Manual radiator fan switch.

[jed the spread]

Just been doing abit of chasing of wires today giving the van a right good once over and discovered the wires connected to a switch on the dash is for the rad fan. It works fine and operates normal from the thermostat, so my question is what befits are there of having this and when would you use it when it kicks in fine anyway. The van did have a charge cooler fitted to a 1.6td at one time before i had a bigger one fitted, maybe something to do with that?

jed

[Ian Hulley]

I fitted our's (with Disco's help ) so I could keep temperatures down when coming to a large hill/mountain in the heat last Summer. I guess it's a case of belt and braces but at least you know the fan's going to be on instead of waiting for it not coming on.

Ian.

[jed the spread]

jed

[clartsonly]

maybe the fan was not coming on (jbad earth etc and this was a last resort before it was fixed).

[ringo]

Have you got an oil temp gauge Jed?

Be interested to see what affect (if any) sticking the rad fan on prematurely has on the oil temps.

I personally think if the system VW provided works then you dont need it. However, it could be useful if it affects oil temps - specially as you havent got a oil cooler yet you slacker.... (you need one - specially on a syncro).

Ringo

[jamesc76]

I fitted a chicken switch on mine, well every car I have ever had, soooo much better to be able to whack it on when you want !

[eatcustard]

I could do with fitting one

As my van gets to hot, for my liking before the fan comes on.

[jed the spread]

Have you got an oil temp gauge Jed?

Be interested to see what affect (if any) sticking the rad fan on prematurely has on the oil temps.

I personally think if the system VW provided works then you dont need it. However, it could be useful if it affects oil temps - specially as you havent got a oil cooler yet you slacker.... (you need one - specially on a syncro).

Ringo

Havnt got round to doing the gauges yet as its a little down the list yet but i will for sure. An external oil cooler along with the charge cooler i have will be going on too but i dont really thrash it around and am happy sitting at 60mph on the motorway so my own curiosities regarding oil temperatures will have to hang on a little longer (I really really want to find out though). Russel and Andy recon it will be fine as it is but the cooler will just make the engine last longer.

Thanks for all the other input chaps.

jed

[kevtherev]

Going on what Ringo said
for the reasons of a lower oil temp which results in a better oil pressure

I fitted a thermostat that opens earlier, combined with a thermo fan switch that comes on earlier too, the 1st stage fan comes on the moment the gauge goes over the half way and 2nd stage comes on not far behind.

the temperature Ian describes last summer were exceptional.
However it did work.
although the gauge was showing well within the normal operating area, and the fan was at full tilt the water level/temp light flashed, we stopped but found no fault with the water level.
cutting the speed to 50 mph solved it
42 deg it was

unforgettable heat

[happy camper]

I fitted a switch to mine last year just so i had full control over engine temps, on hot days you can have the fan running as soon as you get in slow moving traffic which just takes the edge off of nervousley checkin the temp gauge every 2 seconds hoping that the thermo switch hasn't corroded over the winter, just flick a switch hear the fan start and relax

[toomanytoys]

I reckon it would be handy on low speed whilst slow offroading.. that way the rad stays cool and the thermostat can keep control over the engine temp.. this would help the oil temp too...

I have a 30 channel display/data logger I want to rig up to see whats actually happening with the cooling system (+gearbox and diff etc...), may seem a little over the top, but would help to understand what the "plumbers nightmare" system is really doing...

[Ian Hulley]

we stopped but found no fault with the water level.
cutting the speed to 50 mph solved it
42 deg it was

unforgettable heat

I thought you found a wire off the following day ?

Ian

[kevtherev]

we stopped but found no fault with the water level.
cutting the speed to 50 mph solved it
42 deg it was

unforgettable heat

I thought you found a wire off the following day ?

Ian

yes Ian quite correct.. one of the fiddly ones I codged for the metal stat housing

[Ian Hulley]

The heat coming from your engine bay in that little laybye was certainly unforgettable Certainly one way of drying the sweat off ya brow !

Ian

[kevtherev]

I thought the dang thing were about to explode..
Imagine how long we'd have had to wait until it cooled enough to take the cap off.. next day probably
happy memories mate