Mini Mad
Posted 16 July 2013 - 03:19 PM
My mini has been getting very hot in slow traffic in this weather and I'm thinking of installing an additional fan like this one: http://www.minispare...px|Back to shop
Has anyone else tried this? Has it worked well? Do others have this problem? What have they tried?
I am THE CLAMP MAKER
Original Spamster
Posted 16 July 2013 - 03:26 PM
Rover did on my mini
One Carb Or Two?
Posted 16 July 2013 - 04:40 PM
I'd suggest trying to find what the underlying problem is and fix that.
Pretty sure a standard mini should be able to cope with anything here in the UK, even the current heatwave, 
I think mine needs a flush as it did go just over the normal mark (needle thickness over) the other day, putting the heater on (just opening the tap) dropped it back down again (didn't get any hotter in the car as it was already too hot, ).
My car has the standard rover electric fan, but it's not been working since I've had the car, tried to get it working yesterday by cleaning up the contacts, just got to see if it makes any difference the next time I go out (or if it even works, might end up just having to mod it to a switch inside if the otter switch is broken).
Mini Mad
Posted 16 July 2013 - 04:44 PM
This might be useful
Ah, yes. Thank you.
putting the heater on
Why/how does that work?
Camshaft & Stage Two Head
Posted 16 July 2013 - 04:52 PM
The small heater matrix within the heater unit is just a smaller version of whats under the bonnet, so its allows the coolant more room to get cooled, even within the car its a tiny bit. I have seen cars with small heat exchangers like the matrix in the heater unit connected in series with the coolant lines under the bonnet for extra cooling.
Super Mini Mad
Posted 16 July 2013 - 08:14 PM
Rover fitted an auxiliary electric fan with the re-launched Coopers in the 90's as standard. As others have said the fan switches fitted to the thermostat housing fail, and most simply wire in a manual switch to operate the fan manually as the replacement fan switch is horrifically expensive for what it is.
If your car doesn't have an electric fan already then the kit you listed in the original post is a great solution. I have my own version of this, and with a MiniSpares 2 core rad It handles stop-start traffic, even on a day like today !!
Phil.
Mini Mad
Posted 17 July 2013 - 02:51 AM
I have a manual switch for the electric fan in the inner wing....reasoning that I know when it's hot out there and standing in traffic etc.
Also have an auxilary rad (happens to be a GM pickup truck heater core) in the airflow behind the grill and an oil cooler - BOTH can be simply blocked off in cool weather.
NO problem crossing the Mojave Desert in California, while sadly a UK built custom van suffered a crack in the block between #3 & # 4 and on getting 1,800 miles home we found the head cracked between intake & exhaust seats in #4. We got home because an extra rad went out front in the airflow and we left just after 3 a.m. to beat the sun crossing the desert.
Added the same auxiliary rad to my '73 Clubman Window Van in Australia - NO overheating problems at 45C crossing Western Australia.
There are lots of folk here in North America who say if everything is in good nick you shouldn't have a problem. I spend $40 on extra rad and hoses and have NO problem and NO engine rebuilds.
Camshaft & Stage Two Head
Posted 17 July 2013 - 09:19 AM
I have a manual switch for the electric fan in the inner wing....reasoning that I know when it's hot out there and standing in traffic etc.
I've found no trouble with a conventional thermostat also knowing when it's hot out there 
Mini Mad
Posted 17 July 2013 - 07:59 PM
Yes Captain a thermostatic switch could be installed but my view is that it is less likely to be a problem tuning the fan on or off with a simple mechanical switch.
For example, driving towards Melbourne from the Great Ocean Road in OZ our running mate's "automatic" electric fan malfunctioned and his engine temps soared in the Sunday afternoon bumper to bumper traffic. Pull over, bonnet up and start digging into the wiring etc. to see what was amiss.
<a href="http://s100.photobuc...228da6.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i100.photobuc...zps51228da6.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo DSCN3888_zps51228da6.jpg"/></a>
Crazy About Mini's
Posted 17 July 2013 - 08:19 PM
mine was getting hot a few weeks ago and i swapped my rad and flushed the whole system out about 3 times. i also think my fan belt was loose as since then it has behaved even above 30deg c. it goes a little past half way. in the evening it goes up to half and stays there. before it was going nearly to the hot.
if you want a fan for peace of mind it is a very good investment. i know a few people who have done this and they went all over europe last year without a problem.
Camshaft & Stage Two Head
Posted 17 July 2013 - 11:29 PM
Yes Captain a thermostatic switch could be installed but my view is that it is less likely to be a problem tuning the fan on or off with a simple mechanical switch.
For example, driving towards Melbourne from the Great Ocean Road in OZ our running mate's "automatic" electric fan malfunctioned and his engine temps soared in the Sunday afternoon bumper to bumper traffic. Pull over, bonnet up and start digging into the wiring etc. to see what was amiss.
<a href="http://s100.photobuc...228da6.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i100.photobuc...zps51228da6.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo DSCN3888_zps51228da6.jpg"/></a>
Being someone who designs control systems I like to stick with properly designed automatic systems (if you can call a thermostat "automatic" ).
it's quite interesting to watch people in hot or cold weather - first hint of a bit of snow and they go for the central heating thermostat "oooh turn the heating up....it's cold out there" - why? if it was comfortable in the house at 18C before, it will continue to be so, even if there is 3' of snow outside... anyhow I digress.....
By the look of it, your mate didn't have thermostat trouble, (if he did, then he was looking in the wrong place)....
One Carb Or Two?
Posted 18 July 2013 - 05:13 AM
Kenlowe fans are expensive, get yourself a 10" slimline pull fan fitted between the rad and the inner wing, such as a revotec - http://www.rallydesi...oducts_id=14676 straightforward wiring with a relay and switch on the dash. I've been out in the 30 deg sun sat in traffic no problems at all (assuming you have a car with a ribbed inner wing, found on earlier versions)
Speeding Along Now
Posted 18 July 2013 - 09:11 PM
Kenlowe fans are expensive, get yourself a 10" slimline pull fan fitted between the rad and the inner wing, such as a revotec - http://www.rallydesi...oducts_id=14676 straightforward wiring with a relay and switch on the dash. I've been out in the 30 deg sun sat in traffic no problems at all (assuming you have a car with a ribbed inner wing, found on earlier versions)
Looks like you have a clubman - loads of room between the rad and inner wing? Has anybody actually fitted a fan like this to a round nose? I've just bought a slim fan I found recommended on another thread - can't see how it's going to fit without cutting most of the grill from the forward end of the inner wing. And sliding it all looks like it's going to fun - normally to get the rad out you push the fan with cowl attached towards the inner wing so as to clear the fan? With an electric fan in the gap there's no room left to push the rad towards the inner wing. Anybody got any pictures?
Camshaft & Stage Two Head
Posted 19 July 2013 - 12:35 AM
I'd suggest trying to find what the underlying problem is and fix that.
Pretty sure a standard mini should be able to cope with anything here in the UK, even the current heatwave,
I think mine needs a flush as it did go just over the normal mark (needle thickness over) the other day, putting the heater on (just opening the tap) dropped it back down again (didn't get any hotter in the car as it was already too hot,
My car has the standard rover electric fan, but it's not been working since I've had the car, tried to get it working yesterday by cleaning up the contacts, just got to see if it makes any difference the next time I go out (or if it even works, might end up just having to mod it to a switch inside if the otter switch is broken).
Put a link wire across the two spades and see if it fires up, if it does then so long as the switch is OK, it will run....if the switch is not OK, why not just replace it so you don't have to worry about manual switches.
I'm out of the dark ages now - all the vehicles I drive can look after their own cooling without my help
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