Forum:
I'm based in the NW Ireland and like the UK, we've been getting unseasonably cold weather. More snow is due tomorrow.
My 2001 Fieldman seems to be coping just fine with the snow, ice and low temperatures. However, although there is heat from the vent it's not as good as it was a few weeks ago before the temperature plummeted. I work in uplands and it would be good to get that heater back up to its usual finger defrosting temp. Coolant temp gauge today was siting on a 1/3 all day long, even when the engine was working hard in the hills and on a motorway. Previously, the temp gauge always sat on 1/2.
The -10 deg C air cooling the radiator is obviously having significantly greater chilling effect on the coolant than normal air. Question is, if I blocked up part of the grill in front of the coolant radiator, will this reduce the chill and raise the temp from the vents? I was planning a bit of trial and error with a cardboard cover this week but was wondering if anyone out there has this tried and tested already. Many years ago I had a Citroen 2CV and it came with a plastic cold weather grill cover, which worked a treat over the winter.
Something similar
This happened to me - it was simply the thermostat siezed open - try replacing that, it's not difficult to do, but don't overtighten the 3 bolts on the alloy thermostat housing.
1985 Veg oil burning Fourtrak "Rocky".
Simple solution
Thanks for the info. I'll give that a go.
i have had several cars in
i have had several cars in this week that are running cooler than normal as a result of the very cold conditions, the partial block idea can work fine but you do need to hawkeye the temp gauge in case it gets to high.
Alternatively you could fit a
Alternatively you could fit a different temperature thermostat so it runs hotter. You would need to swap it for summer, or hot weather running to prevent overheating.
Is the cooling system clean? if not it will impair the heat as the matrix will become clogged. This will restrict or impede the water flow through the matrix, or coat the inner surfaces.
If this is the case it will mean less heat output for the vehicle.