dandywarhol wrote:I've only once had my scavenger fan come on after an ardious climb in the height of summer in the UK.
The height of summer in Osaka is in the low/mid 30s - hotter than here by and large.
I believe the scavenger fan to be an integral part of the Bongo cooling system and it allows the engine compartment to reach an acceptable temperature before venting excess heat to the outside via the engine tray. The engine compartment is well insulated from the interior as standard.
As the thermostat is designed to be on the return side of the cooling system, I believe that the heat soak in the engine bay could play an important part in allowing the 'stat to operate through heat transfer in the engine and cooling system.
Overcooling the engine bay will change this and could allow the 'stat to stay closed for longer, thereby changing the characteristics of the coolant to circulate as it is designed to and POSSIBLY aggrevating the old crud/blockage problems some people are experiencing.
I woud be inclined to leave well alone and enjoy a reliable machine.
Phew - interesting and technical. I'm bound to come back with a few thoughts though.
* If the sensor for the scavenger fan has gone AWOL (as things can do on 12 year old cars) then - if what you say above is true - there could bean increased risk of an overheating engine.
* Bongos are operating fine in Russia in v cold temps where its hard to believe the engine bay, even without the scavenger fan on, isnt considerably colder than it would be in, say, Japan. But no issues as far as we know from our Russian chums
* The engine compartment is well insulated (it needs to be!) but there is no mistaking the warmth that comes off it even on a winters days. Flushing out hot air lurking in there really should make the car usefully cooler (I'll have a better idea when a long drive and hot weather gives me the chance to make some observations).
I think its one of those things you have to make an individual judgement on. part of the fun for me in owning a Bongo is trying out stuff like this so I'm gonna go with my gut feeling based on the above. But I agree, its certainly not a Mazda approved mod.
