Driving without a fan belt. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

1960mog · #1 03-19-2013, 10:56 PM

Hi

I was driving the 240D on the freeway last Friday, when suddenly the alternator bearings froze up and shredded my fan belt.
I kept driving at about 65 mph, expecting the engine to overheat soon.
To my surprise the temperature only rose to about 95° C.
So I kept driving for 50 Miles until I hit Las Vegas city traffic and had to slow down.
Then at once the temperature climbed to 110° C and I had to shut the engine of.

At a speed of about 60 mph there is enough air flow through the radiator to spin the fan and the water pump fast enough to keep the engine temperature in acceptable limits.

I also found that the heater didn't work.
The water pump didn't spin fast enough to force the coolant through the heater core.

Nice to know that you can drive this old Diesels without a fan belt, as long as you drive fast enough.

pawoSD · #2 03-19-2013, 11:09 PM

Amazing. That means they don't technically need electricity OR belts to run

EMP Attack Approved for sure!

I have a feeling that would not work on the 5 cylinders, the heat production is quite a bit higher....especially on the turbo engines.

79Mercy · #3 03-19-2013, 11:14 PM

Yeah wouldn't work on a 300D, only on the 240D because they don't have a fan clutch.

qwerty · #4 03-19-2013, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 79Mercy

Yeah wouldn't work on a 300D, only on the 240D because they don't have a fan clutch.

That problem could be solved with a shoe lace.

vstech · #5 03-20-2013, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qwerty

That problem could be solved with a shoe lace.

yeah, but velcro shoes are cool...

1960mog · #6 03-20-2013, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qwerty

That problem could be solved with a shoe lace.

I used o rings.

It took 5 of them to make it through LV.

layback40 · #7 04-24-2013, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qwerty

That problem could be solved with a shoe lace.

pantyhose work better! But try convincing your passenger to take them off so you can use them as a replacement fan belt. Or worse still try explaining why you have a pair of panty hose in the glove box !!

qwerty · #8 04-24-2013, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by layback40

pantyhose work better! But try convincing your passenger to take them off so you can use them as a replacement fan belt.

Things in Australia must have changed since I was there last.

1960mog · #9 03-20-2013, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 79Mercy

Yeah wouldn't work on a 300D, only on the 240D because they don't have a fan clutch.

Not so.
I am running a 300D 6 blade fan and fan clutch in my 240.

vstech · #10 03-20-2013, 12:00 AM

I don't think the clutch is the reason it wouldn't work on a turbo motor... I think it's the MASSIVE amount of heat the motor produces pushing the taller diff.

LV is pretty flat too, so the 240 cruising at 60 on flat ground likely has little heat produced.
the reason you had no heat was the WP was not turning much if any at all.
actually, I think the wp would be turning backwards without the motor. the heat likely was moving thermally, not the wp pushing it.

pawoSD · #11 03-20-2013, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

I don't think the clutch is the reason it wouldn't work on a turbo motor... I think it's the MASSIVE amount of heat the motor produces pushing the taller diff.

LV is pretty flat too, so the 240 cruising at 60 on flat ground likely has little heat produced.
the reason you had no heat was the WP was not turning much if any at all.
actually, I think the wp would be turning backwards without the motor. the heat likely was moving thermally, not the wp pushing it.

I actually doubt a 617 turbo would be making all that much more heat in the same conditions, it would be getting within 2-3mpg of the 240.....so thats a minimal amount more fuel so not that much more heat. However, I bet its enough that it would eventually overheat. The 240 operates below that tipping point.

Ambient air temp would play a role also.

Fulcrum525 · #12 03-20-2013, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

I actually doubt a 617 turbo would be making all that much more heat in the same conditions, it would be getting within 2-3mpg of the 240.....so thats a minimal amount more fuel so not that much more heat. However, I bet its enough that it would eventually overheat. The 240 operates below that tipping point.

Ambient air temp would play a role also.

I'm not sure about this.

Correct me if i'm wrong but I don't think it's any additional effort so much as the turbo itself which is producing the extra heat.....

I think the 617 NA could pull this off as well. I've seen my temperature plummet when going downhill in gear when all is well.

Nate Stanley · #13 03-20-2013, 10:59 AM

I have a buddy on this forum with a NA 617 300D who has to put cardboard in front of his fan in the winter months in order to get the heat he needs in the cabin...and this is out here in California near the central coast...
and my 300D turbo was known to keep its cool with low coolant as long as I made good speed on the road--it was slow traffic that would drive the temps up a bit.

t walgamuth · #14 03-20-2013, 11:14 AM

I should think that the cooling requirements of a turbo motor under similar loading conditions would not require much if any more than a 240. its under load that the potential would be much greater.

vstech · #15 03-20-2013, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate Stanley

I have a buddy on this forum with a NA 617 300D who has to put cardboard in front of his fan in the winter months in order to get the heat he needs in the cabin...and this is out here in California near the central coast...
and my 300D turbo was known to keep its cool with low coolant as long as I made good speed on the road--it was slow traffic that would drive the temps up a bit.

this buddy needs a new thermostat, or water pump...