Viscous Fan

[cewilson]

Something different to bite your teeth into.

Late last year I swapped out the original viscous hib and fan as it had called it a day. In it's place I put a XF/EA unit and cut down the blades. I then took the old girl (200 Tdi) on a 7k trip up to Townsville return with a week on Fraser. It worked a treat with no issues at all.

Now, I start climbing Herne Spur on my last trip (VIC High Country) and the fan started hitting the shroud, causing it to over-heat. Anyone that's drove that track knows you can't just stop when this happens

Anyway, I fixed up the shroud and re-mounted it and continued on my way with no worries. BUT, every hill that I climb up (doesn't happen going down hill) that is approx 25 degrees and steeper it happens again. I managed to get around this during the trip by using 1st low and the rear locker when needed to crawl up obstacles. And trust me there's steeper than Herne Spur out there - see my trip report.

So - the plan at the moment is to check the engine mounts etc to make sure that it's not moving, and if necessary cut back the fan a bit more and then go and find a nice steep hill and try it again.

So there's some info for those thinking about going down the same line as I have. Oh, the clearance is at it's worse on the right hand side of the shroud when you stand in front of the vehicle looking at it.

Cheers
Chris

[amtravic1]

Seems to me that the engine mounts are probably flexing enough with the torque from the motor to cause this.
I had a V8 short wheelbase FJ40 that would do that when the mounts where worn and when accelerating hard you needed to steer to the left or right (cant remember which) to counteract the chassis twisting.

Ian

[rangieman]

Yep engine mounts thought that would be as plain as the nose on your face