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

Originally Posted by jezzarezza

Thanks again. Re: bleeder hose, Before i go buy it can anyone please tell me if I already have a good one?

Cheers

Nope that's the plastic one.. pain in the rear if it breaks.

I would keep the viscous. However I have fitted 2 smaller Davies-Craig fans to the front of my radiator, can be done with minor mods. One is thermostatically set to cut in around 90 deg C and the second to come on with the air con.

Originally Posted by jezzarezza

Hey gang,

....................... put in an electric fan in place of the viscous on a TD5. Mine doesn't need doing at the moment, more of a preventative idea to make more reliable....................
Cheers

As others have said, DON'T DO IT, the TD5 viscous fan assembly is already efficient and reliable. Downgrading it to electric is definitely a backward step as it decreases air flow, increases complexity and puts additional strain on the alternator/electrical system.

A couple of points though. Don't remove the fan shroud as this is important for efficiency and the viscous nut has a right hand thread





Have a good look at the alloy aircon pipe as the rubber hose can actually wear through it where indicated. To help avoid this there should be a notch in the large diameter top hose which aligns with a 'rib' (on assembly) and helps to set a bit of a twist in the main hose lifting the smaller hose above the alloy air con pipe.

Deano

Not sure how suitable an e.fan is for TD5 but benefits of thermo switched e.fan over belt driven:

Faster warm up time

Runs only when needed

Can be mounted to rad to efficiently pull air through the rad without need for a huge fan and cowl.

Cant throw a belt

Can be turned off for water crossings

Slight fuel/HP saving (negligable)

Reliable

------

I have experience with TDIs, mostly with standard belt driven fans but one with e.fan. The electric fan on the Defender was put on in 2010, a generic 180w rad fan off ebay - nothing special. Its still going strong and has been dunked and gunked numerous times. It runs off the x-eng switch kit which hasnt failed me either.

These engines are water cooled and the e.fan does an excellent job of pulling air through the radiator when mounted right on the core. The factory belt driven fan moves more air, but then it has to in order pull air through the rad from distance.

I know this forum is pro viscous, but my experience with the e.fan on the TDI over the past 8 years has been super positive. It has not threatened to over heat even on roasting hot days in low range and the fan has been 100% reliable with zero maintenance required.

IME with the TDIs, overheating checks involve the viscous hub. But usually its rad condition, w.pump, coolant loss that leads to over heat - not the fan. The e.fan has never left me wondering, when it fires up I hear it, a dash light goes on and any upward motion on the temp guage is immediatly arrested.

That said I have no plans to convert my other TDI to e.fan, there is no need for it.

Cowlings provide a far superior flow than a surface contact eFan with a cowling.. almost in the order of twice the flow!

You also have an intercooler that even when the fan isn’t engaged fully is helping draw air through.

Comparing a low BMEP tdi to a high BMEP TD5 isn’t a comparison either - Tdi generates far less heat.

Thanks again everyone. With all the don't do it's i'm starting to realise why I had trouble finding a thread. Manic, thanks for your input as well.

Originally Posted by Tombie

www.samcosport.com/manufacturer/land-rover/

Part TB-3051

Not cheap but you’ll only do it once!

Thanks again Tombie. Is that just the top hose? I scant seem to find a description, or photo/diagram on that link. Also, do you know if i'll be able to fit the shop/daves low coolant screw into it? I'm just about to pull the trigger on both

cheers

Originally Posted by DeanoH

As others have said, DON'T DO IT, the TD5 viscous fan assembly is already efficient and reliable. Downgrading it to electric is definitely a backward step as it decreases air flow, increases complexity and puts additional strain on the alternator/electrical system.

A couple of points though. Don't remove the fan shroud as this is important for efficiency and the viscous nut has a right hand thread





Have a good look at the alloy aircon pipe as the rubber hose can actually wear through it where indicated. To help avoid this there should be a notch in the large diameter top hose which aligns with a 'rib' (on assembly) and helps to set a bit of a twist in the main hose lifting the smaller hose above the alloy air con pipe.

Deano

Cheers mate