Rad muff for 30 mile commute?

Glenbirnie · Dec 12, 2012

At the moment I am using my Defender for a 30 mile commute each way to work. In north Scotland so temp is at the moment typically about 3-4 degrees in the morning and 6-7 on the way home. This will change dramitically soon, last year was minus 15-22 in the mornings.

My Landy is a well serviced and good working 77k miles 2004 110 CSW.

With the heat on full red and fan half way down I am getting a good heat in the cab but the temp tips off slightly towards cold. I am wondering if you think it would be more efficient to use a rad muff to keep the temp more central given that I will be seeing colder and colder temps as we get into winter up here?

Thanks

the_wolf · Dec 12, 2012

If your temp sits fine normally and youre driving that distance then a rad muff may cause it to overheat. Theyre good for short journeys and force the engine to heat up much quicker but for a journey of that distance i wouldnt risk it.

Youll probably be better off doing what you can to make it more comfortable internally i.e lining any bare panels, plugging any gaps in doors etc... rather than relying on the heater alone cos lets face it, even if they work fine theyre still pants compared to other vehicles lol

Jason2 · Dec 12, 2012

Make one out of a rubber floormat !

I bought a Rad muff and it was a piece of crap only lasted one winter.

Also take your viscus fan off (store upright)?

Glenbirnie · Dec 12, 2012

What is the viscous fan?

The permanently crankshaft driven fan?

What does the 'viscous' bit mean?

Is it not just a plastic fan constantly driven by engine movement?

When you say remove it I presume you mean replace it with a Kenlowe?

the_wolf · Dec 12, 2012

Glenbirnie said:
What is the viscous fan?

The permanently crankshaft driven fan?

What does the 'viscous' bit mean?

Is it not just a plastic fan constantly driven by engine movement?

When you say remove it I presume you mean replace it with a Kenlowe?

Doesnt have to be a kenlowe. Mine has had an electric fan from a Renault fitted onto it and ive wired it into a switch in the dash, needless to say it is very very efficient

Boris113 · Dec 12, 2012

If you go down to your local scrapyard there will be plenty about. I've got one from an old ford estate and plan to wire it through an x-eng sensor and a 3 stage switch so it can be off-auto-on.

As for a rad muff anything will do so long as you keep an eye on the temp gauge. Rubber mats, bits of carpet or feed sacks all work well. Someone on here made a good one that would roll up or down a while ago- might be worth having a search around

Jason2 · Dec 12, 2012

I remove the viscus fan (full of snotty stuff that thickens with the heat from the rad and turns quicker to cool) on my 200 tdi Def & Disco TD5 from October to April here in France. The Defender also get's a rad muff .

wermy · Dec 12, 2012

Unscrew the viscous fan and store it in the back for the winter as Jason says.

Blank the radiator off with some porous material like carpet. That will still allow some airflow to prevent hot spots in the radiator. If it is in strips you can weave it between the slats of the grill without having to fasten it to anything. I made mine out of gash foam packaging from work.

Shifty1962 · Dec 12, 2012

I have an old cardboard wall planner cut to size, wrapped in a black bin bag, and slid down between the radiator and intercooler. That way my intercooler still gets cold air. You can make it any size you like and I've experimented with leaving some of the radiator uncovered as well as fully covered.

As far as I can tell with my Nanocom its made absolutely no difference to the running temp of my engine. Mine never gets above 80.2c even in the summer with no viscous cooling fan.

My leccy fan has only ever come on once and that was while towing my mates dead Landcruiser up a steep slope in amongst the trees in low gear for about half a mile.

Glenbirnie · Dec 13, 2012

Seems bizzare you can remove the fan and it doesnt affect the engine temp!

Dr_evil · Dec 13, 2012

why would it ? at high speed you rad is cooled by air forced over it. The fan is only for in town or when going slowly as the air draw isn't high enough

can always get a third or half rad muff

Jason2 · Dec 13, 2012

Glenbirnie said:
Seems bizzare you can remove the fan and it doesnt affect the engine temp!

You can because the engine & cooling system is over designed to work in far hotter places than where you are.

You don't have to believe us! Carry on and freeze yeh nuts of this winter for all I care

landrover11019 · Dec 13, 2012

Just fix ur heater.

Grimmer · Dec 13, 2012

Glenbirnie said:
In north Scotland so temp is at the moment typically about 3-4 degrees in the morning and 6-7 on the way home.

Well thats a damn sight warmer than this bit of north Scotland has been lately

I did a 400mile trip last winter with my Rad Muff all the way down, and never did the engine temp get any higher than just short of half way

Rad muff for 30 mile commute?

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