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Bluest

Member Since: 23 Apr 2016
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 4209

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Java Black

Pumas in hot climates

We've been doing a spot of overlanding of late and were caught in the heatwave in northern Spain a week or so ago. On a few days the temperature was heading to 45c. During this heat the defender suffered power loss a few times climbing mountain passes. No warning lights or movement of the temp gauge though. Power would come back after a few seconds. Lots of 2nd and 3rd gear uphill hairpins seemed to be the trigger. I seemed to be able to avoid the issue if I stuck in a lower gear and revved the engine a bit more.

Is the 2.4 cooling system marginal in these conditions, or could it be a different issue? I'm thinking that by revving more the fan was doing a bit more to keep the temp down. Car was loaded with stuff but not extremely so.

Be in interested in the thoughts of anybody else who lives in warm mountainous climates. 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS

10th Jul 2019 11:26am

Eduardo

Member Since: 28 Aug 2008
Location: Región Metropolitana
Posts: 2110

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SW Stornoway Grey

Bluest,

It's a looong history cover in this forum several times.

In fact, the Defender cooling system appears to be very tight. A lot of people refering to this problem in special under high temps (over 35°C). high speed in 6th gear under mild slopes and medium/high load.

Mine suffered this issue almost all summers since 9 years.
Probably you are suffering the same but more acute due the high slopes.

Some actions to avoid the problem:

1) Change the termostat for one that opens at lower temperature
2) use the nakatenga extension for the fan
3) Upgrade intercooler
4) Upgrade the radiator

In fact, if you slow the gear the problem disspeared.

Cheers! Eduardo

MY 2007 110 SW PUMA 2.4: Big Fog of 64'
MY 1994 Jayco 1207 Folding camper: "El Tremendo"

Click image to enlarge

10th Jul 2019 2:56pm

EastFreo

Member Since: 24 May 2014
Location: Perth
Posts: 103

I have a 2.2 Puma and to date have had no issues in what can sometimes be very hot Western Australia (ie regularly over 40c in summer). Not exactly mountainous though.

10th Jul 2019 3:43pm

Bluest

Member Since: 23 Apr 2016
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 4209

Interesting, topic. A combination of high temps, high load and low fan speed and low water pump speed maybe.

I'll mull it over, but a better intercooler and radiator are probably the best fix. Fortunately, these conditions are rare for an Englishman to encounter.

I was pondering the the fan spacer, but I'm not convinced it would help. I used to work as a draughtsman for an industrial fan manufacturer and axial flow fans always had the impeller half shrouded, which is how the Defender is as standard. Fully enclosing the blades in the shroud should not improve its performance from what I know. 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS

10th Jul 2019 5:45pm

Eduardo

Member Since: 28 Aug 2008
Location: Región Metropolitana
Posts: 2110

My approach was start from the cheaper to the most expensive.

I started with the nakatenga spacer. Temperature showns an slight reduction (maybe 1-2°C) but still not solve the issue)
Then the thermostat probably help something (1-2°C extra) but not make the difference.
Finally the uprated radiator do the trick and the temperature drops enough to be under 115°C in all the way (If I remember the engine cuts at 120°)

Cheers! Eduardo

MY 2007 110 SW PUMA 2.4: Big Fog of 64'
MY 1994 Jayco 1207 Folding camper: "El Tremendo"

Click image to enlarge

10th Jul 2019 6:42pm

Bluest

Member Since: 23 Apr 2016
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 4209

Which radiator did you choose? 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS

10th Jul 2019 7:13pm

Pickles

Member Since: 26 May 2013
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 3784

2013 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 CSW Keswick Green

We never had any issues with our 90 in 40C heat. However, mountainous roads were not involved, pretty flat country, sitting on around 100kph but the air cond was on obviously, which can put more load on the cooling system, but the temp gauge never moved.
Pickles.

10th Jul 2019 11:25pm

HardCharger

Member Since: 03 Mar 2013
Location: Manila
Posts: 737

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SW Stornoway Grey

Will adding an aux fan, making them two upfront, help? Not only will it help the AC keep cooler, it may help the engine with the increased pull of air in. At least that's what I'm thinking.

Currently being in a tropical country, the temps are starting to reach 45 degrees celsius every now and then. We also have mountain roads and steep inclines to deal with so I'm watching this thread to ensure my truck operates in the optimal range.

I remember a discussion on different thermostats here somewhere so there is merit to it. As for uprated radiator, Allisport makes one, I think? For the uprated intercooler, there are a few manufacturers already mentioned in this group.

11th Jul 2019 1:23am

Bluest

Member Since: 23 Apr 2016
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 4209

The thing with running a different thermostat is that it has no effect on the capacity of the cooling system. Yes, the engine may run a little cooler in normal conditions, butonce the the limit of the system is reached and the thermostat is fully open you'll be in exactly the same situation as with the standard one.

A bigger radiator is the only proper fix I can see really.

Incidentally, those high heats mine ran fine at highway speeds (100-110 kph) even up some reasonable gradients. Also I did a fair bit of low range trails on very steep mountain passes, again no problem. It was the tarmac mountain switchbacks that did for me. 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS

11th Jul 2019 7:34am

Eduardo

Member Since: 28 Aug 2008
Location: Región Metropolitana
Posts: 2110

Bluest wrote:
Which radiator did you choose?

Allisport... Eduardo

MY 2007 110 SW PUMA 2.4: Big Fog of 64'
MY 1994 Jayco 1207 Folding camper: "El Tremendo"

Click image to enlarge

11th Jul 2019 6:06pm

Eduardo

Member Since: 28 Aug 2008
Location: Región Metropolitana
Posts: 2110

Pickles wrote:
We never had any issues with our 90 in 40C heat. However, mountainous roads were not involved, pretty flat country, sitting on around 100kph but the air cond was on obviously, which can put more load on the cooling system, but the temp gauge never moved.
Pickles.

At 100 kph is not an issue. The issue appears when the speed is 120 kph in 6th gear in mild slopes for a long time. Eduardo

MY 2007 110 SW PUMA 2.4: Big Fog of 64'
MY 1994 Jayco 1207 Folding camper: "El Tremendo"

Click image to enlarge

11th Jul 2019 6:13pm

ericvv

Member Since: 02 Jun 2011
Location: Near the Jet d'Eau
Posts: 5816

2009 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SVX Station Wagon Santorini Black

Eduardo, was the installation of the Allisport radiator really plug ‘n play? Or did you have to cut away and adapt certain things on the truck to make it fit? Allisport on their website say it’s a straight fit, but a customer review talks about having to cut away some plastic parts....
Interested, as one day I may want to install such a bigger radiator to further improve cooling.
Eric You never actually own a Defender. You merely look after it for the next generation.
http://youtu.be/yVRlSsJwD0o
https://youtu.be/vmPr3oTHndg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GtzTT9Pdl0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABqKPz28e6A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLZ49Jce_n0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvAsz_ilQYU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8tMHiX9lSw
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dxwjPuHIV7I
https://vimeo.com/201482507
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSixqL0iyHw

12th Jul 2019 4:30am

Eduardo

Member Since: 28 Aug 2008
Location: Región Metropolitana
Posts: 2110

Eric

Was almost Plug & play. Not cutting or mods needed.
Only the radiator upper cowl were located a little bit higher after the mod, but doesnt interfer with the bonnet closing.

Cheers! Eduardo

MY 2007 110 SW PUMA 2.4: Big Fog of 64'
MY 1994 Jayco 1207 Folding camper: "El Tremendo"

Click image to enlarge

12th Jul 2019 1:46pm

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