australian lada niva forum

I did the Lancelin to Cervantes run along the beach yesterday, it is about 70 k's mostly on the beach and dunes and a lot of fun.

On one section where the beach was really soft the coolant got hot enough to leak from the pressure relief valve in the exapnsion tank cap. Not a problem, I let it cool down and went more gently until we were back on firm sand. I was wondering what the best and cheapest way to get more cooling capacity would be? I have thought about an oil cooler (auto transmission cooler from a wreckers?) or an electric fan or a bigger radiator or something else? I think the system is OK in general as it never overheats on the road even in very hot conditions.

We went with soem friends in a new Pajero, the lada never got stuck but we had to dig the pajero out about 5 times

you still have the fan shroud fitted???

we have in stock smaller crank pulleys,that are for peeps who do lot of sand/desert driving,makes fan spin faster.

Theres quite a bit of space for one more fan before the radiator. I have mine like so.
As for the leak, just have to change the radiator cap, I had the same problem, all that expansion should just go into the coolant reservoir. One of the things I notice also is the way I drive, the niva heats up quite quickly on lugging.
PS: love to see the Pajero getting stuck

My apologies for misreading again......thought it was the radiator cap=p

Andy,

From memory I think the fan shroud is missing so I'll sort that out. As I said it only overheated on the very soft sand so the shroud with a smaller crank pulley might solve the problem totally. I'll give you a call.

John

replace fan shroud,and make sure plates are fitted under engine,otherwise can change airflow.