ditch the viscous fan??

**harlie** · 5th July 2016, 04:42 PM

Hello all

TD6 - Anyone thrown the belt driven fan away? I've been playing with the idea of removing the viscus fan, modify the cowling to take a couple of electric fans.

This all stems from the issues I've had with the fans (yes multiple) on the front - some long term L322ers may remember my AC leak issues from a while ago - turns out it was fan related all along - the system happily goes to 35 bar

at which point it bleads out the flex hoses and compressor seals. Keep the pressure down and presto no more leaks. Currently I have the biggest aftermarket fan mounted directly on the condenser - pressure problem gone.

I am thinking it would be nice to have electric fans on the back that can help with condenser pressure too. Not to mention they can be controlled a lot better than the viscus unit for coolant temps, are much quieter, require less power, ect ect... The viscus unit still work fine.

**Homestar** · 5th July 2016, 05:32 PM

Never had any issues with the AC or any overheating or pressure issues, but the fan does rob power and is the main cause of engine noise when it's engaged. I've toyed with the idea myself but never done it. if you can find a set of electric fans that fit well, it could be worth a try.

**harlie** · 5th July 2016, 06:58 PM

Originally Posted by Homestar

Never had any issues with the AC or any overheating or pressure issues, but the fan does rob power and is the main cause of engine noise when it's engaged. I've toyed with the idea myself but never done it. if you can find a set of electric fans that fit well, it could be worth a try.

I've been absent from AULRO for quite a while - is Homestar a new name? I get the feeling I'm chatting with someone familar

Anyways, I've had heaps of problems with the front fan - actually it has been the cause of my AC issue. So much that I've abandoned the factory setup.

I've never had any engine overheating (ironically the only cooling issue I've had is too much when the thermostat in the EGR cooler stuck open). My comments over control are from observations that the viscus is running when it doesn't really need to for engine cooling and the noise just gets my OCD going. So it got me thinking - if it could be controlled more efficiently - Without the EGR cooler there is actually a bit of space there.

Ironically, I am of the opinion that if the front fan is healthy, you could easily get away with no fan behind the radiator pack.

**Homestar** · 5th July 2016, 07:23 PM

Sorry Harlie, yes, Homestar is a my new name - AKA, Gav, formally known as Bacicat.

. Good to see you back - what have you been up to?

I have seen some on the FFRR site remove the engine fan all together, but in much cooler climates. I think you could certainly getaway without it at the moment in Melbourne...

**harlie** · 5th July 2016, 07:26 PM

Originally Posted by Homestar

Sorry Harlie, yes, Homestar is a my new name - AKA, Gav, formally known as Bacicat.

thought so... why the change Gav?

**Pedro_The_Swift** · 5th July 2016, 07:30 PM

not enough money to buy a fast porsche??

**Homestar** · 5th July 2016, 07:32 PM

Pedro's assessment isn't far from the mark - a bit of a mid life crisis.

Went through a lot last year with my job, quit, went and did something else, got tapped on the shoulder by my old company and convinced to give it another go under very different terms.

That was at the start of the year - the same time my Wife and I decided to make a life change and lose weight and make excersize and healthy eating the new way forward.

Wifey has lost 12Kg since and I've lost 23Kg and we have never felt better, the name change was part of those major lifestyle changes.

**harlie** · 5th July 2016, 07:45 PM

Originally Posted by Homestar

Pedro's assessment isn't far from the mark - a bit of a mid life crisis.

Went through a lot last year with my job, quit, went and did something else, got tapped on the shoulder by my old company and convinced to give it another go under very different terms.

That was at the start of the year - the same time my Wife and I decided to make a life change and lose weight and make excersize and healthy eating the new way forward.

Wifey has lost 12Kg since and I've lost 23Kg and we have never felt better, the name change was part of those major lifestyle changes.

Fantastic effort - well done mate. I am a fan of not acting our age, stay active and try and keep up with the younger crew (well those active ones anyway) - couple of young guys from work run me around the tennis court a couple times a week now - I went through something similar a few years back, took up Kitesurfing, that got me going, and now completely addicted. No time for LR maintenance or forums while the wind is up.

**chaybra** · 6th July 2016, 07:31 AM

Dont quote me on this, but i remeber reading somewehre that people fit thermo fans from a jag? possibly just the v8s.

I too want to remove my fan, just havent been arsed yet. Mine is constantly running cold and need to isolate the EGR cooler lines also, along with the viscous fan constantly on it gets a bit cold when im coming down a range in the high country and its -3 out side.

Even in cooler weather, going 100kph sees the engine sitting at 68 degs....not ideal.

It should be difficult to actually overheat this engine.

**harlie** · 6th July 2016, 07:48 AM

Totally agree. I dragged 3t of tractor (on trailer) up to mtNebo last weekend (nice and steep) and the viscus fan didn't even really get excited - it kicked in a couple times but dropped off again soon after. It was about 23deg - the cooling capacity is huge, keep it all clean and it should be hard to over heat it.

What you describe is what I had a few years ago with engine temps - you will be using more fuel too as it over fuels in an attempt to warm up. Replaced the engine thermostat and it didn't fix it. Removed the EGR cooler for a look and put the garden hose onto it - ran straight through with cold water - stuck open.

The EGR cooler takes water from the bottom of the radiator and if the thermostat is open, it returns it to the coolant rail on the other side of the engine thermostat. Because the main engine thermostat is a bypass unit (one hos to another) as apposed to a close off type, the cold water now flow into the engine from the coolant rail - which should only have hot water in it.

If your EGR valve is gone (reading your mods I assume it is) then you can remove and throw away the EGR cooler (I did a write up on here that lists the bits needed). Blank off the hoses, and the manifold.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/showthread...20#post2210620

Other possibility is the trans cooler - it has a thermostat too. But it pulls water from halfway up the radiator so theoretically the cooling effect won't be as good as the EGR loop.

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