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Hi all
Ok so we made it. My lean grean towing machine just pulled 850 hard miles in up to 28 degree temperatures, with a huge (12ft x 6'6" x 6'6" single wheelbase square, box trailer weighing at least 1300 kg, maybe 1500, up and down (unintended) mountains, and nothing broke.
the ATF fluid temp warning light came on twice in 3 days, once briefly on the way to portsmouth, before we'd even really got going, which rattled my confidence in her slightly, but it was at the top of a long steep 2 mile stop start haul often at walking pace and it was only on briefly, maybe 15 secs, and later I realised I hadnt had the fans on, so that one was user error.
the next time was at the top of an 800m mountain drag, (lost leaving Bilbao, after a 2hr traffic jam there straight off the boat) and it stayed on a little longer but soon dropped out again.
some of the really long hard drags up motorways had her down to 35mph with the weight of the trailer and my (standard) temp gauge only twice briefly twitched out of its normal position, at which point I put all both heaters on full, and down she came again.
All in all I'd say the aircon ATF cooler conversion was a total success and a 15 year old car just sailed through a really tough test a whole lot easier than were now finding carrying it all up the stairs.
the (free
) cooling system mods done were:
aircon condenser to atf cooler conversion (including twin fans)
8mm spacer blocks lifting bonner for airflow
auxiliary rad fan override switch (on while towing)
as well as that I renewed the rad cap and made sure the viscous system worked properly and a full service. i'll stick pictures up to illustrate this feat in a day or two and you can see how happy she is in the warm. i'm off down the supermarket for her vegoil
one question, should I really change the gearbox oil again after my two warning lights?
Ok so we made it. My lean grean towing machine just pulled 850 hard miles in up to 28 degree temperatures, with a huge (12ft x 6'6" x 6'6" single wheelbase square, box trailer weighing at least 1300 kg, maybe 1500, up and down (unintended) mountains, and nothing broke.
the ATF fluid temp warning light came on twice in 3 days, once briefly on the way to portsmouth, before we'd even really got going, which rattled my confidence in her slightly, but it was at the top of a long steep 2 mile stop start haul often at walking pace and it was only on briefly, maybe 15 secs, and later I realised I hadnt had the fans on, so that one was user error.
the next time was at the top of an 800m mountain drag, (lost leaving Bilbao, after a 2hr traffic jam there straight off the boat) and it stayed on a little longer but soon dropped out again.
some of the really long hard drags up motorways had her down to 35mph with the weight of the trailer and my (standard) temp gauge only twice briefly twitched out of its normal position, at which point I put all both heaters on full, and down she came again.
All in all I'd say the aircon ATF cooler conversion was a total success and a 15 year old car just sailed through a really tough test a whole lot easier than were now finding carrying it all up the stairs.
the (free
) cooling system mods done were:aircon condenser to atf cooler conversion (including twin fans)
8mm spacer blocks lifting bonner for airflow
auxiliary rad fan override switch (on while towing)
as well as that I renewed the rad cap and made sure the viscous system worked properly and a full service. i'll stick pictures up to illustrate this feat in a day or two and you can see how happy she is in the warm. i'm off down the supermarket for her vegoil
one question, should I really change the gearbox oil again after my two warning lights?
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