Freelander Engine Cooling

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freebiker

freebiker

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Ok, finally got my coolant leak sorted out, turned out to be the inlet gasket.

What i was wondering this time was... cooling mods on my freelander. I'm going to do the undertray mod that helps with keeping the engine a bit cooler, but i also thought about a bonnet scoop, which would not only feed cold air to the engine, but i'd run an active feed to the air box to help the air intake get cooler air.

I'm not going through deep streams or anything, so it wouldn't matter about water going over the bonnet and i'd be precautious about keeping rain water out etc.

In the long run i was even thinking about an electronic air valve to switch from bonnet scoop (for road and motorway use etc) to snorkel (that i'll eventually fit when i do want to take it through streams and wading).

What are your thoughts on these you guys?
 
crewebiker said:
but i also thought about a bonnet scoop, which would not only feed cold air to the engine, but i'd run an active feed to the air box to help the air intake get cooler air.
Click to expand...

1stly, and most importantly, it gonna look poop. some cars can take a bonnet scoop, and in my humble opinion, the freelander ain't one.

2ndly, the air going in isn't going to be much cooler, if you want cooler air you need to go lower not higher. In summer, the engine will be drawing air over a hot bonnet, effectively pre-heating it.

all in all, i'd give it a miss, but your car, your choice
 
I dunno about this, if done tastefully it could look well.

I would place it 2/3 the way back on the bonnet and a minimal scoop of 2cm.

All V6 models should have had a scoop as standard, esp for extra cooling and air flow over the rear bank.

I would forget the combo of scoop and air induction, if anything keep it simple, like a defender front air-flap open and shut mechanism,

you could feed the air duct out the LHS wing, its plastic and easy drilled,

An air scoop will give you ram air effect in an normal aspirated engine, the faster you go the more ooomphhh. Suzuki bikes are based on this principal, gives an epic howl as air is sucked in at speed
 
if yu are going for a snorkel - save your money, and time. Go straight for the snorkel. Some are designed to give a small ram-air effect which might help a bit.
 
Why not try plumbing a radiator downstream of the header tank and then fit a scoop to blow cold air over it.
extra coolant can't hurt either
 
edge said:
Why not try plumbing a radiator downstream of the header tank and then fit a scoop to blow cold air over it.
extra coolant can't hurt either
Click to expand...

Any extra rads might cause overcooling, the 1.8 is balanced on a knife edge, pardon the pun.

Any more coolant could just tip the balance, it would overcool in winter and take longer to warm up.

I have the IRD inter cooler hoses disconected at the moment, she heats up to running temp quicker and runs better.

The rad works really well in the FL, plus fans will come on if the temp goes above 106 oC even at idle the fan soon brings the coolant temp down.

I modded the undertray as it cocoons the engine too much
 
Ok, i decided to go ahead with it. At the moment i've just got the scoop with a cutout underneath it letting cool air in. In the not so distant future, i'll take out the original airbox, refit a custom box with a cone K&N filter and locate the inlet pipe for the new airbox somewhere near the top of the scoop. Have a look at the pic and let me know what you think, personally i think it looks pretty cool! Oh btw, needs sanding down a bit more yet but the body filler isn't that visible in this pic. Got me some nice light guards as well!
 

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Looks OK

Electric water pump with theromstatic control would be my choice of improving the cooling system. Would only run when you needed it should warm up in a steadier fashion than a mechanical thermostat and waterpump so the shock would be less on the engine components which might help with a suspect head gasket design? Plus you might be able to increase the system volume and still get a really steady and controlled warmup? You can find them on classic car sites and mags I think.
 
Lookswise it aint a disaster & anything you can do to help cooling has got to be good. Northy has a good point re the undertray. It's a crap design all round & would be your next best target. Lots of luck & well done for going for it.
 
Told you it would look well, is it an Impreza scoop? It has to be a first!

Forget the K&N, unless you're going to enclose it in its own pot. They suffer from heat soak.

Is there anything available that runs the internal span of the scoop and funnels down into standard 90mm ducting? Im sure I have seen this type if thing in Rover heater vents and cabin ducts.
 
Boxer said:
Looks OK

Electric water pump with theromstatic control would be my choice of improving the cooling system. Would only run when you needed it should warm up in a steadier fashion than a mechanical thermostat and waterpump so the shock would be less on the engine components which might help with a suspect head gasket design? Plus you might be able to increase the system volume and still get a really steady and controlled warmup? You can find them on classic car sites and mags I think.
Click to expand...

Blurry eck N.I. - someone has been listening :eek:
 
cheers guys! :D

After scouring the internet before doing it, i couldn't find anyone else that had put a scoop on a freelander. So i wouldn't be surprised if it was a first!

It's not a genuine impreza one, but an impreza 'style' one that i got for a tenner from ebay. Plus £10 worth of black mesh and £5 worth of dremel cutting disks, some old body filler and some spray paint the job will have cost me under £35 in total! It took me about 3 hours to fit and apply some filler, and will probably take me a bit longer to finish it off as i still need to spray it.

I've seen someone put a K&N filter in a old dehumidifier tank to route to a safari snorkel on a jeep, i think if i was to get the airbox right the filter wouldn't take any hot air in. It's got to be better than the stock airbox, right?

The undertray is my next mod, going to get some think sheet aluminium to replace the fibreglass/plastic bottom and drill a few cooling holes here and there.
 
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