Technical Cooling fan 2.8jtd

[toyogran]

We are off to hot and hilly conditions in our motorhome soon.
Thought I would do a full service and check the usual things that can cause problems in hotter climates.
I changed the coolant fluid and flushed the system out and warmed up the engine to hot and waited for the fan(s) to kick in. After about an hour the temp gauge was about halfway up the scale and just sat there. (in fact I've never seen the temp gauge get much higher even on long climbs) The fan didn't start at all and feeling the radiator it seemed to stay at the same temp and certainly wasn't screaming hot.
Can anybody enlighten me as to if this is normal and the cooling system on this engine is on the generous side and only needs the fan when being worked hard?
The engine seems to warm up ok which makes me think the thermostat is working ok and the over temp warning light never comes on. The elearn spec says the thermostat is not fully open until 110 deg C!
Never had any cooling issues with this engine should I take it that the system is a bit over designed and the fans are only for reserve under hard driving?
Put 12v on the bigger fan and it works ok.
Any input appreciated and welcome!

 

[Crossingkeeper]

The fan in my 2.5TD used to start after about 5 mins in a queue but like you, I've never ever heard the 2.8JTD fan working (despite the 7 mile queue through Brandon a week or so ago)

I have often wondered if the temp gauge is electronically set at 50% as a placebo (or perhaps the cooling system is designed for Mediterranean climes!)

 

[CDK]

(or perhaps the cooling system is designed for Mediterranean climes!)

Even here the fans lead an easy life, except perhaps the one that is controlled by the air conditioner.
There are several reasons, like the mass and surface of the engine and the efficiency of modern turbo charged diesels. My Kia Sorento came with a factory installed Thermotop heater because the engine cannot reach operating temperature within a reasonable time if the outside air is below 5 C.

Waiting for an idling diesel to reach the point where the fan kicks in takes forever.

 

[Shingy]

I've also got a 2.8 JTD and have also found that the temperature needle sits happily in the middle of the dial all day long, and I think only once did I ever hear the fan kick in on a very hot day and after a hard drive. Obviously you can check that the fan works from an electrical point of view, and if you are in inclined to "grub about" further in the engine bay then the thermostat can be checked, but to avoid going to all that bother the only other suggestion I could make would be to temporarily drain off some of the coolant into a container to deliberately provoke an "overheat" situation, but at the same time keeping a VERY, VERY close eye on the temperature gauge.

Once you're happy with the "test" don't forget to let the thing cool down before re-filling....................though I'm probably telling you how to suck eggs !!!

 

[ecunotemu]

I've also got a 2.8 JTD and have also found that the temperature needle sits happily in the middle of the dial all day long, and I think only once did I ever hear the fan kick in on a very hot day and after a hard drive. Obviously you can check that the fan works from an electrical point of view, and if you are in inclined to "grub about" further in the engine bay then the thermostat can be checked, but to avoid going to all that bother the only other suggestion I could make would be to temporarily drain off some of the coolant into a container to deliberately provoke an "overheat" situation, but at the same time keeping a VERY, VERY close eye on the temperature gauge.

Once you're happy with the "test" don't forget to let the thing cool down before re-filling....................though I'm probably telling you how to suck eggs !!!

You can check fan operation with multiecuscan actuator tests. Anecdotally the primary fan must operate occasionally as the secondary fan seems to be regularly seized.

 

[toyogran]

Thanks for all the responses and experiences!
Didn't know that I could test the fans as suggested by 'ecunotemu' so got my copy out and gave it a try! Exactly right, you can test the fans and they do work! - but interestingly many of the other actuator tests don't work!
For some reason it says I've got a low engine oil pressure fault (don't think so but will investigate) and the warning lights on the instrument panel don't light up when using the actuation function. Can't beat a series 2 Land Rover only 2 warning lights on it and you can take the bulbs out without the EM light kicking off! Modern vehicles have too many worry gauges and lights!
Any body else have experiences with the actuator function on Multieuscan?
Can go on holiday now without worrying about the fans not kicking in anyway - glad others have cool Ducatos too.

 

[ecunotemu]

Thanks for all the responses and experiences!
Didn't know that I could test the fans as suggested by 'ecunotemu' so got my copy out and gave it a try! Exactly right, you can test the fans and they do work! - but interestingly many of the other actuator tests don't work!
For some reason it says I've got a low engine oil pressure fault (don't think so but will investigate) and the warning lights on the instrument panel don't light up when using the actuation function. Can't beat a series 2 Land Rover only 2 warning lights on it and you can take the bulbs out without the EM light kicking off! Modern vehicles have too many worry gauges and lights!
Any body else have experiences with the actuator function on Multieuscan?
Can go on holiday now without worrying about the fans not kicking in anyway - glad others have cool Ducatos too.

Clear the code and seeif it comes back could easily be a wiring issue which code did you get?

 

[toyogran]

Not an error code as such.
When I was in the actuation function it just says something about low oil pressure warning. Will let you know next time I plug in and give exact message. Thanks for response.