Folks,
Despite risking engineering and design criticism
, I felt it time to tell you all about my take on cooling and what I have fitted to give me some peace of mind when caught in traffic for longer than I want.
My install is around a Tripac 6.5" engine fan, which is reversible so that it can suck as well as blow. I have installed in on the faux grill, with a little bit of additional support, but not much as it's quite light. It sucks air out of the under-bonnet area and blows it back onto the engine. The force of the 'wind' is significant and is broadly in a circle, so air is directed to the engine pretty evenly.
When first fitted, although it was blowing relatively well, there was much turbulence around the faux grill area as air needed to rush in and out in pretty much the same space, which left is less effective that it should have been. I'd already been wanting to find a way to get some air into the oil-tank area as this gets very hot after a decent run and I eventually bit the bullet and cut me a hole in the front of the bonnet. That was a struggle actually, as the cowling and bonnet are both closed, so some accurate marking and cutting is required. Mine is only OK, but it's out of sight, so little harm done with my slightly wonky circle.
Power is taken from Fuse 18 (Intercomm) and can still use the same 5A fuse, as the running current of this fan is only 4A according to the label. I wanted a really discrete switch, so installed a push-button On/Off to the right of the steering cowl with an indicator light to match. Fuse 18 is always live, so it means I can have the fan running when stopped, if only to help cool things down quicker than normal.
I am very happy to report that it works a treat! What is most surprising is that after a decent run, the temp of the air coming out of the fan is really quite warm, showing that the 'suck' is pulling cold air into the under-bonnet area and helping cool things in there as it comes out much warmer than it went in. The force of the air then onto the cylinders is considerable and if I stand in front of the engine, I can feel the (very) hot air hitting my legs as the fan does its job.
I've not had much of a traffic jam as yet, but it's easy to switch on, it's under my control, is uber-discrete (in my opinion anyhoo) and does exactly what I wanted it to do.
I am sure that the factory UCK is more efficient, but this is a lot prettier IMHO and cost about 1/3rd of the price.
Happy to accept feedback, good or bad! Sorry about the low res pictures, but I wanted to do a write up now and the car is in the garage.
