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Post by danie on Jun 11, 2012 6:28:17 GMT 2
Hi Ruan As I have already said I personally have had no overheating problems. At one time I was not happy with where the temp gauge sat but according to Ventz it was exactly correct. Ronnie Ronnie, I have no intention of starting another "war" at this forum, but just for the record - there is proof at this very Forum that Ventz was not always correct when he has passed certain comments at the forum. So to be honest, by times I prefer not to take his advice serious, and prefer to do my own "thing". To the Moderators: While harsh criticism and advice about Jan Pretorius are freely allowed at this Forum, I hope my comment about Ventz will not be removed from this forum. Danie P.S. Don't worry about possible "legal action". I know what I am talking about, and I know what I am doing.
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Post by ronnie on Jun 11, 2012 9:34:38 GMT 2
Hi Charles
I assume you do not have any overheating problems ?. I think a lot of the problems are caused by lack of maintenance. I have only had 2 Nivas, both with air con and have had no issues. I tried checking the water temp with my digital meter and could at no time reach the 90 deg shown by the temp gauge.
Ronnie
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Post by ronnie on Jun 11, 2012 13:10:22 GMT 2
Hi Danie
When you had your Niva on the road did you have issues with the engine temp ?.
Ronnie
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Post by Charles on Jun 11, 2012 13:28:07 GMT 2
Hi Ronnie
I have no overheating problems. I have a genuine thermostat and it works very well.
Charles
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2012 19:38:55 GMT 2
Hi Ronnie, I think having an aircon on both your Niva's would have increased your cooling as you are adding an electric fan. I may be mistaken, but to my mind this would more than offset the decreased airflow you get by fitting a condenser in front of the radiator.
What I'm at a loss to explain is that when I bought my car, it had the thermostat gutted, essentially making it a T-piece. If I drove on the freeway the temperature would be normal, but in stop start driving she would want to overheat. That tendency was cured by the fitment of a standard thermostat. To my mind, the car should have run cooler without a thermostat, but it didn't work that way in practice?
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Post by Ari Bezuidenhout on Jun 11, 2012 19:45:31 GMT 2
Because the t piece allowed too much hot water to enter the block from the head where it exits the motor.
The thermo controls how much of this hot water goes back into the block and the rest of the hot water then has to go to the radiater
Ari
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Post by ronnie on Jun 11, 2012 20:00:33 GMT 2
Hi Conrad
Strange things happen which are difficult to explain. When I bought the last Niva it also had no thermostat just basically a "T" piece and it always ran cold. Remember the Condenser puts a big heat load on to the cooling system so the radiator has more work to do as the heat from the condenser is now passing through the radiator. Adding the air con and 1 fan you could see the temp gauge sitting higher than it did before. I tried a number of combinations and ended up with 1 mechanical (obviously) running all the time and 1 electric fan running with the compressor. the second electric fan and the first one were controlled by a thermo switch which only cut in when stationary in traffic. I have used a Niva with air con and loaded heavily in 50 deg ambient and had no overheating. That is why I say a lot of the problems are caused by a lack of maintenance. Also we all fill the radiator with water from the tap which in all the places I have lived in SA was very hard and the kettle was soon coated with scale. Think what it does to the cooling system!!
Ronnie
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Post by danie on Jun 11, 2012 20:17:26 GMT 2
Hi Danie When you had your Niva on the road did you have issues with the engine temp ?. Ronnie Hi Ronnie When I bought my Lada more than six years ago I, immediately joined the original Locsa forum, and became aware of Trevor Knutzen's cooling modification at the time. I also became aware of a cooling modification by Jan Pretorius. So right from the start, I was very suspicious about the Lada's cooling system. During that time I also became aware of reports of "overheating problems" during slow driving conditions. This made me think that something does not sound right about the Lada's cooling system. As far as my Lada is concerned - soon after I have bought my Lada, I realized that the Radiator on my Lada is different from the Radiators I have seen on other Ladas. To this day, I haven't seen another Lada with n similar radiator either. Right or wrong, this made me believe that the original Radiator on my Lada has either been replaced with a modified Radiator ( probably due to overheating problems) , or the Russians started using a Radiator which is more suitable for hot weather conditions. Due to my suspicion about the Lada's cooling system right from the start - I almost immediately bought a cooling modification from Trevor Knoetzen, and this modification has been installed within less than 1000 km since I have bought the Lada. I must admit: 1. Because of my suspicion right from the start, I have avoided driving my Lada in slow traffic - until Trevor Knutzen's modification has been installed. So I have never experienced any overheating problems at the time. 2. Since Trevor's mod. has been installed, I have never experienced any overheating problems (during slow driving / hot weather conditions either - although (right or wrong) this could be due to the fact that a different Radiator has been fitted to my Lada - or maybe Trevor's modification indeed makes a difference. In short - no, I have never experienced any overheating problems myself. Danie
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2012 20:33:32 GMT 2
Thanks for clearing that up Ari, that's only logical!
Ronnie, I didn't realise the aircon put so much strain on the radiator as I don't have any experience with it myself but what you say makes a lot of sense.
Aside from the water that's used, how many of us know whether antifreeze has been used in our cars since new either?
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Post by Charles on Jun 11, 2012 21:12:33 GMT 2
I would not change the standard cooling system, just keep it in good condition.
Charles
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Post by ronnie on Jun 11, 2012 21:27:11 GMT 2
Hi Charles
If possible I would also like to keep things standard. With Ari`s Niva I had it from new so I did not expect to have problems. With the one Vincent now owns I have no idea of it`s history and even though at times I used to worry about the temperature it never gave any problems. Sometimes you worry too much.
Ronnie
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Post by Charles on Jun 11, 2012 21:39:56 GMT 2
Ronnie I agree with you fully. Sometimes blind trust is a good thing.
Charles
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Post by ronnie on Jun 11, 2012 22:48:59 GMT 2
Hi Danie
I installed Trevor's mod as well and trying to be objective after stripping it out after 1 year I can`t really say if there was any difference. you will have problems with before and after as it is a long time since you used the Niva. I know I need to think carefully when I try to remember what something was like some years ago.
Ronnie
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spikes
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Post by spikes on Jun 30, 2012 19:05:16 GMT 2
Hier is die link, Christo
Gooi vir Danie 'n PM
Spikes
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Roons
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Post by Roons on Jun 30, 2012 23:59:11 GMT 2
Ok. Running standard niva cooling and it runs around 100-110 deg offroad. Is this normal or im i going to damage something? Ruan
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Post by danie on Jul 1, 2012 7:47:04 GMT 2
That might be "normal" for a Lada, but personally, I would not be happy with that. We find ourselves in mid winter now, and I can just imagine what is going to happen during mid summer...
I assume your cowling mod have been installed and it does not really make a difference ?
I know you don't like the idea of installing an electric cooling fan - but to my mind that's the way to go .
Danie
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Post by spikes on Jul 1, 2012 8:01:15 GMT 2
Hier is die link, Christo Gooi vir Danie 'n PM Spikes Hi Danie Christo has a leaking radiator and is looking at available alternatives, as you have a non std radiator, i referred him to your post in this thread. He may perhaps PM you Regards Spikes
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Post by spikes on Jul 1, 2012 8:06:22 GMT 2
Hi Ruan I'd suggest that you verify the temp reading as a first step. The temp gauge has been found to over read in a couple of instances Charles an Nikki comes to mind Spikes
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Post by ronnie on Jul 1, 2012 9:35:28 GMT 2
Hi Ruan
Like Spikes I would make sure of the temp with a good temp meter. If the Niva is running at the temp you have stated there is something wrong, and should be fixed before you fit an electric fan. I am a fan ;D of electric fans and they are good insurance when crawling in traffic. However my main reason for fitting the 2 electric fans was the Aircon. Also with both Nivas I have had I never had either actually overheat. The first one was used in near 50 deg ambient and low ratio for long distances. This was when the Niva was new and the cooling system would be at its best. It is easy to look at a radiator and say it looks like new, but the inside could well be full of scale. Where I live now the water fills the kettle with LOOSE scale within 2 weeks. I hate to think what it does to the cooling system of a car.
Ronnie
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Roons
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Post by Roons on Jul 1, 2012 17:14:49 GMT 2
I have seen there is a rust brown build up in the pipes. So the radiator may be stuffed with that stuff.
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Post by spikes on Jul 1, 2012 18:05:53 GMT 2
Hi Ruan
It might be worthwhile flushing the radiator and block then but verify the gauge reading in any case
Spikes
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spencer
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Post by spencer on Jul 1, 2012 18:44:50 GMT 2
Hi Roons.
I have had the experience with a directly (read grey) imported Jeep Cherokee. They run hotter thermostats in snowy countries but verify the readings from the temp gauge first.
Regards Spencer
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Post by Roons on Jul 1, 2012 19:35:49 GMT 2
Opend the cap at around 120 deg and it was not even boiling. May just be the gauge indeed. Wil flush check gauge and fit a e fan. Then it must work:)
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Post by ronnie on Jul 1, 2012 19:59:11 GMT 2
Hi Ruan
I have the same problem with the MG. the water is (was) brown. I have flushed it a number of times and shortly will fill it with "Forlife". I dont want to use the tap water here as it is full of lime.
Ronnie
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Post by ronnie on Jul 1, 2012 20:07:10 GMT 2
Hi Ruan
If you opened the cap at an indicated 120 deg the water must have been under 100 deg as it would have boiled as soon as you released the pressure.
Ronnie
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Post by Charles on Jul 1, 2012 20:20:49 GMT 2
Even if a thermostat opens at a higher temp it will not cause the car to run hot. If its open its open.
Charles
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Post by vincentc on Jul 3, 2012 22:07:32 GMT 2
Hi Keith I should have mentioned I had no problem with the temp, only was continually adding a small amount of water to keep the radiator full. Ronnie I can report that the radiator stays full
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Roons
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Post by Roons on Jul 3, 2012 22:17:38 GMT 2
When the gauge say 90deg i messured 73-78deg with a glass thernometer i spell like a bum forgive me.
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Post by ronnie on Jul 3, 2012 22:25:42 GMT 2
Hi Vincent
The problem of always needing to add a small amount of water was cured with a new radiator cap.
Ronnie
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Post by vincentc on Jul 4, 2012 12:43:09 GMT 2
Thanks Charles Ronnie. I wil test my cowling and see if it works. Then i also need to test my radiator as the engine and pipes are vrot with rust. When i drained the coolant there was 2mm + of rust at the bottom of the bucket. Also the pipes are lined with that same stuff. How can i clean it? Ruan Hi Ruan I find it absolutely astounding how many Lada owners will find crazy solutions to non existent problems. I am the fortunate owner of Ronnies Last lada before leaving SA. It started its life with Ronnie and Jan's "thermostat". Ronnie then replaced it with a standard niva thermostat and added a new radiator cap. The cooling system is prefect. With the aircon on and in traffic the engine temperature is constant. The Niva cooling system is designed to ensure that the engine temperature is constant irrespective whether the ambient is -40 or +40. We know that it also handles high temps well as they are sold in markets like Egypt too. If your cooling system is in good condition (No rust or sludge, no leaking cylinder heads and a good radiator cap and thermostat) your niva will NOT have overheating problems. As for the low range stuff, the past weekend 2 nivas did some serious off roading and no overheating issues cropped up. Fix the REAL problem. Not the imaginary one. Regards Vincent
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