller is set from the factory for use with a 180F degree thermostat, the set temperature, however, can be adjusted byway of the multiturn potentiometer. Each turn clockwise will raise the temperature approximately 3 1/2 degrees, each turn ccw will lower the temperature by the same amount. A total adjustment of +/- 35 degrees is possible.

Dash board change colour light: Allows you to see speed of the fans. The light changes colours depending on the speed the fans are working at - three colours - slow (green), medium (yellow) ,fast (red).

A/C integration: Allows you to wire the DCC controler into the AC compressor power line to kick the efan on when the AC system is turned and the A/C condenser is dumping more heat into the front of the radiator.

**Traco** · 27th December 2010, 11:23 AM

I'm also using this set up on my hot 4.6 Rover SD1 sedan - only with the slightly smaller (not as wide) Falcon AU dual thermo fans cut to fit the aluminium race radiator.

The 6 blade AU fans are claimed to pull an impressive 3,000 cfm of air through the radiator (one reason they are used so extensively on hot rods and modified V8 street cars). I believe this figure is measured with the radiator in place (i.e. in front of the fans), not like some aftermatket efan sellers who provide flow figures with the fans free standing (one reason many of these aftermarket types don't work that well in practice).

The EL/EF 8 blade fans are said to pull even more air.

**Young Angus** · 14th January 2011, 08:02 PM

Some great info here, especially about retro fitting different fan types to really cool the crap out of the engine.

My 1998 V8 seems to run okay with the aircon on in hot weather without towing too much weight behind it, although the fans do kick in quite a bit with the hot weather but I'm guessing this just means it's all working okay. My Disco always smells pretty damn hot after a drive so I want to get one of these engine monitors to set my mind at ease that it's not getting too hot and it's just me being paranoid...or if it is getting too hot I'll know. I found one of these Engine Watchdog sensors on ebay:

ENGINE WATCHDOG TM2 - TEMPERATURE SENSOR, GAUGE & ALARM (eBay item 130472253618 end time 05-Feb-11 14:00:06 AEDST) : Cars, Bikes, Boats

Are these the ones that a couple of you guys have talked about (I tried looking at the link posted previously but it's expired)...?

Are these good units or is there something else better worth while installing to do this kind of job?

Sounds like a pretty handy thing to have for piece of mind sake!

The other one I've seen talked about is the Engine Saver also advertised on these forums. What is that one like? Do they all do a good job?

**bigcarle** · 15th January 2011, 06:45 AM

yea i have the engine watchdog EM2 on a 300 TDi. and yes it is worthwhile and easy to put in. digital display with a warning buzzer for the adjustable high temp, buzzer can also be wired to the oil light to give an audible warning

**blitz** · 15th January 2011, 12:42 PM

Is there different types of fans? I pulled the AU fans off that I fitted as it got to hot in hot weather and there was no way it pulled as much air as the viscous? I ran 6mm2 multiflex to each fan and a 50 Amp relay so there is no way it has a voltage drop?

Could I have gotten a 6cyl fan set up when I needed a V8 one? I still like the idea of electric fans but the ones I used were a failure

P.S. mine are the 6 blade type

**omvanders** · 15th January 2011, 04:48 PM

Originally Posted by bigcarle

yea i have the engine watchdog EM2 on a 300 TDi. and yes it is worthwhile and easy to put in. digital display with a warning buzzer for the adjustable high temp, buzzer can also be wired to the oil light to give an audible warning

Angus, I can vouch for the benefit of these units. It saved my bacon with an early warning when all of my coolant dropped on the road very quickly. Do it... you won't regret.

**blitz** · 16th January 2011, 06:22 PM

EM2 - $150-00 best money you can spend on your car bar none in my opinion

**Eastern Engineer** · 18th January 2011, 07:44 PM

My Girl is normally fairly cool and good.

But the Last Two weeks the temps have been off the Roof!
I don't think i should post the information i received from this as I might get told off...

Shes due to give birth in a few weeks.

<= Was It Me?

**spike076** · 18th January 2011, 08:01 PM

I agree too with the other posters, it was first thing I was told to go and purchase before doing anything cosmetic to the car.

The old engine was around 86

The new engine sits around 75-78 which i thought was surprising

I also invested in an oil pressure gauge as the light tells you nothing which i think is also a good investment since you will be under the bonnet anyway.

Picked up a t piece from autob... $15 so that I can use the original switch and a oil pressure gauge from supercrap $60 you will also need to buy a holder for the gauge as it does not come with a bracket another $30 (im sure years ago the gauges came with mounting brackets how times have changed) needed to re tap the fitting so that I could keep the switch and also fit it to the original thread in the engine case. for those that dont have a tap and die set supercrap had them for $15 after all the chasing around I did to find one the right size.

Disco1Newbee · 21st February 2011, 10:13 PM

My D1 runs a little hotter than I would like.

On normal runs, its around 90 degress, no load, not towing, fairly warm weather (although is been very hot the past couple of days here in Brisbane)

It does spike to around 97 degrees, and maybe 100 degrees on hot days with aircon bellowing.

2 weeks ago, 4wd'ing, managed to blow the top rad hose clean off. Clamp could not hold it. Dumped every drop of fluid right there. Was not a pretty site ;( replacement of hose and fluid and all seems ok. Not to sure about this though, but I'm guessing. Runs the same.

Since then, I have had an electrical water temp gauge installed with the bulb sitting in a bracket that cuts the top rad hose in half, and the bulb sits inside the hose before the rad entry, so getting water temp as it enters the rad.

Are these electrical gauges any good?

I also think the fan clutch is shot, so having that replaced too.
Rad will be rodded along with the other attempts at cooling it down, but other than that, any more thoughts? Expansion tank cap maybe???

Love the idea about the fans. Anyone in the Brisbane area put these fans in, and if so, willing to help a newbee out with the installation if I can source the fans?

Thanks for all the info

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