Prith

Active Member
Guys my 200tdi def viscous unit has failed because I think the fan was rubbing against the cowl. Can I remove the fan cowl and will it make a huge difference if the cowl is not there.

I may buy the Revotec electric fan unit.
 
You can remove it, fan will be made next to useless though. The fan needs the cowl to pull air through/away from the rad, without it the fan will just be moving air about under the bonnet. I don't have a fan fitted at the moment and she's never over-heated, but I do plan on fitting a leccy fan next year!
 
I run my 200tdi with out viscous fan, or cowl.
I've got an electric one for the summer offroading, otherwise never had a problem with overheating.
 
The cowl's been missing off mine since I've had it. Never had a problem but I can see how there might be if it was working hard at very low speed.
 
No cowl on mine,went electric twenty years ago. servicing items on front of engine much better with out it.
 
As long as the rest of the cooling system is in good order you don't need a fan on a 200tdi for 95% of situations, towing heavy stuff or slow maneuvering off road you may just want an electric fan. all 5 of my 200/300tdi's have never had fans on and have all been fine. saves a drop of fuel too
 
And you may find the heater works a bit better. My 2.5 n/a runs a bit closer to normal with the cowl off - still runs cool though.
 
I removed my Visco fan and cowling about four years ago. I fitted a Kenlowe electric fan and haven't had any problems. Last April did a trip across Morocco , it never missed a beat. Its been wadding, cross rivers etc, still works fine. I did hope the engine would run warmer and I might get more heat out of the heater, but no real noticeable difference. Still bl--dy freezing below -5C
 
Last edited:
Still bl--dy freezing below -5
This is when I hang a sack down over the grill,think you can still get proper rad muff's.:D

I have a proper rad muff, no difference. A piece of linoleum in front of the rad worked a little better. Changed four thermostats. Sealed all the drafts from around the doors etc etc etc. I also have one of these ceramic electric heaters, a 300 watt one which helps. I have solved the problem by buying myself a big warm coat, gloves and scarf. My Defender only seems to warm up when I am just about to reach my destination. The temp here can go down to -18C. I think the 200tdi was just designed for hot climates.
 
And you may find the heater works a bit better. My 2.5 n/a runs a bit closer to normal with the cowl off - still runs cool though.

So you still have the viscous fan but no Fan cowl & she still runs cool? Here in India we have to have fans as the normal temp is 30 to 38 degrees in summer.
 
So you still have the viscous fan but no Fan cowl & she still runs cool? Here in India we have to have fans as the normal temp is 30 to 38 degrees in summer.


In that case you'll definitely need to get a cowl on or fit a leccy fan. Viscous fan is no good without the cowl.
 
In that case you'll definitely need to get a cowl on or fit a leccy fan. Viscous fan is no good without the cowl.

Thanks Mate. At present ordered the Viscous unit. Will have to find a way to see that the top of the cowl is not fouling with the Fan for the time being. Later will upgrade to the Revotec electric unit.
 
I wouldn't bother re-fitting the viscous fan, the 200tdi engine runs very cold and you wouldn't notice any difference in temps without it. I never had a fan fitted to my old 200tdi, the engine would still only just get up to temp after a long run. Give it a try and stay local if you're worried about overheating, but once removed I doubt that you will bother refitting it (32mm spanner iirc & L/H thread) Free hp without it too ;)
 
Yet to get my new viscous unit. So today I started her up and noticed on a cold engine the Fan was moving and as the temperature came to about half way on the gauge the fan slowly slowed down and after the engine was run for over 30 minutes standing the fan then stopped turning at all.

Isn't it supposed to be the other way? That is the Fan should not turn when the engine is cold and should come on when the temp rises?

Totally confused.
 
the fan will turn all the time, the difference is you'll be able to stop it turning by using a paint brush or rolled up newspaper,
when it's hot it will be locked and you won't be able to stop it.
as said previously I've had 5 200/300 and never run a fan, even when towing a caravan
 
The 2.5 N/A has a non viscous fan - on all the time. Tempted to remove it, but paranoid about overheating, although the average summer temp in Norn Iron is only about 10 degrees.
 
The 2.5 N/A has a non viscous fan - on all the time. Tempted to remove it, but paranoid about overheating, although the average summer temp in Norn Iron is only about 10 degrees.

I ran my 200tdi 110 Defender here in France a couple of years ago without any fan for about six months. Did a trip down to Montpellier in 35 degrees, only when it was going up a long steep hill did the gauge move towards the red. Not into the red. Didn't have to stop, just kept going.
 

Similar threads