How long can I drive for with a broken cooling fan?

[Raspberrycai]

Hi,

This weekend, we're going away to the Lake District for a few days, and I'm thinking of taking the rover. The only problem is that my front cooling fan isn't working (I know its a very common problem.) I can't get it fixed before this weekend and the rover is the only car we can take.

I'm travelling about 70 miles, mainly on the motorway, so I'd like to know whether or not I could safely complete the journey without risking damage to the engine. I've been using the car for the past month or so with a broken fan but usually for 20 minutes at a time or less. The temperature gauge has never gone above the middle.

Also, I knew the cooling fan was broken when I bought the car, but when I took it on the motorway today for the second time, the check engine light came on even though everything runs fine. I'm getting an OBD2 code reader tomorrow anyway to find what it is, but do you reckon that's also due to the fan?

If it helps, I've got the 2.0L CDTI Diesel, automatic, if you need anything else just ask.

Cheers for the help.

[Yorkshire GOC]

Hi,

The TEMP gauge is useless - you can be anywhere from 75 to 115 degrees at the 9 o'clock reading. Firstly make sure your coolant level is fine then engage the onboard diagnostic "19/7" - this allows you to see a real time temp reading for your engine as you are driving along.

See link below for instructions to operate the car's inbuilt diagnostics and to set the temperature reading .

https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/for...38&postcount=1

[Yorkshire GOC]

I would have thought in motorway conditions you should on a diesel display an engine temp of 84-88 - however as i dont drive an oil burner others will no doubt come on and advise what the temp should look like - basically dont let the Temp go over 105.

[myfirstrover]

I changed the resistor on my diesel auto and now have a fully working fan , only thing is I've never heard the fan kick in under any driving conditions , diesels do run cooler than petrols , I really wouldn't worry about it unless you use the aircon a lot , as that can increase the load on the system .

[macafee2]

I personally would not do that run but if you must, this may be a myth I don't know but turn your heater on to hot and fan on. This is, if not a myth a way to help keep coolant tempt down

macafee2

[smallheathlad]

Originally Posted by Raspberrycai

Hi,

This weekend, we're going away to the Lake District for a few days, and I'm thinking of taking the rover. The only problem is that my front cooling fan isn't working (I know its a very common problem.) I can't get it fixed before this weekend and the rover is the only car we can take.

I'm travelling about 70 miles, mainly on the motorway, so I'd like to know whether or not I could safely complete the journey without risking damage to the engine. I've been using the car for the past month or so with a broken fan but usually for 20 minutes at a time or less. The temperature gauge has never gone above the middle.

Also, I knew the cooling fan was broken when I bought the car, but when I took it on the motorway today for the second time, the check engine light came on even though everything runs fine. I'm getting an OBD2 code reader tomorrow anyway to find what it is, but do you reckon that's also due to the fan?

If it helps, I've got the 2.0L CDTI Diesel, automatic, if you need anything else just ask.

Cheers for the help.

In moving traffic you will be fine, the only danger area might be slow moving traffic or traffic jams.

However diesels run cooler than petrol ones. My diesel never gets above 89c that includes motorway runs then stuck in Motorway traffic jams. I would’ve more concerned about the engine check light.
Hope you can get that sorted soon.

[Daveluck]

Unless you have a blockage, no cooling flow, towing a caravan / trailer, driving up some big long steep inclines it is unlikely that you'll have any overheat issues with the diesel not running the fan.

Use the diagnostic mode on the ipk as mentioned above to keep an eye on it but unless your doing any of the above or no coolant flow you'll be alright.

I was driving mine for a good few weeks when I first bought the car before realising my fan was not functioning as it should. God knows how long it had been duff.

[Raspberrycai]

Originally Posted by Yorkshire GOC

I would have thought in motorway conditions you should on a diesel display an engine temp of 84-88 - however as i dont drive an oil burner others will no doubt come on and advise what the temp should look like - basically dont let the Temp go over 105.

Cheers, the diagnostics thing is much more accurate than the dial, and means I can easily check the temp and pull over if needs be. Wonder why some functions in the diagnostics menu which would be very useful to the average driver are hidden though, like fuel consumption? Either way, now I feel much better about making the trip without overheating. Cheers again.

[Mickyboy]

You will be fine as long as you don’t keep the engine running in a long tailback on the motorway with the engine running, pop the heating to HI if you sit anywhere for a while.

I recently worked on a customers car that had no fan working for over a year, he had no trouble Dont use air con when stationary tho, avoid using it if possible
Your be fine
Mick

[Ian G]

Originally Posted by Mickyboy

You will be fine as long as you don’t keep the engine running in a long tailback on the motorway with the engine running, pop the heating to HI if you sit anywhere for a while.

I recently worked on a customers car that had no fan working for over a year, he had no trouble Dont use air con when stationary tho, avoid using it if possible
Your be fine
Mick

Yes as Micky says you will be fine. I drove from Weymouth to Preston and back in a CDTi with no fan without any issues at all and that included some stop start on the M5 around Birmingham.
Cheers Ian