↓ Advertise on Defender2 ↓

Home > Maintenance & Modifications > Very cold weather mods
Post Reply  Down to end
Page 1 of 2 12>
Print this entire topic · 
Bumpymike



Member Since: 18 Nov 2015
Location: cheshire
Posts: 71

United Kingdom 1992 Defender 90 200 Tdi SW Bronze Green
Very cold weather mods
Gentlemen,

In case you have never heard of Defa Warmup its a system that is fitted to vehicles in Scandinavian countries which heats the engine block / charges the battery and puts on an internal convection heater to defrost the car.

It is controlled by a small digital box which you can set to come on twice a day [go to work and come home] and it also gives you outside temp and battery voltage.

It works off 220v with a waterproof socket on the front of the car, in cold countries hotels and workplaces have free outside electrical points.

The system is cleverly designed so it interlinks with protected cables and waterproof connections.

The battery charger is to assist keeping the battery warm as its capacity drops off in very cold weather -25c.

They sell every component separately so you can buil

Click image to enlarge

d the system with just the engine heater or engine and internal heater.

I fitted the system to my 200tdi defender a couple of years ago - and it does work a treat [cost then was about £400]


Another cold weather modification [which is more belt and braces]and used by the bio-fuel drivers is to fit a fuel heater to stop diesel freezing.
You can get VW oil cooler which fits between the diesel fuel filter and the head, and this is feed engine cooling water to ensure the fuel going to engine is warm and not waxed up.
Post #479607 6th Dec 2015 2:09pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
mk1collector



Member Since: 17 Sep 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 6772

England 2004 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Bonatti Grey
Looks a great idea but maybe a bit overkill for this country? Ray
My build thread
http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic17615.html
Post #479620 6th Dec 2015 2:52pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
bpman



Member Since: 21 May 2008
Location: Oslo
Posts: 8069

2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SVX Station Wagon Santorini Black
Kenlowe used to make a mains block heater that heated and circulated the coolant

Also if you have a 2.4 or a 2.2 and venture in temperatures less than -20c ish.. You'll need a breather heater or a new engine when it freezes up
Post #479630 6th Dec 2015 3:19pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Mike_B



Member Since: 23 Jan 2011
Location: Moray
Posts: 550

United Kingdom 2006 Defender 110 Td5 USW Java Black
Are you connected in any any to Defa warmup?
Post #479696 6th Dec 2015 6:18pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
shaggydog



Member Since: 12 Aug 2012
Location: Kent
Posts: 3347

United Kingdom 1991 Defender 110 200 Tdi USW Arles Blue
Interesting post Bumpymike Thumbs Up

You got any pictures of your installation?

Another route is to to install a Webasto Thermotop fuel burning heater to heat the block before starting Thumbs Up Running Restoration Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/post323197.html#323197

Self confessed mileage hunter Very Happy
Post #479704 6th Dec 2015 6:43pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Supacat



Member Since: 16 Oct 2012
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 11018

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS DCPU Keswick Green
bpman wrote:
Also if you have a 2.4 or a 2.2 and venture in temperatures less than -20c ish.. You'll need a breather heater or a new engine when it freezes up


I thought that was just for the 2.4, the 2.2 has a different arrangement?
Post #479762 6th Dec 2015 8:31pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Bumpymike



Member Since: 18 Nov 2015
Location: cheshire
Posts: 71

United Kingdom 1992 Defender 90 200 Tdi SW Bronze Green
Mike_B wrote:
Are you connected in any any to Defa warmup?


No.

I fitted it for a trip in Feb 2014 to top of Norway via Finland / Sweden, and just planning another winter 'walk about' so thought it may of been of interest to folk who live high up in Scotland who looking for a warmer vehicle in the morning.
Post #479791 6th Dec 2015 9:32pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Bumpymike



Member Since: 18 Nov 2015
Location: cheshire
Posts: 71

United Kingdom 1992 Defender 90 200 Tdi SW Bronze Green
shaggydog wrote:
Interesting post Bumpymike Thumbs Up

You got any pictures of your installation?

Another route is to to install a Webasto Thermotop fuel burning heater to heat the block before starting Thumbs Up



I considered the Thermotop but worried about battery drain and with a eberspacher in rear had already fitted an additional pickup into fuel tank and this was easier option to fit.

Will get some pictures in daylight if it stops raining !!!

Here is one for fuel heater.



Click image to enlarge
Post #479801 6th Dec 2015 10:04pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
bpman



Member Since: 21 May 2008
Location: Oslo
Posts: 8069

2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SVX Station Wagon Santorini Black
Supacat wrote:
bpman wrote:
Also if you have a 2.4 or a 2.2 and venture in temperatures less than -20c ish.. You'll need a breather heater or a new engine when it freezes up


I thought that was just for the 2.4, the 2.2 has a different arrangement?


Not sure, the pipe from the rocker cover to the airbox freezes up on the 2.4's, maybe the 2.2's are different , so I'd say if the pipe exists on the 2.2's check with LR
Post #479848 7th Dec 2015 12:15am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Cetane



Member Since: 27 Nov 2012
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 171

United Kingdom 2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 HT Galway Green
Im curious. How does this kill your engine?
Post #480101 7th Dec 2015 10:17pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Phoenix90



Member Since: 04 Mar 2012
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 377

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey
Not seen this brand before Thumbs Up

I've always steered away from the electric ones as i've found that even in the most northern parts of Scandinavia hook in power sockets are not always reliably available and the FBHs use very little battery, but at £400.00 it is a well priced alternative.

What winter 'walk about' are you planning??
Post #480117 7th Dec 2015 11:00pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
jimbob7



Member Since: 06 Jul 2013
Location: uk
Posts: 2055

Lots of generic £100 engine coolant heaters available on eblag.Dunno how reliable they are tho. Pov.spec,ftw. 2006, 110,TD5.
Post #480267 8th Dec 2015 2:46pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Bumpymike



Member Since: 18 Nov 2015
Location: cheshire
Posts: 71

United Kingdom 1992 Defender 90 200 Tdi SW Bronze Green
Phoenix90 wrote:
Not seen this brand before Thumbs Up

I've always steered away from the electric ones as i've found that even in the most northern parts of Scandinavia hook in power sockets are not always reliably available and the FBHs use very little battery, but at £400.00 it is a well priced alternative.

What winter 'walk about' are you planning??



More likely drive up to Finland and fancy do some ice driving on a Lake (in one of there cars) and then may go top of Norway again or Murmansk to see the Nuclear ice breaker or drive back around Finland to Helsinki and get ferry to Estonia and drive back via Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Germany.
Post #480287 8th Dec 2015 4:00pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Phoenix90



Member Since: 04 Mar 2012
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 377

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey
Sounds good! Thumbs Up

Up through Sweden to Finland??
Post #480403 8th Dec 2015 8:52pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Bumpymike



Member Since: 18 Nov 2015
Location: cheshire
Posts: 71

United Kingdom 1992 Defender 90 200 Tdi SW Bronze Green
take freight ferry DFDS from Immingham to Goteborg....up through Sweden
Post #480469 8th Dec 2015 10:59pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Post Reply  Back to top
Page 1 of 2 12>
All times are GMT + 1 Hour

Jump to  
Previous Topic | Next Topic >
Posting Rules
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum



Site Copyright © 2006-2025 Futuranet Ltd & Martin Lewis
DEFENDER2.NET RSS Feed - All Forums