Hello all this is about keeping my Disco temp up in cooler winter weather, running the inline mod. The correct solution for most climates is put a warmer thermostat in,190 in most cases. However, in the Vancouver BC general area, our temps swing from -15C to 12 (5 to 50F) in as little as 3 or 4 days.

Currently, my disco runs beautifully at about 177 -185 in temps from about 65F to 95F, and I do not want to mess with that as it is pretty much perfect and generally the 190 is not required.

My problem is when the temps hit about 45-45F my Disco runs at 168 to 174, now it does not throw any codes but the fuel mileage takes a hit and never really gets up to full temp.

My solution is a radiator grill cover.

In minimal testing, 1-hour drive around town, a short highway run, and a long uphill to home. The outside temp was 41F, my maximum temp was 194 as rolled into my driveway after 20 minutes, 30mph uphill with several stops fully closed up.

The temperature range was 176ish to 181 while traveling once warm.

I have an 8-hour off-road trip with my local LR group this weekend, I will post the results from that trip. It has about 40 minutes of highway followed by 5 or so hours of off-road then hiway again, temps are expected to range from hi 30F down to 30 on the trip.

Fully closed is not ideal in many cases so I have the local shoe repair guy making up a couple of straps for a 50% close, which I believe will be the sweet spot most of the time. Open and closing takes about a minute, from getting out of the seat, closing or opening the cover and back in the seat.

A couple of caveats :

It should be opened once I stop for any length of time, to allow engine cooling.
I monitor my temps via an OBD reader and know my Discos running temp range
We have a lot of temperature variability here going to a hotter thermostat is not really required
My cooling system is in good shape

 

I like this idea! Where did you get that cover? I run a 195 in my inline setup from mid Dec-Feb. When those warm-up days come (45+) it can cook you out the cabin when the sun is out. I usually run 179-183 on my obd temp gauge with the 180. When the 195 goes in I sit in the 194-203 range. I have left the 180 in before and just drop cardboard in front of the rad when those sub zero weeks hit. I find the 195 and cardboard necessary when the deep plunge hits (-20+ wind chills). Looking forward to the test results.

 

@Windycity_rover Paddock spares there are 2 different ones 30-04 and prior to 03 (square headlights) 130 CDN shipped to my door was here in 4 days

https://www.paddockspares.com/da2163...-2a999999.html

https://www.paddockspares.com/da2162...-3a000001.html

 

Thats exactly what truckers do during the winter. Cover the grill, and allow the engine to run warmer, then when it gets warmer they simply remove it.

 

Ok the update after an 8 hour drive on Saturday. I will keep this updated over winter as we get colder temps.

Ambient temps were between : 32 and 40 Degs F
Travel consisted of a 20 minute highway travel wait for the group then about 20 more highway and about 6 hours for trails with stops for lunch
40 minute highway to home

On the 1st run full closed up the disco warmed up to 177.8 and stayed there dropping to 174-175 when I came off the throttle and slowed down to the meet up point.
The 1st part of the trip was fully closed up for about 40 minutes highest temp was 188 after after a long stretch of low range steep hill climbing. Temp dropped back down quick - just load.
The remainder of the off road was done at 50% open highest temp again was 188 on the final hill climb out but pretty much 174 -177. Staying at 177 under load dropping as I engine braked on downhills in 1 gear low.
Lowest temp was 160 which was on a long downhill
While airing up with the hood up the Disco stayed at at a solid 174
The 40 minute drive home was fully closed up 177.8 solid other than coasting or braking then she dropped to 174. At the 1st full stop at a traffic light 181 and at the last light 183 just before I got home that is long uphill stretch at 30 mph with several stops. The trip home was about 34-35 F

Overall this was very successful

50% open - the green clips just tuck in the grill for 100% closed, the clip to the lower attachment points for 100% open.

 

I'm surprised that the inline modification with the 180 thermostat can't maintain the coolant temperature at those modest cold weather temperatures.

 

@NVDiscovery I have the inline mod in place with a Hi-flow 180 actually marked 180, my engine seems to mostly run 177-179 unless it gets into the mid 70's. I like that way but yea it just never gets hot through spring and the cool part of summer.

 

Interesting. Good to know. Thank you.

 

Richard,

I am actively watching your updates.

I switched to the inline 184F a couple of years, along with the Hayden severe duty fan clutch. Great cooling reserve during the summer for those long slow offroad climbs. But struggled with constant pinging of the low coolant temp error codes last winter. I hear the error code pops up more frequently on the 2003/2004s, particularly with the inline thermostat setup. I am still a big fan of the inline thermostat, especially with the ease of replacement.

However, I ended up changing to the Hayden standard fan hub during the last cold winter. The constant annoying low colant temp error codes went away. Then switched back to the heavy duty version during the hotter months for offraading.

I don't want to have to switch fan hubs (or thermostats) each winter season. Therefore, if the radiator muff helps... this will be fantastic. Looking forward to your updates.

P/S. I also came across two makes of radiator muffs.... the lower priced one from Britpart.... and a much higher priced one from ExMoor. I am wondering if there are any substantial differences between both versions.

 

@acg Hi Andrew, The Exmoor one is likely better built and rolls up neatly. Mine has not tossed a code yet, even running at 174, go figure.