Thermo fans on BJ42 and general overheating

[ozlegacy]

Hi I've been having problems lately with big hill climbs and continous low range off roading where my 40 starts to over heat. Its the orginal 3B diesel with just over 300k on it and around town and general driving it is fine and temps never go over half (normall sit on 1/3).

The raidator is only 2 years old accroding to previous owner, but Im having it taken out today and cleaned probably (end tanks of etc) as there does appear to be a bit of oily sludge in the coolant (hopefully not a head gasket) apart from that it doesn't loose any coolant.

I've also noticed its not running the factory fan shrouding and the fan sits a good foot or back from the radiator so how effective it is with no shroud Im not sure, plus the fan is not orginal as I cracked it a while back and replaced it with somthing similar.

Anyway as a precautionary mesaure I'm looking at fitting some electric fans off a jap model car to seperate switches so that I can turn these on for extra cooling if and when she does get a bit hot. Has anyone else with a 40 series done somthing similar and if so which fan's have you found fit with least amount of mucking around???

Thanks

[Busiboy]

Without the shroud it should overheat off road, no shroud reduces sucking ability thru your radiator.

I have a shroud if you are interested, PM for detail and pics

I have to fit a thermo due to engine conversion etc, a fan isn't practical anymore.

[ozlegacy]

Thanks for that PM sent

[dibbz]

I have heard that thermo fans dont last real long if you submerge them.

Only a problem if your taking your bj swimming :)

[ferrit]

if you got a viscous coupling, go to toyota and fork over the $9.48 (+GST) for a tube of silicone oil and add that to the coupling....

Did that to ours, went from overheating on hill climbs to being able to drag a 2 tonne tractor up a hill in low range 1st with the aircon and running cooler than it was when i was on the flats at 100!

[ozlegacy]

Excuse ignorance but which viscous coupling are you talking about?

[vraamm]

get yourself a shroud so that you dont recirculate hot air. also a viscous hub will bring the fan closer to the radiator. would steer clear of electric fans, did not seem to have enough grunt to cool my fj40.