p38 diesel viscous mod.

aust180 · Sep 14, 2019

Hi all, I've tried searching through old posts and have found lots of chat but no one explains the mod. I see datatek is still here but cant work out how to pm him. Any way does anyone know how to get this mod up and running. just installed new thermostat , waterpump and viscous fan. fan started running permanently after about 30 miles. for the grief of getting it off I'd rather not put it back on. please help.

Henry_b · Sep 14, 2019

@Datatek

Click on his "name" and it'll say "start a conversation" press that and Bobs ya uncle.

marjon · Sep 14, 2019

I sort of don’t understand.
You say everything is new?
So why has it failed?

That is sort of how it works if at standstill. Or where you driving.
What was your reason for changing what you had?
The Mod is not a cure all

J

aust180 · Sep 14, 2019

thank you. its amazing how blind I can be.

aust180 · Sep 14, 2019

when I got the wee beastie about a month ago
it wasnt boosting, it had a minor water leak and the viscous fan ran permanently. knowing I had to replace fan and not sure where the leak was coming from, I found it cheaper to replace both water pump and thermostat than mess about chasing a leak. unfortunately thermostat and fan arrived first and as I was impatient I swapped both. fan was great. I no longer sounded like a jumbo jet trying to take off. I could tell after this that the leak was water pump so when it arrived I took some more skin off removing fan. swapped water pump, reinstalled viscous fan and since then I have a jumbo jet as soon as I hit 2000rpm. if you have anything that is worth checking I'll try it.

Datatek · Sep 14, 2019

The viscous fan mod works well even in high temperatures, but it will not cure or cover up overheating problems other than those caused by a duff viscous fan. You must also remove the fan cowl as well as the fan.

aust180 · Sep 14, 2019

thank you datatek. email recieved will try and get on it this week.

aust180 · Sep 14, 2019

and now Saturday night drinks. thanks all.

marjon · Sep 14, 2019

aust180 said:
when I got the wee beastie about a month ago
it wasnt boosting, it had a minor water leak and the viscous fan ran permanently. knowing I had to replace fan and not sure where the leak was coming from, I found it cheaper to replace both water pump and thermostat than mess about chasing a leak. unfortunately thermostat and fan arrived first and as I was impatient I swapped both. fan was great. I no longer sounded like a jumbo jet trying to take off. I could tell after this that the leak was water pump so when it arrived I took some more skin off removing fan. swapped water pump, reinstalled viscous fan and since then I have a jumbo jet as soon as I hit 2000rpm. if you have anything that is worth checking I'll try it.

What did the water pump look like that you took off, and what did you put on?
Was the viscous fan “new” or “new to you”?

They are not cheap new.

J

aust180 · Sep 14, 2019

water pump was not horrendous but not great. new one was cheap ebay jobby. viscous fan was new but ebay again. feel free to suggest. I dont take offence easy.

Grrrrrr · Sep 16, 2019

I put the metal pump on from Island-4x4. The plastic ones have been known to break up catastrophically. There's no way I would get one off ebay.

aust180 · Sep 21, 2019

ok. quick update after the event.
new
thermostat
water pump
viscous fan
followed up with
Datatek bypass/upgrade.

turns out new thermostat doesn't open enough.
so struggled through the fault finding thinking its fan but it was the simple fix I needed.
Having said that I wont put viscous fan back on. I'm getting about 2.5/3 mpg and a much more peaceful drive with mod. thank you datatek.
it does run a little more than viscous fan. but cant hear it in day to day driving also I probably need new air con rad as never used and it looks like some chickens have nested in it. So BIG THANK YOU to Datatek.

Datatek · Sep 21, 2019

aust180 said:
ok. quick update after the event.
new
thermostat
water pump
viscous fan
followed up with
Datatek bypass/upgrade.

turns out new thermostat doesn't open enough.
so struggled through the fault finding thinking its fan but it was the simple fix I needed.
Having said that I wont put viscous fan back on. I'm getting about 2.5/3 mpg and a much more peaceful drive with mod. thank you datatek.
it does run a little more than viscous fan. but cant hear it in day to day driving also I probably need new air con rad as never used and it looks like some chickens have nested in it. So BIG THANK YOU to Datatek.

If the stat is correctly set, the cowl removed and the cooling system is OK, the fans should rarely run when the cars is moving more than walking pace unless the weather is very hot.
The mod certainly makes the car quieter and warm up in winter is much quicker. Not much difference in MPG on mine except in winter as I rarely do short runs.

aust180 · Sep 21, 2019

Datatek said:
If the stat is correctly set, the cowl removed and the cooling system is OK, the fans should rarely run when the cars is moving more than walking pace unless the weather is very hot.
The mod certainly makes the car quieter and warm up in winter is much quicker. Not much difference in MPG on mine except in winter as I rarely do short runs.

aust180 · Sep 21, 2019

as I got my "wee beastie" with 155,000 on the clock. I'm sure I've not sorted all issues yet. I think the front rad (air con?) is blocked and stopping full air flow. add to that that whilst wiring your mod I spotted that I need to put a new gearbox oil rad on so whole cooling system needs some TLC. I will work through all as I'm a convert to bloody knuckles and weekends under the bonnet

Henry_b · Sep 21, 2019

aust180 said:
as I got my "wee beastie" with 155,000 on the clock. I'm sure I've not sorted all issues yet. I think the front rad (air con?) is blocked and stopping full air flow. add to that that whilst wiring your mod I spotted that I need to put a new gearbox oil rad on so whole cooling system needs some TLC. I will work through all as I'm a convert to bloody knuckles and weekends under the bonnet

Taking the unions off the end of the cooler is fun. NOT>

soak it in Plusgas before going near it.

fucmeitsandy · Sep 21, 2019

Henry_b said:
Taking the unions off the end of the cooler is fun. NOT>

soak it in Plusgas before going near it.

Best of luck with them !
Britpart oil cooler rad might need the brackets tweeking a bit . Mine was to close to the wheel , couldn't get the plastic arch liner back on without bending the rad forwards a bit .

RangeRoller dt · Sep 21, 2019

Your intercooler takes up a bit of room so if it’s blocked up will slow airflow. Flush it out is best - will run much better. 155,000
Is nothing to these engines.
Cooling system works very well when right, will operate in a desert no probs. I think your right to assume it’s not 100% quite yet.

Beware what cheap parts you get - my brand new metal Impeller pump cost about £40 and works a treat, check with us we’ll show you what works best for the price

A/C is the clutch kicking in and out?
Autobox cooler - be gentle connectors shear off

aust180 · Sep 21, 2019

as far as AC is concerned I need to find the correct belt tensioner as it doesn't exist. hence why I'm leaving that until the end.......

Although my wife now wants the Wee Beastie as her day to day i may have to buy another.
cant put my finger on it( generally because I might lose it) but it's just such a nice car to drive.

RangeRoller dt · Sep 21, 2019

Two is betterer

Datatek has 3
Ask Bix - the musses always ends up with the nicer one

p38 diesel viscous mod.

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