VC fan clutch sanity check

pjkbrit

pjkbrit

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Apr 23, 2004
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...oh..and i would add...I had a fan clutch failure on my old D1...they often fail by seizing so that the fan runs 100%...which is plenty dangerous...because they are not designed to do so...they fly apart and take out lots of nice good parts if you run them like this for very long!
 
K-rover

K-rover

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Jan 15, 2010
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Raleigh, NC
I drove my D2 to work today, Its about 90 out today. It runs around town at 195-203 with highway temps being a little lower. All with the A/C on. The highest Ive seen it in normal driving conditions is 212 at idle, but comes right back down.
I replaced the radiator about a year ago. I plan on doing the 180 Tstat ASAP. Im not worried about highway use. Just offroad. Ive seen it go up to 220 after a low range hill climb. Mine is an 01 with 180k on it. I dont think it should run at 220 around town.

I would say radiator since that is what dissipates the heat.
 
p m

p m

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Apr 19, 2004
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pjkbrit said:
...oh..and i would add...I had a fan clutch failure on my old D1...they often fail by seizing so that the fan runs 100%...which is plenty dangerous...because they are not designed to do so...they fly apart and take out lots of nice good parts if you run them like this for very long!
Click to expand...
I had one seize (actually, been seized when I bought the truck), with a couple of fan blades broken off and a couple of the way. All others slowly went soft.
 
listerdiesel

listerdiesel

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Feb 16, 2010
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We don't see that variation on our 99 D2 V8, summer to winter it is consistently just above the midpoint on the temperature gauge (gage)

I'd have a look at changing the temp sender or at least see if it is crusted up inside, and check the electrical connection, plus change the thermostat.

Peter
 
jafir

jafir

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May 4, 2011
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Northwest Arkansas
listerdiesel said:
We don't see that variation on our 99 D2 V8, summer to winter it is consistently just above the midpoint on the temperature gauge (gage)

I'd have a look at changing the temp sender or at least see if it is crusted up inside, and check the electrical connection, plus change the thermostat.

Peter
Click to expand...

The gauge doesn't really give accurate readings. There seems to be no difference between 196 and 220 as far as where the needle sits.
 
Some Dude

Some Dude

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Feb 12, 2009
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Boise, ID
In my experience there is no difference between about 160 and 235. It's right in the middle through that entire 75 degree range.
 
p m

p m

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Some Dude said:
In my experience there is no difference between about 160 and 235. It's right in the middle through that entire 75 degree range.
Click to expand...

IME, it was between 160 and 234.5F... the next half of a degree pushed it to the bottom of the red zone.
I am ambivalent about the stock gauge... It is akin to a "low oil pressure" light - keeps your sanity within reasonable limits, then when it's on, you're fucked.
 
mike97d1

mike97d1

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Aug 13, 2004
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Wilmington,NC
I'm using an ultragauge to monitor my water temp. My temps were very consistently around 196-198. 2 weeks ago I noticed the temps would randomly creep up to 208. This weekend I swapped the t-stat for a 180 degree. The temps are around the expected 186-188, but go up to 196 at times. I know that all these temps are in a good range, but I feel like something is still wrong since it is going up a bit at random times. I was thinking maybe it was he fan clutch. I did notice last night that the cap to the expansion tank is slightly messed up and not able to hold one of the 2 O-rings in place, but the tank is still holding pressure. Any ideas? I don't want to just throw money at it, as I have been doing that a lot lately.
 
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Some Dude

Some Dude

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Feb 12, 2009
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A fan clutch did not solve mine, no. I'm going to throw a radiator at it in the spring. At this point with temps dipping to freezing it's not causing me any trouble and I'm only driving it every couple of weeks anyway.
 
K-rover

K-rover

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Jan 15, 2010
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Raleigh, NC
Colder temps make mine run warmer. I know that is some how normal on a D2, but I still dont like it. My Radiator is about 1 year old. I just installed a used fan clutch from joel and got my electric fan working again.
During the summer I got up to 212 at the most. usually while idling. Giving gas up a hill and highway use I see 194. Averaging about 204 around town.
I have a 180 thermostat that should be here tomorrow. I hoping that after that I can stop looking at my temps. Im driving to URE Thursday morning so we will see.
 
KyleT

KyleT

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Mar 28, 2007
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Fort Worth, TEXAS
p m said:
IME, it was between 160 and 234.5F... the next half of a degree pushed it to the bottom of the red zone.
I am ambivalent about the stock gauge... It is akin to a "low oil pressure" light - keeps your sanity within reasonable limits, then when it's on, you're fucked.
Click to expand...


It's a 4 position gauge. Cold, normal, hot and replace engine red light. The rave details the exact temps for each occurrence... I have seen them shut off after being in the red light area for too long..... Maybe a fail safe.... Would have to look again.
 
mike97d1

mike97d1

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Aug 13, 2004
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Wilmington,NC
K-rover said:
I installed a 180* Tstat today http://landroverparts.roversnorth.c...sc=THERMOSTAT-ASSY-DII-180-DEGREES-FAHRENHEIT

Before I replaced it I was running at 195-204 driving around town. Idle 215, but never any higher.
After thermostat replacement: Running 186-194 around town. Idle at 201.

I say it was worth doing.
Click to expand...

Yea, I just swapped mine to a 180* t-stat as well, runs 188-190 rolling and goes up to 194-197 sitting in traffic.
My issue is that I think it should be staying at the 188-190 all the time. Was thinking maybe my fan isn't working like its supposed to.

When I had the 190* t-stat in it would run 196-198ish all the time, no matter what. Then it started to creep up to 204-206ish when sitting. All these temps are well within the ok range, I just don't like that it creeps up a bit when sitting still. Water pump is new, new t-stat, Head gaskets are new, flushed the radiator in January when I did the head gasket, electric fan is working. Only thing I can think is the fan clutch might be on the way out and not moving the air like it used to.
 
K-rover

K-rover

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Jan 15, 2010
2,183
72
Raleigh, NC
mike97d1 said:
Yea, I just swapped mine to a 180* t-stat as well, runs 188-190 rolling and goes up to 194-197 sitting in traffic.
My issue is that I think it should be staying at the 188-190 all the time. Was thinking maybe my fan isn't working like its supposed to.

When I had the 190* t-stat in it would run 196-198ish all the time, no matter what. Then it started to creep up to 204-206ish when sitting. All these temps are well within the ok range, I just don't like that it creeps up a bit when sitting still. Water pump is new, new t-stat, Head gaskets are new, flushed the radiator in January when I did the head gasket, electric fan is working. Only thing I can think is the fan clutch might be on the way out and not moving the air like it used to.
Click to expand...

Did the temps go up when the outside temp got colder?
 
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