[ms1991]

Hi

My Vitara seems to creep up on the temp guage a little when cruising on the fwy at 110kmh...alot worse when Im towing my bike, obviously. Sick of turning the heater on to keep the guage at the halfway mark.

Would it be sufficient to mount a 12" thermo fan at the front of the radiator to flick on while towing etc to help bring temps down?... whilst retaining the original clutch fan.

Original radiator afaik, guts of it look clean from what i can see and the coolant is full.

[shakes]

Something is wrong with your cooling system. It should handle those things without an issue.

A thermo fan will only mask the problems, Have you had the radiator out and PROPERLY flushed? When was the water pump/thermostat/coolant last changed? Have you had the system pressure tested?

[ms1991]

Waterpump replaced about 8 Months ago.
Other than that I havent touched anything else since I got the car about a year ago?

Will change the coolant tomorrow, not to sure about the thermostat though, will look into it..

Besides these problems, would a thermo fan benefit a stock cooling system that is in good working order?

[Gwagensteve]

No, it won't be needed if the cooling system is in good condition, so it won't be doing anything.

Steve

[ms1991]

okie dokie, cheers.

I have a high country trip coming up next week, nothing extreme, just cruise and camp for 4 days but I want to get the cooling system sorted..well atleast try to hey.

Whats the best way to flush it? people seem to do alot of different things.. Plans are to flush it, change thermostat and radiator cap, re fill. that should sort me out till I get back.

[christover1]

I rigged my AC fan as an extra cooling fan.
But since fitting a new radiator and fan hub, temp has never gone up high enuff to use it,
even when towing.

[ms1991]

No AC in my poverty pack Chris, but thanks for your input.

If Im up for a new radiator, whatdya recommend?

[christover1]

Good chance the fan hub needs re oiling or replacing.
Theres a how to in Good Tech section.

I bought an ebay cheapy, its aluminium cor with normal plastic tops.
Was from Victoria for $110. Not been in long, but works good.
After my new radiator my average temps dropped 10*C

[christover1]

As a temp fix I jammed my cluch fan, so it was always on, that ran well for ages, but sucked a bit of power

[christover1]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/390483385472 ... 1439.l2648

I bought that one.
Not been in long, so can't comment on how long it will last,
but has a warrantee.
Was delivered the day after I paid.

[ms1991]

Looks good mate!

Whats so special about that fan oil? can you use any other oil?

[christover1]

ms1991 wrote:

Looks good mate!

Whats so special about that fan oil? can you use any other oil?

No idea why it is fan oil, or what it means.
Must have something to do with viscosity at temperature, flow rate and stuff.
Is cheap enough, so best to use proper stuff.

[ms1991]

Yeh your right, just unsure wheather i can get some tomorrow or not! lol.
Would a toyota dealership stock it for sale?

[christover1]

I bought a new fan hub, you can borrow my re-oiled one, or my locked up one, as a trial or for the trip if you wish.

Some people get the fan oil straight from Toyota, some have got it from auto shops.

[ms1991]

Thanks for the offer but I guess I will have a crack at doing my own first, Im not one to borrow and stuff.. i hate it lol.

Dealership is closed tomorrow so I'll have to try an auto parts store or just wait till monday.

Cheers Fellas.

[christover1]

I'm the same, I understand.

But keep it in mind, in case holidays stuff up shopping plans.

Good luck, enjoy trip

[ms1991]

Cheers, Thanks for your help and will do!

[SuziBlu]

IMO changing the coolant without flushing properly is a bandaid at best.

Get some good chemical cleaner, good will be a 2 part, one is an acid for cleaning around the block, the other is a base agent to neutrify the acid.

This is best done before changing radiators, or, with an old crap radiator, as scale may come out and block the radiator cores, most will lose eficiancy after 5% of the cores are blocked.

One of the things I have done is to get a radiator man to sweat of the top and bottom tank, then rod each core, reseat the tanks, good as gold.

[ms1991]

Guys Im in the process of changing the clutch fan oil and chemical flushing etc..

The thermostat withing the clutch fan assembly is staying open even when i have placed it on an Ice pack.. does this mean it's rooted?
its doing the opposite of the pictures christover has posted in his how to thread...

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=28644

[christover1]

try cleaning, derusting and lubricating the coily thing on the front, may just be stuck

[ms1991]

Will do mate, it opened up heaps more when I put it in hot water.. But when cooled it stays about 4mm from the stopper tab thingy.

[christover1]

Don't assume mine was correct, I have no idea if it was.
It should definately move with heat varying though.

Never looked inside the new fan hub.

[christover1]

Maybe its been jerry rigged to stay open by a previous owner.
If so it would cool ok, but would sap power and fuel if running when not needed.

[ms1991]

Cleaned up the springy thing with wd40 and a small wire brush. Closed a tiny bit but pretty much the same. But it definitely opens heaps when hot.

[christover1]

ms1991 wrote:

Cleaned up the springy thing with wd40 and a small wire brush. Closed a tiny bit but pretty much the same. But it definitely opens heaps when hot.

Sounds ok to me, but time will tell.
I'd be happy to throw it back in.
It may be my old one wasn't opening enough.
With use it may free up a bit anyway

No need to drain old fan oil, just top it up.

[ms1991]

All back together. Topped up clutch fan fluid, changed thermostat, chemically flushed coolant and replaced.

Staying a tad lower on the temp guage atm but yet to give it a hwy run. So far so good!