rasclatMC

Member

• Dec 29, 2014

• #1

Hope everyone has had a merry Christmas. And been out messing about in the recent snow.

I am curious to know why a lot of defenders I have seen over the last few days have got a cover over the radiator grill? Is it something to do with the weather?

 

J

Jam1

Well-Known Member

• Dec 29, 2014

• #2

rasclatMC said:

Is it something to do with the weather?

Click to expand...

Yep, they run quite cool already without the weather.

 

rasclatMC

Member

• Dec 29, 2014

• #3

So is it worth getting one? Does it improve performance? Or starting?

 

L

lynall

Well-Known Member

Full Member

• Dec 29, 2014

• #4

Doesnt improve starting or performance, but does keep the engine up to temp once stat is open as when running lightly loaded the engine temp can drop to 80 degc c which gives real crap heater output.

 

Lowlight

Active Member

• Dec 29, 2014

• #5

It also warms up a lot quicker, good for the engine and the cab heater - I've used a bright orange feed bag this year - might get round to doing properly one winter

 

L

Litch

Well-Known Member

• Dec 29, 2014

• #6

I fitted one to my S111 almost 30-years ago, -10 degrees and I boiled!
Never again.

Properly operating cooling system and correctly adjust heater, nice & toasty without the need for one (300TDi soft-top daily driver).

 

sp00k

Well-Known Member

• Dec 29, 2014

• #7

I need to fit one to my daily driver 200 TDI. If the cooling system is in peak condition (and mine is) then they are massively overcooled.

I was driving around for an hour+ today in mixed driving - motorway and 30 MPH roads. Temp never rose above 80 degrees on the top hose - that's with an electric fan fitted, so it would be worse with a viscous.

I don't think it's the covering of the rad that's such a big deal, it's probably the reduction in air flow around the engine that makes that little bit of difference. I normally cover 3/4 of the rad but leave the intercooler fully uncovered.