P38 Coolant - confused.com...!

P38 Monkey · Jul 19, 2023

That's very useful tip above; rev to ~2,000 and watch for coolant piddling into the reservoir. Works a treat and gives me confidence that the last bit of air has left the radiator - thank you!

Now I just have to worry about the fan viscous coupling failing (if it hasn't done so already)
...and the temperature gauge being a lying little towrag.

But with the bonnet open and the engine ticking over like a Swiss watch, it's nice and drafty in there, and the aircon clutch clicking solidly in and out. And the sun shining. What's not to like!

kermit_rr · Jul 19, 2023

Get yourself a cheap obd bluetooth elm237 thingummy

P38 Monkey · Jul 19, 2023

kermit_rr said:
Get yourself a cheap obd bluetooth elm237 thingummy

Interesting - I’ll try!!

Grrrrrr · Jul 19, 2023

P38 Monkey said:
That's very useful tip above; rev to ~2,000 and watch for coolant piddling into the reservoir. Works a treat and gives me confidence that the last bit of air has left the radiator - thank you!

Now I just have to worry about the fan viscous coupling failing (if it hasn't done so already)
...and the temperature gauge being a lying little towrag.

But with the bonnet open and the engine ticking over like a Swiss watch, it's nice and drafty in there, and the aircon clutch clicking solidly in and out. And the sun shining. What's not to like!

The viscous fan should roar on startup and then go quiet after a minute or so as it warms up. At this stage it should be possible to stop it with a rolled up newspaper. As the temperature climbs it will start to make a noise again as it locks up and at this stage it will shred the newspaper. It works pretty well and doesn't fail from getting wet, like when wading, although go too deep and the fan blades can snap off and ding the rad if it it is locked up at the time.

Andy Burrell · Jul 19, 2023

P38 Monkey said:
Thinking of fitting an electric fan anyway - anyone got an opinion on the Revotec kit?

I had one on my DSE I think I was an early customer as they sent a fan that was too deep and it wouldn't fit between the radiator and the front pully on the engine. Once I had the correct fan it all worked fairly well. But as @Datatek says his modification is quite a bit cheaper to do. I suppose it's horses for courses as with any mod.

P38 Monkey · Jul 20, 2023

Grrrrrr said:
The viscous fan should roar on startup and then go quiet after a minute or so as it warms up. At this stage it should be possible to stop it with a rolled up newspaper. As the temperature climbs it will start to make a noise again as it locks up and at this stage it will shred the newspaper. It works pretty well and doesn't fail from getting wet, like when wading, although go too deep and the fan blades can snap off and ding the rad if it it is locked up at the time.

Interesting tests. My fan doesn't do any of that - when cold it is pretty easy to rotate the blades by hand. From what you say, when cold it should be pretty difficult to turn.
Time for a new (Febi Bilstein) coupling methinks...

kermit_rr · Jul 20, 2023

It should turn by hand but feel stiff and stop as soon as you release pressure from your finger. It shouldn't be 'difficult' enough to break a sweat or cause a frown

P38 Monkey · Jul 20, 2023

kermit_rr said:
It should turn by hand but feel stiff and stop as soon as you release pressure from your finger. It shouldn't be 'difficult' enough to break a sweat or cause a frown

Perfect technical description..thank you!

P38 Monkey · Jul 20, 2023

kermit_rr said:
Get yourself a cheap obd bluetooth elm237 thingummy

There seems to be a bewildering choice of these devices at a very wide range of prices, and an equally wide range of the software that you need to run on your phone to read them.
Any recommendations to suit my 1997 4.0SE?

P38 Monkey · Jul 20, 2023

Old radiator cap as spare, with new viton o-rings fitted. Old rings were worn and hard. Sizes: 3.5mm thickness x 34mm ID and 35mm ID.
Top seal was OK, not changed.

kermit_rr · Jul 20, 2023

P38 Monkey said:
There seems to be a bewildering choice of these devices at a very wide range of prices, and an equally wide range of the software that you need to run on your phone to read them.
Any recommendations to suit my 1997 4.0SE?

I'd go cheap and cheerful eg

ELM327 OBD2 Bluetooth OBD-II Car Diagnostic Scan Reader Tool Mini Android Torque | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for ELM327 OBD2 Bluetooth OBD-II Car Diagnostic Scan Reader Tool Mini Android Torque at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

But you have to make sure it works without errors as there's a lot of fake junk out there

The torque app will give you a status, if it's working properly

Scotiawhiskers · Jul 20, 2023

Before we got the nanocom we used a £10 or so plug in from fleabay and torque lite app to good effect.

Grrrrrr · Jul 20, 2023

P38 Monkey said:
Interesting tests. My fan doesn't do any of that - when cold it is pretty easy to rotate the blades by hand. From what you say, when cold it should be pretty difficult to turn.
Time for a new (Febi Bilstein) coupling methinks...

It'll turn by hand when cold but should still roar when starting from cold.

Datatek · Jul 21, 2023

The tightly rolled newspaper test for the viscous fan is the one that matters. Engine up to temperature, insert rolled newspaper into fan blades, if it stops it's NBG.

kermit_rr · Jul 21, 2023

If the big nut is damp but not coolant then it's started to leak it's contents

romanrob · Jul 21, 2023

if you had ever suffered catastrophic failure of the fan blades (and it's pretty common) you would be less keen to stick things in the fan

Datatek · Jul 21, 2023

romanrob said:
if you had ever suffered catastrophic failure of the fan blades (and it's pretty common) you would be less keen to stick things in the fan

A rolled newspaper is not going to do any harm, it's the standard test.

kermit_rr · Jul 21, 2023

Datatek said:
A rolled newspaper is not going to do any harm, it's the standard test.

Just don't get carried away.. or you might!!

Datatek · Jul 21, 2023

kermit_rr said:
Just don't get carried away.. or you might!!

It's armless.

norseman · Jul 21, 2023

For my Classic V8 I just buy blue concentrate & dilute as applicable (50%)

The only ready-mixed solution I buy is Halfords screen wash, because I could never remember how much water or screen-wash to add when topping up

P38 Coolant - confused.com...!

Well-Known Member

Very

Well-Known Member

Technician, Bodgit & Scarper Ltd

Retired to the country

Well-Known Member

Very

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Very

Well-Known Member

Technician, Bodgit & Scarper Ltd

Well-Known Member

Very

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Very

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Similar threads