Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2005 14:03:34 GMT
I'm planning to fit an electric fan over the winter.When I look at other p5b's which have them fitted,the fan doesn't look very big compared to the radiator? Is It a better Idea to get two smaller ones fitted or one 16" one.I want one thats fitted In front of the radiator and blows.Also Is It better to get one that comes on Itself or one that you switch on manually. Also Pacet or Kenlowe?
|
|
|
Post by DanielSheard on Nov 7, 2005 11:31:04 GMT
I have a Kenlowe, but hated the Kenlowe thermostat - it comes with a bulb that you put into the top radiator entry, and I could never stop it leaking. I've replaced the control with one that th MG Owners club sell which splices into the top hose and looks much better.
My fan fits in front of the radiator but as you say is quite small. It is the one Kenlowe recommended.
Daniel
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2005 13:18:47 GMT
I have a Pacet 16" fan fitting in front of radiator, but with the Kenlowe adjustable themostat assy. Works very well (and no water leaks). However, call Kenlowe on 01628-823303 and talk to them. They are very helpful and may suggest two smaller fans fitted diagonally - these take less current and shift more air! than one large fan. I suggest you contact them for they professional advice. Cheers
|
|
|
Post by John Stacey on Nov 7, 2005 17:00:12 GMT
I fitted a Citroen CX fan behind the grill to blow. It is a large and flat unit which really does a good job. Cx bits are really cheap(£5). The switch is from a sender I had fitted to the radiator when the rad was refurbished. The MG sender sounds like a simpler job to install. Even in the summer I find the fan only switches in in heavy traffic. A worthwhile update. John Stacey (Bristol)
|
|
|
Post by Phil Nottingham on Nov 7, 2005 17:04:44 GMT
Have you done away with the old fan as otherwise I cannot see any advantage?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2005 17:58:49 GMT
No haven't done away with It,It;s just that this year I got stuck In a major traffic jam and the gauge just kept on climbing nearly to the top and the oil gauge went down.It hasn't happened since but then It's only when I am In non moving traffic. Freddy,thanks for the number I will give them a call.I like the idea of two smaller fans.
|
|
|
Post by Phil Nottingham on Nov 7, 2005 18:34:08 GMT
Ther must be something wrong with the radiator and/or block pump then - an upgraded rad + electric fan without the original metal is the most effective and cheapest in the long run.
Cure the cause not the symptoms!
|
|
|
Post by carelsantman on Nov 8, 2005 1:11:50 GMT
A few months ago I fitted a Kenlowe heavy duty fan and it really works! Even in a traffic jam and 30 degrees Celsius or more the temperature stays normal (watertemperature in the middle). The bulb into the top hose of the radiator does not leak because of a special glue paste (red colour). Together with the adjustable thermostat it works very well. When parking the car in the summer the fan usually will run for another few minutes when I turn of the engine. I kept the old fan as swell because electric equipment can fail and in this way I will always have a backup. I did remove the silvercolour sticker on the front of the fan because it was really ugly and you could see it from the outside through the grill of the car
Good luck, Carel
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2005 7:35:08 GMT
I removed the engine driven fan when I fitted the 16" Pacet fan etc a few years ago. Works very well - cuts in and out automatically when required fine. Does not overheat and the engine warms up quickly and sound quieter too. Phil: Previously, I found that when in standing traffic during the summer time that the engine temperature got worryingly high. In these situations how can an engine driven fan, at tickover, cool the radiator sufficiently? I had a fresh radiator and refurbished engine (OK the engine was overhauled over 11 years ago) but still I was concerned about the engine cooling ability at idle. If the engine driven fan was surrounded by a fan cowling attached to the radiator, that would be a significant improvement but as the original fan is rotating in free air some distance from the radiator, it is not as efficient as it could be. I see no problem with the electric fan option at all. Do many or any modern cars rely on an engine driven fan alone? With kind regards to all Freddy
|
|
|
Post by Phil Nottingham on Nov 8, 2005 8:21:04 GMT
The engine fan can be marginal occasionally in heavy traffic in hot weather and an electric fan is the sensible option if the old fan is removed and then you get the best of both worlds and save petrol as well. As you have done in fact which is the modern set up universally and completely reliable
The point I was making is that it is unnecessary to have both if the cooling system is operating efficiently. Fitting one when the rad is silting up which is a progressive effect is only a stop-gap so unless the rad is known to be good in it has been recently rebuilt its best to spend the mney on this first
Its just
|
|
|
Post by John Stacey on Jan 9, 2006 18:31:33 GMT
Phil asked if I had removed the old fan. YES, this time of year the car warms up and stays warm quicker but I find the extra space really helps access to the front of the engine. Timing is a doddle because a socket can be put on the crank bolt, the petrol pump and so forth are just not obscurred by the large belt drive fan. John Stacey of "use your p5 fame"
|
|
|
Post by Phil Nottingham on Jan 9, 2006 20:12:56 GMT
Definitley a good idea about removing the engine fan but I am afraid the timin can only be set up accurately using a new fangled dwell meter & timing light (Xenon) - leave the old methods for the 3 litres etc although a dwell meter & timing light is good for them as well even though they have starting handles. ;)Ps good wright up about public perception of old cars and P5's in particular in Take 5 - my work colleagues would not believe me when I said my P5B was smaller than a Mondeo until I made a point of parking next one of theirs recently in the car park. They were surprised at this especially at how much more roomier mine was. I also pointed out mine is paid for and costs far less to run overall than depreciation never mind HP interest etc. The main point of this however is that most modern car drivers have not got a clue how even to find the oil dipstick never mind check it, as they expect cars to go on forever, until they breakdown of course. Classics thrive on essential regular albeit not difficult attention and as most have not got access to a good reliable garage owning such cars is a pipe dream if they have no inclination to get their hands dirty. Its this point that will prove insurmountable - the green lobby is not big enough to overcome the job/tax lobby for promoting new cars
|
|
|
Post by stantondavies on Jan 9, 2006 21:44:17 GMT
Phil: Previously, I found that when in standing traffic during the summer time that the engine temperature got worryingly high. In these situations how can an engine driven fan, at tickover, cool the radiator sufficiently? I had a fresh radiator and refurbished engine (OK the engine was overhauled over 11 years ago) but still I was concerned about the engine cooling ability at idle. Rest assured Freddy, my engine driven fan coped very well the other year in the French heatwave where the temperature peaked at 45C (113F) for five days on the trot, and was over 40C for a couple of weeks. Even stuck in traffic I was OK. The night-time temperature plummeted to 28C! The car is a 3litre, with 3-core radiator and a 6-bladed impeller in the water pump.
|
|
|
Post by Phil Nottingham on Jan 9, 2006 22:36:31 GMT
I agree an engine driven fan will probably allow the water to reach alarmingly high temperatures but not generally to the extent of boiling over when its likely to cause problems
It depends how many times this really likely to happen in our country as to whether an electric fan is necessary - I have so far not found it to be. If and when I do I will remove the belt driven fan completely. If I am taking my car(s) to hotter climes perhaps some assistance may be useful.
I must confess since changing the rad for a better secondhand one on my 3 litre Coupe the temperature gauge never moved further than the end of normal in a large number of very lengthy traffic jams caused by roadworks going to work last summer in the "long" hot spell. There was no water loss or other signs of overheating other than the front brake calipers (again)!
The P5B' s temp did go a little higher in the same circumstances - but as the 3 litre auto is much more smoother/quieter to drive and thus relaxing in these crawling situations I generally used it - the disk calipers will again be ready for another reconditioning though after partially locking which does not assist engine cooling.
I had overheating on my P2 for several summers and bought an electric fan - it did not really help (the design of the cylinder head is actually flawed - Rover did make mistakes and never resolved them!) as the system is unpressurised and the rad cap is just a lid that lifts on boiling and this got to be a real problem.
A rebuilt rad to a higher spec did not allow the electric fan to be refitted without modification so I left it off with a view to reftting it - on the hottest of Sundays over the past three years I have not had any serious worries even in traffic delays although the temp did climb high enough to cause occasional fuel vaporisation with the mechanical pump. I was never convinced tht the fan did not actually impede the air flow with the engine fan on - it certainly made more wind noise as believe or not a P2 at 55-60mph is quieter than a V8 at the same speed - but then I am partially deaf
All I am saying is that; sort out the defects first before carrying out perhaps unnecessary mods - how long will it take to recoup the cost of fuel savings if little annual mileage is done? Nothing like a good hot engine to give a good decoke
|
|
Allan NZ P5b
Rover Fanatic
1971 p5b Auckland New Zealand
Posts: 255
|
Post by Allan NZ P5b on Feb 10, 2006 22:46:32 GMT
I have just fitted in November a 16" fan in front of my radiator. I have a rebuilt radiator and my engine and waterways are sound, while I never had any actual overheating incidents I have been concerned at times on very hot days when caught in heavy traffic. the gauge comes up to over 1/2 way and when running at anything other than a crawl settles to the first 1/4 of the Gauge. after fitting the fan I adjusted the temperature sensor to turn the fan on at about a 1/3 on the guage and now the car never goes above that. Not a lot of money for peace of mind I say. Here you can just see the fan thru the grill I will remove the gold 12v sticker. you can see the switch and copper tube that has the sensor.
|
|
|
Post by PatMcCoy on Feb 11, 2006 0:45:09 GMT
I rang Kenlowe last week about a fan,as i have had a engine rebuilt. They ask me a couple of questions What was it use for, town or motorway driving ? Did i have any signs of over heating? Any towing? I told them i had the rad three cored They recommended a 13inch heavy duty one that fits between the rad and grill with a thermostat and fitting kit,and to take off the old engine fan. Its £148.00 all in,never got a price for postage as they are only down the road from me The bloke i spoke to said that on a drive it most probably only come on for 5% The benefits are, less noise,engine warms up quicker,less drag as fan is not spinning all the time saving fuel,and tick over can be lowered a bit If you ring them they will send you all the details
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2006 0:54:21 GMT
Im am shortly going to be fitting my electric fan but was planning on just having a switch inside the car for turning the fan on.I can see the switch from your photo but where Is the wiring sensor going to -is it inside the top hose?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2006 9:08:00 GMT
Why not fit a thermostatic control AND a manual override switch. My manual switch will allow me to turn the fan on early, but the thermostatic switch will come on anyway when necessary. If you rely on the manual switch and forget to switch it on in time, then what? New cars do not have a manual cooling fan switch so just fit a thermostatic one and forget it.
|
|
|
Post by jimmelia on Mar 22, 2006 10:52:17 GMT
I fitted a Viscous Fan five years ago, that i bought from Rover Parts,works a treat no problems, regards Jim.
|
|