Thread: TD5 viscous v electric, who's done it. what are the options?

The goal was to build the ultimate Defender and for me the e.fan set up has been great and has opened up the engine bay to accommodate other modifications.

I wonder how long your E-fan "Ultimate defender" would survive without the use of a flat top up in Cape York or up in the Territory during the wet
Maybe it would run perfectly in the City But that isn't what Defenders are designed to do best.

Originally Posted by manic

Why would you need a fan on the intercooler? The intercooler only really comes into effect when the turbo is pushing boost and thats almost always at speed when the airflow through the IC is greater than any fan. I've never seen EGTs go anywhere near alarm high on a trail in low range with a fanless IC. Sure it would help dissipate some residual heat at low speed but would that translate to any real world performance increase - I doubt it. Happy to be proved wrong, I could always do with more power!

Drag on the engine from a locked up viscous fan probably compares somewhat to the drag through a 120amp+ alternator when pulling high amps. But e.fans are only on when needed, and a two or three stage fan set up could help manage those loads better.

YouTube

Boost, Low Range, Rpm..

Whilst an electric fan is probably a bad idea for this application (we have tried them on various "industrial strength" type applications in the past, with less than impressive performance)
I do wonder what an electrically engaged fan would perform like in this situation, obviously no good with an intercooler, but obviously have good Application and success in the trucking industry

Originally Posted by trout1105

I wonder how long your E-fan "Ultimate defender" would survive without the use of a flat top up in Cape York or up in the Territory during the wet
Maybe it would run perfectly in the City But that isn't what Defenders are designed to do best.

It went from Melbourne to the Tip of Cape York and back not many months ago. Done in 5 weeks. The Disco with us rolled just outside Bamaga and the Defender had to cart all its kit back to Melbourne when it was already heavy loaded. It was packed to the rafters and then onto the roof! It done the old telegraph track, all the crossing, got covered in mud and the only issue suffered was the starter motor packed in from all the water exposure! But even that didnt stop it, being the ultimate defender it just needed a little push start to roll back into action.

You know its only really ever used for big trips around the country, I have a log book to prove it. It goes out on trips that aim to stay off the bitumen as much as possible, and I love to take it to remote areas. And you know what - no flat tops yet! *touches wood*

With the efan positioned behind the radiator the radiator is more likely to fill with mud than the rad fan! It is very hard to get mud flung up the back of the radiator.

Our Pit Haulers use hydraulically driven fans.

No electric set up can match the cfm of a shrouded hard driven fan on the same size radiator.

I find the claim that an efan is quicker to replace laughable.
I can remove the viscous fan from my TD5 in less than 2 minutes and that includes lifting the bonnet
Sorry to tell some of you guys but 40 degrees c is not hot by Australian standards. I have seen over 50 at 0900 in summer

Originally Posted by djam1

I find the claim that an efan is quicker to replace laughable.
I can remove the viscous fan from my TD5 in less than 2 minutes and that includes lifting the bonnet
Sorry to tell some of you guys but 40 degrees c is not hot by Australian standards. I have seen over 50 at 0900 in summer

Well perhaps its similar then, I can remove my e.fan in less than 2 minutes too, and all I would need to do it is a screwdriver. I could also carry a spare without taking up to much room.

Oh damn, we up to 50C ambient now! I'll be sure to record it if I ever experience temps that high. I plan to take a D1 and Def TDI down the west coast next year from Darwin, the D1 has viscous. If you lot are lucky, we'll get put to the test.

With the Defender you might be wise to do the tropical mod to the radiator to help if it’s in summer.
No we are not up to 50 that Was around 0900 it got much hotter later not wanting a competition on how hot it’s been just making the point driving around Melbourne at 40 Degrees C is different than pulling fully loaded through deep sand at 60 odd degrees ground temp with a tail wind and a partially blocked radiator
For some this is at times a reality

If your efan can be removed that quickly I hope the corrugated roads don’t do it for you