TD5 heat shield. necessary or not?

[bob10]

Just replaced my exhaust manifold with exchange unit, machined @ the webs relieved. Got me thinking, the heat in this area seems to cause a bit of strife, what with the oil cooler hose @ manifold problems. The questions I ask is;

1 Is the heat shield necessary in our climate ?

2 Would it cause bigger problems to remove it @ leave it removed. ?

3 Would it be a good idea to have vents placed in the bonnet, to vent the heat. ?

I would appreciate informed advice on this topic, as I really don't have a clue, apart from the fact I don't want to do that job again, Bob

[Recy Mech]

Disclaimer: I'm not Rover trained.

From working on all sorts of equipment & plant in the mining and oil/gas industries I have found that all suppliers are Northern Hemisphere based, ie North America, Germany, & UK. Their testing does not take into account extreme climatic conditions eg Australia, other than a baseline - 32 deg C. Now they are aware of the winter months in the Northern Hemisphere and like it or not that is where most of the equipment is sold. (Sorry to break up the myth but our mining equipment only makes up a very small percentage of the global sales.) The manufacturers do go to lengths to ensure that engines and the like are kept to a temperature constant and heat shielding and deflection is just one of the engineering concerns.

Now having said all that guff, what I and others have found that when the gear is here (Australia) it is on its max limits just about all the time expecially during the summer months. So creative engineering is required to make the plant run cooler, and that does require the removing of engine panels/shields et al.

Probably doesn't answer your question directly, but, If I am to nail my colours to the mast: I'd say have a go at removing the shielding as a bit of a comparison. You can always fit it back again.

[scott oz]

I recall reading somewhere that the heat shield protects the bonnet and paint from the heat. My TD5's doest have any bonnet insulation yet my 92 200TDI Disco did

Not sure if this is true or just my poor memory

[Recy Mech]

As some of the more erudite members of this forum will attest a lot of the shielding will be also to do with sound deadening. Notice how 'old school' landys et al didn't have all the modern conveniences of sound proofing, heat shielding. Nowadays you have to spend half a day removing all the pifle just to see the engine.

Anyway, I say get rid of it - heat shielding, and see how she/he perfoms. I reckon you'll probably notice a engine temp difference - down, but a sound/heat transference in the cab.

Life's a compromise.

[stevo]

yes Recy I know where you are coming from used to work in the mines and have cut slots into engine covers on new machines that used to over heat during summer but gees the company reps that looked after the machines during the commosioning stages would whinge.

But they were not allowed to do the mods and we just went ahead down time is not allowed in mining etc would usually solve the problem of over heating

[alanw]

Took the heat shield off my 2004 td5 defender a few years ago. Got sick of skinning my knuckles trying to get at the oil filter.

Only thing I have noticed since I took it off is that it is easier to get at the filter.........

alanw

[Blknight.aus]

It is absolutely imperitive that you retain the heat shield, The acoustic covers you can loose but the heat shield must stay.

Without the heatshield in place there is no-where to put traveler pies or sausage rolls to heat them up.

[scott oz]

OK,

So it’s an urban myth that the heat shield is need and its removal will not cause problems with the paint?

In which case another urban myth busted and I'll be loosing mine this weekend.

[gusthedog]

My D2 never came with one and I haven't found it to be an issue. And no the paint has not bubbled. I have installed an Arb battery tray though so custom made an aluminium heat sheild (with fire proof insulation behind) around my 2nd battery.

I asked my mechanic about the lack of heat shield (he has worked on rovers for 40 years) and he said he thinks they actually hold heat in and therefore make the turbo hotter. He said not to worry about putting one back in. I haven't and have had no issues in 5 years of ownership

[northiam]

But.
the shield is there to keep the turbo exhaust turbine hot to improve efficeincy and lower under hood temps.

The theory is simple: Heat is energy, and gas expands more the hotter it becomes. More heat kept in a turbo manifold or inside a turbine housing equates to more pressure (energy) that can be directed through a turbine wheel, improving turbine performance, and subsequently compressor performance, for an increase in overall boost pressure and a decrease in the time it takes to build that pressure.

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